AVR-Chat

I have a project (Signals for a 7.5” gauge railroad) that I need to get up and running quickly.

I am working on the design of a custom board based on an ATMEGAxxx to support a wide range of functionality but I do not have time to layout and produce the boards (Eagle, toner transfer, etch, stuff) I need for a minimal system up and running in the time I have.

What I’m looking for is an inexpensive prototyping board (in the USA) that I can get to support my initial requirements.  I figure I’ll need 8-10 of them.

Initial requirements:

1 ATMEGAxxx processor (ATMEGA168 desired, but about any AVR that supports the functions below would work).
2 JTAG support (for breakpoint debugging, loading, etc.)
3 At least 3 digital I/O
4 At least one PWM output
5 At least one analog input
6 On-board regulator

Desirable extras:
- RS-485 I/O (or serial pins to wire a Maxim RS-485 chip to)
- Additional digital I/O (up to 16), analog inputs (up to 3)
- On-board drivers for the digital I/O capable of sinking 10-15 ma (driving 10 mm LEDs)
- Did I mention inexpensive ☺ …

I know that there are many more parameters you need/would like to know but, without getting into an extended description, that’s the basics.
 
Cheers,

Chuck Hackett
"Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment"
7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844 http://www.whitetrout.net/Chuck

--- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, "Chuck Hackett" <egroupscdh@...> wrote:
>
> I have a project (Signals for a 7.5” gauge railroad) that I need to
get up and running quickly.
> 

Chuck,

I do not know what time constraints you are facing, but here is
another suggestion.  You could lay out the board and then let a board
house mill it for you.  I've used PCB123 (http://www.pcb123.com/) in
the past.  I know Sparkfun also has a custom board fabrication service.

Rick

STK500 is what you need. You can buy it from Digikey.

--- On Tue, 9/16/08, Chuck Hackett <egroupscdh@up844.us> wrote:

From: Chuck Hackett <egroupscdh@up844.us>
Subject: [AVR-Chat] AVR Prototype board
To: AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 10:36 PM










    
            I have a project (Signals for a 7.5” gauge railroad) that I need to get up and running quickly.



I am working on the design of a custom board based on an ATMEGAxxx to support a wide range of functionality but I do not have time to layout and produce the boards (Eagle, toner transfer, etch, stuff) I need for a minimal system up and running in the time I have.



What I’m looking for is an inexpensive prototyping board (in the USA) that I can get to support my initial requirements.  I figure I’ll need 8-10 of them.



Initial requirements:



1 ATMEGAxxx processor (ATMEGA168 desired, but about any AVR that supports the functions below would work).

2 JTAG support (for breakpoint debugging, loading, etc.)

3 At least 3 digital I/O

4 At least one PWM output

5 At least one analog input

6 On-board regulator



Desirable extras:

- RS-485 I/O (or serial pins to wire a Maxim RS-485 chip to)

- Additional digital I/O (up to 16), analog inputs (up to 3)

- On-board drivers for the digital I/O capable of sinking 10-15 ma (driving 10 mm LEDs)

- Did I mention inexpensive ☺ …



I know that there are many more parameters you need/would like to know but, without getting into an extended description, that’s the basics.

 

Cheers,



Chuck Hackett

"Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment"

7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844 http://www.whitetro ut.net/Chuck




      

    
    
	
	 
	
	








	


	
	

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> From: Dao Viet Dung
> 
> STK500 is what you need. You can buy it from Digikey.
> 
> --- On Tue, 9/16/08, Chuck Hackett <egroupscdh@up844.us> wrote:
> From: Chuck Hackett <egroupscdh@up844.us>
> ....  I figure I'll need 8-10 of them.
> 

I have an STK500 but I think that may be a rather expensive route ... I think you missed the part "I'll need 8-10 of them" :-)

Also, I failed to mention:  These will be installed in junction boxes along the 7.5" gauge track ...

Chuck Hackett

Hello Chuck,

There are many other places out there ( a google search will find them ) but www.sparkfun.com ( search AVR there ) might be worth you looking though there offerings. Should be something there to fit your requirements.

I bought a couple 128 boards there for same reason ( no time to make board ) and they have worked out marvelously.

Jim

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Chuck Hackett 
  To: AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 8:36 AM
  Subject: [AVR-Chat] AVR Prototype board


  I have a project (Signals for a 7.5” gauge railroad) that I need to get up and running quickly.

  I am working on the design of a custom board based on an ATMEGAxxx to support a wide range of functionality but I do not have time to layout and produce the boards (Eagle, toner transfer, etch, stuff) I need for a minimal system up and running in the time I have.

  What I’m looking for is an inexpensive prototyping board (in the USA) that I can get to support my initial requirements. I figure I’ll need 8-10 of them.

  Initial requirements:

  1 ATMEGAxxx processor (ATMEGA168 desired, but about any AVR that supports the functions below would work).
  2 JTAG support (for breakpoint debugging, loading, etc.)
  3 At least 3 digital I/O
  4 At least one PWM output
  5 At least one analog input
  6 On-board regulator

  Desirable extras:
  - RS-485 I/O (or serial pins to wire a Maxim RS-485 chip to)
  - Additional digital I/O (up to 16), analog inputs (up to 3)
  - On-board drivers for the digital I/O capable of sinking 10-15 ma (driving 10 mm LEDs)
  - Did I mention inexpensive ☺ …

  I know that there are many more parameters you need/would like to know but, without getting into an extended description, that’s the basics.

  Cheers,

  Chuck Hackett
  "Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment"
  7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844 http://www.whitetrout.net/Chuck



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Chuck, depending on your needs (sorry if you listed them earlier) the 
Butterfly and USBKey may be sufficient for your purposes. Cheap and 
small. The butterfly can be soldered on a carrier for easier 
experimenting or for deployment.

    Sander

Chuck Hackett wrote:

>
> > From: Dao Viet Dung
> >
> > STK500 is what you need. You can buy it from Digikey.
> >
> > --- On Tue, 9/16/08, Chuck Hackett <egroupscdh@up844.us 
> <mailto:egroupscdh%40up844.us>> wrote:
> > From: Chuck Hackett <egroupscdh@up844.us <mailto:egroupscdh%40up844.us>>
> > .... I figure I'll need 8-10 of them.
> >
>
> I have an STK500 but I think that may be a rather expensive route ... 
> I think you missed the part "I'll need 8-10 of them" :-)
>
> Also, I failed to mention: These will be installed in junction boxes 
> along the 7.5" gauge track ...
>
> Chuck Hackett
>

At 01:36 AM 17/09/2008, you wrote:
>1 ATMEGAxxx processor (ATMEGA168 desired,
>2 JTAG support (for breakpoint debugging, loading, etc.)

...which is of course impossible as the 168 only has DW and NOT JTAG.

I can't remember if you own a Dragon or JTAG Mk2?? You will need one of them.

Regards

John Samperi

********************************************************
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
11 Brokenwood Place Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153 AUSTRALIA
Tel. (02) 9674-6495       Fax (02) 9674-8745
Website  http://www.ampertronics.com.au
*Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
********************************************************

Sorry, can anyone help me about the project of solar tracker??? 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> From: Sander Pool
> 
> Chuck, depending on your needs (sorry if you listed them earlier) the
> Butterfly and USBKey may be sufficient for your purposes. Cheap and
> small. The butterfly can be soldered on a carrier for easier
> experimenting or for deployment.

The USBKey is probably not suitable (no need for a USB interface) but it hadn't occurred to me to check the butterfly .. thanks.

> From: Jim Hatley
> 
> There are many other places out there ( a google search will find them
> ) but www.sparkfun.com ( search AVR there ) might be worth you looking
> though there offerings. Should be something there to fit your
> requirements.
> 
> I bought a couple 128 boards there for same reason ( no time to make
> board ) and they have worked out marvelously.

I have used SparkFun (actually Omlix <SP?> through them) boards before.  I had checked but there were no JTAG capable boards that fit my needs but I have since realized that I don't need JTAG on the boards installed in the field so I'll go back and take another look.
 
Cheers,

Chuck Hackett
"Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment"
7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844 http://www.whitetrout.net/Chuck

Chuck I have the board you need.

It is my own design. It is for rapid prototyping and small custom runs.

Atmega168, two electromech power relays, buffered PWM out, on-board voltage regulation, lots of digital I/O, in-circuit programming, LED redouts, four pushbutton input (or use other inputs), I/O pins around edge of PCB. Can be connected to Hitatchi LCD instead of LEDs, screw terminal blocks and a prototype area for additional circuitry such as I2C parts, or what have you.  The board has no RS485, but the proto area can accomodate whatever you want to add. Design is done. Board are professionally fabbed by Advanced Circuits (Colorado). I am in New York.  I had dozens of boards, I need to reorder now. I can send you photos, schematics, assembly drawings, bill of materials to help you decide if this board will suit your needs.

Rick


--- On Tue, 9/16/08, Chuck Hackett <egroupscdh@up844.us> wrote:

From: Chuck Hackett <egroupscdh@up844.us>
Subject: [AVR-Chat] AVR Prototype board
To: AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 11:36 AM










    
            I have a project (Signals for a 7.5” gauge railroad) that I need to get up and running quickly.



I am working on the design of a custom board based on an ATMEGAxxx to support a wide range of functionality but I do not have time to layout and produce the boards (Eagle, toner transfer, etch, stuff) I need for a minimal system up and running in the time I have.



What I’m looking for is an inexpensive prototyping board (in the USA) that I can get to support my initial requirements.  I figure I’ll need 8-10 of them.



Initial requirements:



1 ATMEGAxxx processor (ATMEGA168 desired, but about any AVR that supports the functions below would work).

2 JTAG support (for breakpoint debugging, loading, etc.)

3 At least 3 digital I/O

4 At least one PWM output

5 At least one analog input

6 On-board regulator



Desirable extras:

- RS-485 I/O (or serial pins to wire a Maxim RS-485 chip to)

- Additional digital I/O (up to 16), analog inputs (up to 3)

- On-board drivers for the digital I/O capable of sinking 10-15 ma (driving 10 mm LEDs)

- Did I mention inexpensive ☺ …



I know that there are many more parameters you need/would like to know but, without getting into an extended description, that’s the basics.

 

Cheers,



Chuck Hackett

"Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment"

7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844 http://www.whitetro ut.net/Chuck




      

    
    
	
	 
	
	








	


	
	


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Look on the redrok site

-----Original Message-----
From: Ridwansyah Irdianto <rid1_only@yahoo.co.id>
To: AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 7:35 pm
Subject: [AVR-Chat] PROJECT SOLAR TRACKER



Sorry, can anyone help me about the project of solar tracker??? 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Interesting. I've been doodling in my head about a project like that. 
This is a bit like early heat seeking missiles :)

    Sander

BobGardner@aol.com wrote:

>
> Look on the redrok site
>
>

Hi-

I would check out the Arduino family -- PD project, excellent 'C' 
development package.  Uses ATMega8 and 168.  Lots of options.  Uses a 
bootloader for painless uploads.  See: http://arduino.cc/

As you are into model railroads, then check out the LEDuino at 
http://siliconrailway.com/ -- DCC, CAN and I2C interfaces.  


Cheers,
David



--- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, "Chuck Hackett" <egroupscdh@...> 
wrote:
>
> I have a project (Signals for a 7.5” gauge railroad) that I need 
to get up and running quickly.
> 
> I am working on the design of a custom board based on an ATMEGAxxx 
to support a wide range of functionality but I do not have time to 
layout and produce the boards (Eagle, toner transfer, etch, stuff) I 
need for a minimal system up and running in the time I have.
> 
> What I’m looking for is an inexpensive prototyping board (in the 
USA) that I can get to support my initial requirements.  I figure 
I’ll need 8-10 of them.
> 
> Initial requirements:
> 
> 1 ATMEGAxxx processor (ATMEGA168 desired, but about any AVR that 
supports the functions below would work).
> 2 JTAG support (for breakpoint debugging, loading, etc.)
> 3 At least 3 digital I/O
> 4 At least one PWM output
> 5 At least one analog input
> 6 On-board regulator
> 
> Desirable extras:
> - RS-485 I/O (or serial pins to wire a Maxim RS-485 chip to)
> - Additional digital I/O (up to 16), analog inputs (up to 3)
> - On-board drivers for the digital I/O capable of sinking 10-15 ma 
(driving 10 mm LEDs)
> - Did I mention inexpensive ☺ …
> 
> I know that there are many more parameters you need/would like to 
know but, without getting into an extended description, that’s the 
basics.
>  
> Cheers,
> 
> Chuck Hackett
> "Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad 
judgment"
> 7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844 
http://www.whitetrout.net/Chuck
>