Lpc2000

--- In lpc2000@yahoogroups.com, "Anton Erasmus" <antone@s...> wrote:
> :-)  Yes,  I have been involved in many HUGE arguments between
engineers,
> where someone made a statement, and because of some sort of slip
misused 
> a word without realising it. Everybody else picks up on this, and
even though they
> fully agree with what the other guy meant to say, they do not agree
with what
> he actually said.  Non-Technical people who listen to this, find
this totally beyond 
> comprehension.
> 
> Anyway, I accept your argument.

I am glad you appreciate this.  I don't bother with pointless internet
arguments these days, but still it is nice to come to a friendly
agreement without hassle.  :)


> The higher speed serial interface would definitaly help. What is the
cost of the ethernet 
> controller you have in mind compared to the Wiznet W3100A chip ? If
the pricing are 
> similar, it might still be worthwhile using the Wiznet chip in
parallel mode via the FPGA
> and high speed serial combination. To get bootstrap code going to
re-program or boot 
> the board via ethernet needs very little code because of the
hardware TCP/IP stack. If 
> one then uses an RTOS or something else with a full TCP/IP stack,
then one can use 
> the W3100A chip as a normal type ethernet chip. Opening a TCP/IP
socket using the
> W3100A takes something like 20 lines of C code.

I understand that the W3100A would be simpler to use, but I believe
you said it did not support 100 base TX, right?  The LAN91C111 is not
an inexpensive chip, but it includes the PHY so all you need to add is
the transformer and the connector and that end is ready to plug into a
network.  Yes, it needs a lot more on the other side, but making a
general app board, I want to be able to support 100 base TX.  Even if
you don't need the data rate, this can be an advantage is some cases
and it should still meet the selling price target of $99, qty 1.  

I will need to project a parts list in the next couple of days, now
that I have been promised samples of the AT91SAM7S64.  This is pin
compatible with the SAM7S128 and SAM7S256 and will do for initial
prototypes.