[Robotgroup] USB to parallel problems

[Robo Al]

Actually for just bit banging I would no longer recommend the
parallel port (basically due to the problems you are encountering)

I have been very happy with the UBW (usb bit wacker)
http://greta.dhs.org/UBW/ which is what I would use if I didn't
want to deal with electronics soldering (can be bought for $25
fully assembled) or programming (comes pre-configured and is controlled
with any terminal program).

For advanced control, you can use the same hardware with your own
firmware (comes with a bootloader so you upgrade the firmware without
having any special programmer)

All and all the parallel port is great and I've used it to do a
few things, but it is dying. Even if you find it in a motherboard
it is likely not using hefty drivers, but rather the cheap stuff
that can't drive some of the peripherals. I spent 2 weeks trying to
figure out why my brand new CNC motor controller wouldn't work and
it turned out that both systems I was using used too cheap parallel
port implementations not able to drive the logic chips in the 
controller. Found an old computer and everything started to work
perfectly.

I can understand your need for something that will talk to your
already existing products, which I thought is your current problem.
But if you are designing anything new I would stay away from parallel
port implementations, USB is cheap and easy to implement nowadays.

My 2 cents,

Alberto


On Sat, 2008-04-19 at 23:23 -0500, Andre Lamothe wrote:
> Right, this particular product is made by someone that is on the fench with 
> if its commercial, etc. So I am concerned that he would change his mind at 
> some point, but the more pressing matter is the code base, etc. is the thing 
> I don't want to deal with. But, if I don't find anything and it becomes a 
> problem then it might be my only short term solution.
> 
> However, haven;t got a single complaint yet except from a MAC latop user, so 
> I am starting not to worry and it might work itself out, however, I, me, 
> moi, would still like a USB to parallel from a real company that allows bit 
> banging. I mean everyone in the robot group I am sure would like to hook 
> things to the computer and turn on/off digital I/Os, the parallel port is 
> the only EASY way to do this. In 5 mins, I can be turning LEDs on with a 
> parallel port, and 10 lines of C code.
> 
> Andre'