[Robotgroup] Basic Stamp Success

[Andre Lamothe]

Yes, the DTR signal is VERY important, basically the converters must be true 
SERIAL converters that would be compatible with modems, they just cant 
connect TX/RX and ground, that won't work for stamps, sx keys, or propeller 
chips, they alll need tx, rx, dtr, and ground.

Andre'

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vern Graner" <vern at txis.com>
To: "The Robot Group Mailing List" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 4:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Basic Stamp Success


Gray Mack wrote:
> Nothing special about the parallax usb to serial port.

Well... Sorta.. :) Only thing "special" is that the USB to SERIAL device
sold by Parallax implements DTR (Data Terminal Ready) which is CRITICAL
to getting a Basic Stamp to program over serial.

Some of the low-cost USB to Serial devices that are sold do NOT
implement the entire serial standard (or "cheat" by holding the DTA pin
high) and so will not work to program the Stamp.

As the one sold by Parallax is not priced too bad at just under $15.00:

http://tinyurl.com/29nuqp

I think I'd go that route rather than have to try and figure out if a
failure could be attributed to the adapter being incompatible or the
driver/emulation on the mac being at issue.

Of course, the other option is to program the Stamp directly from the Mac:

http://www.muratnkonar.com/otherstuff/macbs2/

In fact, that page gives example USB to serial devices that are
tested/work for mac to basic stamp connectivity. :)

Vern

-- 
Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE    | "If the network is down, then you're
Senior Systems Engineer    | obviously incompetent so why are we
Texas Information Services | paying you? Of course, if the network
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Austin Office 512 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" ©VLG
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