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"Start here" project

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By qin__23

June 26, 2008

Hi,

 Since I'm a beginner, I figure I'd start with the "Start here" robot. Question though: the walkthrough says to be sure to order the USB version of the PICAXE starter kit, but the place I was going to order from charges an extra $15 or so for the USB version, versus the serial version. Is it really necessary to have the USB cable, or does the serial version simply suffer from longer loading time into the PICAXE? 

Thanks.

 

qin__23 

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By radioactive_isotopes
@ Tue, 2008-07-22 20:20
radioactive_isotopes's picture
Thanks for the responses guys:) Well I'm about to upload some hand sketches of my first robot in a bit and then i think you'll know what I'm getting at. I tried to do it in sketchup but I need a bit more practice:) thanks for the great replies guys
By radioactive_isotopes
@ Tue, 2008-07-22 09:43
radioactive_isotopes's picture

Hey guys! I'm planning out my first robot and it's gonna be pretty much the little 8, but I'm going to kind of make it my own. I was just wondering if I bought the picaxe 8 board, would it be possible to do everything and add another motor? Or should I just get the more expensive starter pack? I mean if I have to I will I'm just a little worried about the soldering. . . I've alway been accident prone. . . well thanks for reading:)

By fritsl
@ Tue, 2008-07-22 17:59
fritsl's picture
In general, I just do not recomend the "little 8" for a first time project. Yes, it is cheaper, but you get what you pay for, to put it short. The "Start here"- project is made to be the best starter project, end of story :)
By robologist
@ Wed, 2008-07-23 05:56
robologist's picture

Not sure what you mean, what would the other motor be for? If drive motors, one of the difficult things to do is attaching wheels to new motors. Unless you get lucky and there are some already made for them, like th GM3 motors currently used. Some servos also can have similar wheels attached.

If adding an additional motor to the 2 already driving the wheels, I believe the PICAxe only has a motor driver for the 2 wheel motors. You would need an additional h-bridge, that you could probably wire to some other pins not in use. 

What did you have in mind for the motor? Perhaps another RC servo would work?

By CaptainTuna
@ Thu, 2008-07-10 16:52
CaptainTuna's picture
i don't know you should ask them!! anyways i never had problem with buying on amazon (i normally use euros).
By 2fluent
@ Thu, 2008-07-10 16:19

HELLO,

I'M NEW TO THIS SITE AND TO ROBOTICS BUILDING. I LIVE IN AMERICA BUT THE "PICAXE starter kit" ALONG WITH MANY IF NOT ALL OF THE PIECES REQUIRES TO PAY IN EURO NOT USD. DO I NEED TO BUY FROM ANOTHER SUPPLYER? OR DOES IT MATTER WHAT CURENCY YOU PAY?

By jklug80
@ Thu, 2008-07-10 17:18
jklug80's picture
Please only ask your question in one spot and not two. Also lay off the BOLD CAPS it is really annoying.
By psy
@ Mon, 2008-06-30 12:37
psy's picture
The Picaxe folk sell a convertor for the serial cable to make it a USB cable. It costs about the same as the price difference between the packs. So if you find out later that you get stuck without serial ports, then you can just get that then. In the mean time you save your self some lolly.
By qin__23
@ Thu, 2008-06-26 18:21

Wow, you guys are quick with the replies!

Thanks for the input. 

I will probably go with the serial version, as the PC I will be using will have a serial port.

Even if I dont use that PC, I've got a few serial-usb adapters (I do quite a bit of serial programming). 

 

qin__23 

 

By Tedificator
@ Thu, 2008-07-10 18:50
Tedificator's picture
let us know how that works out if you try it.  I've read that for lots of pic programmers, just converting from usb to serial doesn't work, since usb voltages (especially for laptops) don't always achieve high enough voltages to put the pic in programming mode.
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