Title: USB IR Toy v2 Free PCB built
Post by: startracer on August 29, 2011, 12:51:50 pm
Post by: startracer on August 29, 2011, 12:51:50 pm
I was lucky enough to get a coupon for a free PCB and I immediately set my sights on the USB IR Toy. Some components were a bit hard to find, in Sweden any way, but after having discovered that Digi-Key has a swedish page there was no problem anymore.
The 0603 components were easier to solder than I thought.
After finishing it and programming it with the bootloader I could not get it to download the firmware so I flashed the whole firmware with a PICkit3 instead, which probably was just as easy.
The last components I ordered were the IR receiver and the IR detector and it was a painful wait. But today I finally got them, soldered them as fast as I could, connected the board to USB (I had already checked that it was working before I got the IR components) and hit the "t" to run the self test. The "V215" it returned was awesome. Now I really have to get this thing a worthy place in my home control network.
Thanks for making this awesome gizmo!
[attachment=1]
[attachment=0]
The 0603 components were easier to solder than I thought.
After finishing it and programming it with the bootloader I could not get it to download the firmware so I flashed the whole firmware with a PICkit3 instead, which probably was just as easy.
The last components I ordered were the IR receiver and the IR detector and it was a painful wait. But today I finally got them, soldered them as fast as I could, connected the board to USB (I had already checked that it was working before I got the IR components) and hit the "t" to run the self test. The "V215" it returned was awesome. Now I really have to get this thing a worthy place in my home control network.
Thanks for making this awesome gizmo!
[attachment=1]
[attachment=0]
Title: Re: USB IR Toy v2 Free PCB built
Post by: ian on August 30, 2011, 02:33:54 pm
Post by: ian on August 30, 2011, 02:33:54 pm
Nice job, thanks for the update. Be sure to check out the v20 firmware we released today :)
Title: Re: USB IR Toy v2 Free PCB built
Post by: startracer on August 30, 2011, 02:52:43 pm
Post by: startracer on August 30, 2011, 02:52:43 pm
Yep, I saw that notice on facebook today. After lunch I'll be all over it =)
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Title: Re: USB IR Toy v2 Free PCB built
Post by: bearmos on August 31, 2011, 02:39:16 pm
Post by: bearmos on August 31, 2011, 02:39:16 pm
nice build, startracer! i take it this wasn't your first time hand soldering SMT?
Title: Re: USB IR Toy v2 Free PCB built
Post by: startracer on August 31, 2011, 03:21:05 pm
Post by: startracer on August 31, 2011, 03:21:05 pm
Thank you! =) I'm used to soldering 0402 and smaller at work using a microscope. I wasn't sure if I could do the 0603 at home with just my magnifyer but it wasn't too hard. It's great fun and in combination with toys like this, it just gets even better =D