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Author Topic: 3EEPROM preorder  (Read 1422 times)

ian

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3EEPROM preorder
« on: July 30, 2009, 05:54:42 AM »
I can arrange a preorder of 3EEROM explorer board PCBs ($10) or kits ($15), prices include worldwide shipping. We need about 10 commitments for PCBs, and about twice that for full kits.
« Last Edit: July 30, 2009, 06:17:16 AM by ian »

rhyvu

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2009, 10:15:46 AM »
I don't know if this is still valid, but I would be interested in a 3EEROM explorer board as kit or assembled.

ericwertz

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2009, 07:39:10 PM »
$10/pcb seems a little steep to me, given that shipping's about $3, and that they'll make 10pcbs for you through their Propaganda service for $49.  So, it seems like that "should" come in for more like $8.  For $10 I think that I'd prefer a board that's got perhaps >=10 footprints on it (temp sensors, ADC, DA, etc etc) for even more flavors of edutainment.

My $0.018 (now 10% off, limited time only)

ian

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2009, 02:00:16 AM »
I'm not setup to retail from my business (actually, I just can't), so everything has to go through Seeed. They list the extra PCBs from my orders on their propaganda service for $5-$6 each, and then shipping is $3 more. I'd buy the $49 service and give mine away, Seeed would be selling the extras.

You're right though, if I could just buy a panel and split it up they'd be less than a buck each. Maybe I should do that and just give out the kit for free? I'd have to eliminate the 1-Wire EEPROM, those seem way expensive (could be wrong), maybe a temp sensor instead? Any thoughts?

Edit: I just wanted to be clear that I don't get money from the extra PCBs they sell, but I guess Seeed uses it to subsidize the order.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2009, 02:02:14 AM by ian »

ericwertz

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2009, 06:08:44 AM »
I was thinking that there ought to be a better way for both you and Seeed to make something on the boards (or kits) within their existing structure.  My initial point was simply that the board's awfully small to be $7->$10, and hence not a great value for me personally.   However, if they're the 5 remainders from your Propaganda order , of course they're going to want to get $6-7+ for them, but that's their issue.

However, if you were inclined to run more of any similar design, I'd think that more people would be inclined to get one @$7->10 if they were laid out to support what you've got there already, plus perhaps a few of temp sensor, ADC, DAC, digipot, etc -- especially since Seeed probably charges about the same anyways.  Ultimately the reality is that a PCB is only a convenience here because these particular parts are trivial to wire-up.  So the value has to be there by having it be as useful for as many test devices as possible, or if it's going to be assembled as a long-lived educational tool.   In my mind, if they'd just let you step-and-repeat the original design even five-way, you'd both have more to sell/give away and net more on the deal.  However, I know that that's not how they want to do it. :-(

I was personally more interested in the PCB because I already have (samples of) the EEPROMs waiting to be spooned by my v3 BP.  For $4, I'd house my one or two devices in a socketed PCB to keep my breadboard clear, but not for $10.

Don't let me discourage you from spending $49 just so that they have something to sell and you to give away, because the economics of that don't scale particularly well.... -).  I was just trying to find a win-win-win for everyone, and am not sure that $10 for that particular PCB is it.

ian

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2009, 07:23:38 AM »
If the price is the same it could be interesting to do an all I2C board, with a place for the vast majority of common DIP devices wired to the same bus. I'm not sure where to start with that list. I'd be interested in any recommendations for ADC, DAC, digipots, etc.

ian

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2009, 09:02:11 AM »
Here's a list of parts from the manual that would probably be worth putting on a large PCB of footprints. It would be nice to have DIP and SOIC footprints for popular parts.

I2C
TC74 temperature sensor
PCF8574 IO expander
DS1077/1085 programmable oscillator
24LCxxxx EEPROM
DS1807 audio volume POT
LTC2631A DAC (?)
RTC (PCF8563/DS1307)
xxx(?) I2C to 1-Wire bridge

SPI
23K256 SRAM
LTC2640 DAC (?)
DS1801 audio pot
MCP6S26 programmable gain amplifier

1-Wire
Ds2431 eeprom
DS1822 temperature sensor
DSxxxx(?) ADC

PC Keyboard connector footprint

LCD adapter w/PFC8574 footprint


ericwertz

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2009, 08:39:39 AM »
I probably went back and forth 2-3 times before I finally finished my previous message about what such a board might be.  Namely, is it just a motel for newly received parts until they get comfortable and find a permanent house to live in, or is it a educational omni-board that would be expected to house a wide-variety of parts "permanently" for demo/lab purposes?

Only in the latter case would it seem to me like a full kit could make sense.  Otherwise, as in my case, it would be a (perhaps socketed) PCB where I'd exercise my samples before they go into project specific protoboards.  And since I practically might only be interested in 1/3 of the devices in the full list above, I may not be a customer for a full kit of parts.

So, in the end, I'm totally at a loss to know if a full "Serial Explorer Kit" makes sense or not.  Clearly it could be a natural accessory to the BP, or dare I say it, the Arduino.  Were it both Arduino-shieldable as well as Pirate-boardable, its appeal might be significantly enhanced.

Your proposed list of parts is pretty much everything that I'd throw out there.  I'm loving the keyboard connector.  I might even suggest adding a tab on the PCB onto which a Wiichuck could be attached for cheap 3-axis I2C action.  Perhaps some type of waveform generator if that's not totally redundant w.r.t. a DAC.

The kit/PCB could also be a gentle introduction to SMT soldering for those so inclined.

Rubi

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2009, 06:11:54 AM »
Hi

Please count me in for a kit.

Cheers
Rubi

Richard Sharpe

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2009, 12:07:00 AM »
I can arrange a preorder of 3EEROM explorer board PCBs ($10) or kits ($15), prices include worldwide shipping. We need about 10 commitments for PCBs, and about twice that for full kits.

Count me in ...

DTM

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2010, 08:26:47 PM »
Count me in as well. I'm a complete beginner and could use this.

poshpaws

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2010, 01:21:16 AM »
Here's a list of parts from the manual that would probably be worth putting on a large PCB of footprints. It would be nice to have DIP and SOIC footprints for popular parts.

I2C
TC74 temperature sensor
PCF8574 IO expander
DS1077/1085 programmable oscillator
24LCxxxx EEPROM
DS1807 audio volume POT
LTC2631A DAC (?)
RTC (PCF8563/DS1307)
xxx(?) I2C to 1-Wire bridge

SPI
23K256 SRAM
LTC2640 DAC (?)
DS1801 audio pot
MCP6S26 programmable gain amplifier

1-Wire
Ds2431 eeprom
DS1822 temperature sensor
DSxxxx(?) ADC

PC Keyboard connector footprint

LCD adapter w/PFC
8574 footprint



Did this BP educational board ever get produced? ... it sounds perfect playing and learning with.
I would love to have one , to this end i would  even sponsor the upfront costs of a seed fusion run if there was a working design.


 

ian

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2010, 01:52:05 AM »
@poshpaws - I actually ended up making the board you describe, but without the SPI and Keyboard adapter. I'll try to get it out there soon.

EGHM

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2010, 03:26:13 AM »
I'd buy one too.

MarkDixon

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Re: 3EEPROM preorder
« Reply #14 on: July 07, 2010, 07:57:23 AM »
Bit of an old subject but is there anything progressing with these boards?
I'd definately be interested in ordering a couple, especially if they had a couple of each device (i.e. a couple of SPI, a couple of 1-wire components), after all, isnt that the benefit of these protocols, to access more than one device on the same bus (obviously using the same protocol)? And this board, along with the tutorials on the site would make a perfect example/starting point.
Maybe if two boards could be linked together extending the buses to other components??
I like the idea of the Wii controller connector as well.
I'm in the UK and would probably order 2 or three kits if they became available.