Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

Look under the hood of your controller, and you'll see a few more cylinders that you previously thought. ;)

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

Omni Wheels are nice. Chain and Sprocket kit and/or gear kit is good if you planning on making an attachment of some sort. Metal and Hardware kit if you want to make your robot bigger.

I also have the line following kit and Ultrasonic sensor but haven't tried them yet so will not comment on them.

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

Would you mind expanding on this comment?

Some of us are looking for hard data to base buying decisions on.

Thanks

RRU

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

There is a lot more to the Vex controller than what you can see on the outside. If you feel like hacking some of the IFI code (or if you just know someone who knows what they are doing), then you could unlock the Rx/Tx ports on the controller for use. A great example of something you can do with these ports is hooking up the CMUcam to the Vex controller via the Rx/Tx ports. I don't want to spoil any more surprises, but there are a few more undocumented "features" inside the Vex controller to conquer. :p

That is the best thing about the Vex kits. You can never really "master" the Vex kits, or reach the end of innovation with them. There is always something new you can try. You can always push the enevelope on what you can try to do with the Vex kits, as there are almost always undocumented features that you can try to hack and control. :cool:

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

Would anyone else like to volunteer what they brought at the Radio Shack sale for Vex and why?

We are still waiting for an answer to quantify what to buy and how many.

Being it is on sale doesn't tell us what to buy to anticipate future needs.

Thanks for whatever advice you can offer.

RRU

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

Try consulting this thread for some ideas.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=45660

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

Don't forget about eBay. I had to get my programming kit this way. It seems out of five radio shacks within 50 miles did not have the programming kit in stock.

I got a good deal on it, more than the sale price, but not anymore than the regular price even after paying $7.00 for shipping.


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Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

I agree. Some stores are closing around me. RS blew it carrying VEX. Their markup is huge and no one wants to pay it. Those are definitely closeout prices. I think VEX is a goner at RS. The only hope for VEX products is online.

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

So...any late minute Vex buys for anyone? the sale is getting to the end.

Anything you wish you had but couldn't find?

Any idea how many of each item one should stock up on at this price?

RRU

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

A local Radio Shack employee told me they were re-aligning their stores. Some would be carrying less hobby related items, like resistors, transistors, soldering irons, etc and concentrate more on the consumer electronics items like Ipods and cell phones. Others would continue to carry the hobby items. My feeling is that mall stores would be the ones dropping the hobby items. Argh! Now I have to locate a specific store when I'm looking for some widget!

I also heard at Nationals that Radio Shack is dropping the Vex line, and that Innovation First is picking it up as the supplier for it. Radio Shack sales on the Vex stuff is probably an attempt to clear out existing inventory. I used to work for them many years ago, and I know from then that no stock was ever shipped back anywhere, it just went on sale until it was sold.

I'm thinking of picking up a Vex starter kit and programming kit, just to learn c+ and fool around with it at home.

Ted

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

We picked one up last weekend, along with any accessories we could find.

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

IFI Did.

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

IFI is Innovation First. Hence Innovation First, Inc. Unless, 1591, that was a question or shock of unknowing, Vex is now supplied by Innovations First, Inc and RadioShack dropped out. Its primarily due to Radio Shack not making that much money as they three way partnership; IFI, US FIRST, and Radio Shack; caused the profit to split the money. Radio Shack decided to leave the Vex to IFI and FIRST to which IFI became the dominant partner and now main supplier. I saw this coming as IFI had the EDU kits and Vex is just the next generation of EDU. There is a topic or two on this issue i think already on CD.

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

I heard exactly the same thing from two local RS managers. Thankfully, the closer of the two was one of the 'hobby' stores...

I ended up buying one or two of everything but the metal and ultrasonics - you never know what you might like to fool with.

My current summer project is to build and program a small robot (about 1/2 FRC size) to harass the local wildlife. I live on a suburban lot, and have deer, woodchucks, a skunk family and a plethora of chipmunks that I'd like to make life less comfortable for. (The squirrels, I've given up on. They Win).

The idea is to sense movement, determine if it's a critter, then move towards it making noise, all staying within specific boundaries (the lawn). When battery gets low, it finds and connects to a charging port, then goes out again waiting and watching...

The 'sense movement' part is the hardest, I'm working on a combination of motion sensor and IR camera. Unsure if I'll get it to work, but that's no reason to not try.

Don

Re: Big VEX sale at RadioShack
 

Definitely an interesting use of a vex robot.

You could always just use the old motion sensor connected to a pan - tilt AK-47. That should solve the problem for you. :D