After much nashing of teeth, I've finally completed an interface for the VEX controller. The source code is located at
http://www.codeplex.com/VexMsrs. For those using the IFI controller, it should be easy enough to modify the sources to support it.
No, this code is NOT FIRST competion compatible. (I'm not using the robot for competition, but for education outreach.)
You (obviously) need a PC.
You need to get something that will use the second serial port on the controller. (I used the BlueSMIrF from Spark Fun Electronics
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...roducts_id=582) You can modify the code to use the first serial port if you want, just make sure to disable all of the printf diagnostics.
You need a programmer cable. (I've got the hex file included in the zip file if you don't want to compile the file itself.)
Hopefully, some of the readers here are working with the robots outside of competition after the season is over. Good luck to all.
Enjoy
Ed
PS - What do you do after the seaon is over?