USB and Mac Support for IFI FRC Controllers???

[Greg McCoy]

Is there a PowerPC PIC compiler package that I'm unaware of? Running the x86 version on Virtual PC works for me, but obviously I'd prefer something native...

I've seen a couple Keyspan USB serial ports in action, and they seemed to work pretty well. I plan on buying one soon.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by JosephM

Good to know it's in development, although not surprising it won't happen next year.

BTW, is your car still in Dayton?

It is important to read carefully, and parse the statement with equal attention. Note that he did NOT say that it "was in development" - he said it was "on the list" of "desireable items for future development." There is a very big difference. In other words, it is being considered for development - but development is not guaranteed, and they won't even start to look at it until later (e.g. after this year). Be careful not to read too much into the statement. You are making conclusions about information that just isn't there.

-dave

p.s. the van is (finally!) back from Dayton - two and a half weeks and three transmissions later!

[RIgnazio]

Well, thanks for clearing that up Dave. Atleast they are talking about doing it someday...

[mechanicalbrain]

Originally Posted by RIgnazio

Well, thanks for clearing that up Dave. Atleast they are talking about doing it someday...

Again don't read to much into it. He never said they were talking about it. He said it was "on the list" but never mentioned anything about talking about it. Actually this post has a serious side. How much would this add to the cost of the IFI controller? Or would it add to the cost? I don't think the CMU2 added any cost so I'm not sure this would either.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by mechanicalbrain

How much would this add to the cost of the IFI controller? Or would it add to the cost?

The components are cheap -- no more than a few dollars, in the kind of quantity that might be purchased for FIRST robotics team use. However, that ignores engineering and tooling costs, which are not negligible.

For about $15, you can buy your own USB-to-serial converter and have it today, and it will work with the older RCs and mini-RCs as well.

[jdiwnab]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

For about $15, you can buy your own USB-to-serial converter and have it today, and it will work with the older RCs and mini-RCs as well.

But are slow as crud if you are talking about ones from radio shack

[RIgnazio]

I managed to find this one, and it seemed like a likely choice. One that IFI recommends is manufactured by a company called Inside Out networks, and is $90, and is not compatible with Mac OS.
This one, however, works with Windows, Mac OS 8 and 10, and people have gotten it working with a 2.6.x kernel in Linux.
http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/USA19HS/

I am looking at buying one. When you click the buy now button, it gives you prices ranging from $20-$40, so it is not that expensive.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by jdiwnab

But are slow as crud if you are talking about ones from radio shack

IFI consistently praises the 26-183 converter from Radio Shack. Several teams report that the inexpensive Bafo Technologies BF-810 works great.

Tiger Direct has a deal through October on a CP Tech adapter that ends up being free after rebate. At that price, you can't go wrong.

[RIgnazio]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Tiger Direct has a deal through October on a CP Tech adapter that ends up being free after rebate. At that price, you can't go wrong.

Thanks for that, I am checking it out right now, and will probably order it tonight

[Greg Marra]

It's probably also worth nothing that if they removed the serial programming port, that would remove one of the ports you can use to interface a serial device with the RC. There aren't too many serial devices you want to interface, but it'd be a significant removal.

[Ted Boucher]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

IFI consistently praises the 26-183 converter from Radio Shack.

I will back up this statement saying the Radio Shack 26-183 that IFI praises is a great USB to Serial converter. Team 237 used it all of last season with very great success with programing the robot AND calibrating the camera that we successfully used. Also, the transfer speed is perfectly fine for what is need to to work on a robot.

[devicenull]

We use: http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...=101&sku=26886

It's worked perfectly so far, and downloads were done in about a minute.