Wow, I am a convert of using PICAXE chips They are so easy to use!

The PICAXE-28X CPU chip arrived yesterday from Altronics.  When I get some time over the weekend, I will have a go at programming it :-)

It only runs at 4MHz at the moment.  Later I will see if I can overclock it to 16MHz.  I am interested in seeing how fast I can do Anologue-to-Digital (AD) converstions, as I have some other projects in mind as well, that could use it if I can get running at around 120 conversions per second.

It's called "on the job training".  While updating the Subversion repository with the latest files, I managed to switch two directories around.  Oops.  Had to export one of them, revert back, and add it back in.  The beauty of a Content Management System like Subversion is that nothing is really lost :-)

Anyway, it's all up too date with the latest files etc.  Mainly my MyGPS, servo and gps code files and some PICAXE pdf's. 

Might have to order a PICAXE-28X tomorrow!

Arrived back from Perth late Friday afternoon, after a fun filled 3 days with Ross, doing all the holiday things.

Like visiting electronic and hobby stores as well as Battery wholesalers.  I picked up a 12V 28Ahr SLA Battery to run the Servo and Motor, and a 7AHr SLA Battery to run the electronics.  I also picked up some other batteries (7AHr and 4Hr), to repair some old UPS's.

We also found a "$6.00 All you can eat" Indian restaurant.  We ate way too much!

I had a problem, where every image I added would be displayed full size!Turned out that even though the ImageMagic 'convert' program could convert JPEGs, the image program actually seems to use the GD JPEG resize function.  I hadn't compiled in the JPEG libraries into PHP.  Turns out I had to download the latest JPEG source code, compile it, and then re-compile PHP with the --with-jpeg-dir=/usr/local/bin/ switch.  I then had to redo some of the pictures, so it could add in their thumbnails. 

I have purchased a 2D Honeywell 3100 Digital Compass.  This uses a TTL RS-232 voltage level, so since I need to connect it to a PC, I will need to make up a converter curcuit using a MAX232CPE chip.  I have one here, but I think it's stuffed (from a previous experiment some years ago).

I will pick up two more in Perth next time I am up there.  I will also purchase the batteries, Hall Effect Sensor and battery charger. So much to do, and so little time :-)

After weeks of frustrating work trying to figure out the Northlight Systems Servo Controller and the base channel address, and the serial cabling issues (turned out there where none).  There where also issues with 'minicom' and how it stores some 0x00 values.

These tests where done with a 512MB compact flash card, and a Seagate Medalist 10232 Hard Drive, alternately connected to a VIA EPIA-PD 6000 motherboard with 256MB or RAM.

Power applied, but not switched on:  107mA

At switch on with HD:  2000mA+ (blew the Digital Multimeter 2A fuse!) 

Running 'du /' with a HD: 1000 - 1200mA

compiling DHCP from source, 75% user activity, 0% idle with HD: 1250mA

command prompt, with nothing happening with HD: 1000mA

command prompt, with nothing happening with CF: 900mA

This should have been really easy, but for some reason my brain wanted to make this far too difficult!

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