Computer Interfaced Electronics

[iLL_LeaT]

Hello!!!

I have a question about controlling electronics with computers.  I'm a computer science student with a personal interest in electronics.  Though I have not had time to put anything together yet, I am semi-educated on on the subject.

I'm hoping, when I have time, to make some computer interfaced electronic.  However, none of my laptops have serial ports and I don't have a desktop.  Moreover, I have noticed that newer Linux distributions don't support USB to serial converters because serial controlled devices are becoming obsolete.

So, If can't use the serial port, what should I use? Is there any way to use the USB port directly with out getting my masters in electrical engineering?  What do you use?

Thanks,
iLL

[frank26080115]

What? I'm running the latest Ubuntu release and my FTDI chip is working fine.
Try uninstalling the brltty package if it is installed, if it is running you'll never have any working serial port.

[iLL_LeaT]

I had never heard of FTDI

I see that they actually have Linux drivers 





Thanks....

[dunk]

Moreover, I have noticed that newer Linux distributions don't support USB to serial converters because serial controlled devices are becoming obsolete.

every USB to serial converter i have ever used has worked under linux without the need for any configuration.

as for serial controlled devices are becoming obsolete, i deal daily with networking equipment that needs to be initially configured by serial port.
RS232 is far from obsolete but i will admit it's uses are changing.

dunk.

[airman00]

ummm
Phidgets is the easiest and then comes just using the USB to serial ..

Phidgets:
http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?product_id=1018

[Kohanbash]

airman have you used that with linux?

[iLL_LeaT]

ummm
Phidgets is the easiest and then comes just using the USB to serial ..

Phidgets:
http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?product_id=1018

I was just taking a look at the manual for that.  It looks very cool.  I might have to pick one of those up!!!

thanks airman00

[airman00]

no not with linux,


but it should work.

I use visual basic to control it but I am sure that you can use a linux based software. Worst comes you'll use a windows emulator.

PM me if you need any specific help with the Phidgets

[Half Shell]

I highly recommend Arduino with a protoshield. http://www.arduino.cc and http://www.adafruit.com to buy it. It is very low cost, USB compatilble, works well with Linux and is incredibly easy to program and get up and running with your electronics projects. It even has Boarduino as a way to better interface with solderless breadboards.

[Spoil9]

Ok, so here is my noob question.
If I have an old laptop that is really good for nothing, can I use that as a microprocessor for my projects or is it to much to convert?
- Bill

[airman00]

The laptop would be overkill for a small robotics project.

I used a laptop  because I needed vista speech recognition , webcam , and otherstuff.

also you wouldn't be able to program the MCU inside the laptop, and it has a lot of leads.


Go with a MCU like AVR, PIC , or STAMP.

I prefer PIC for quick projects, and AVR for medium.
 ( PIC because I sue PICBASIC)

So, no you cannot use the laptop MCU


(by the way, the laptop is not good for nothing, you can use the laptop to program the PIC or AVR)

[IceMetal]

Hello!!!

I have a question about controlling electronics with computers.  I'm a computer science student with a personal interest in electronics.  Though I have not had time to put anything together yet, I am semi-educated on on the subject.

I'm hoping, when I have time, to make some computer interfaced electronic.  However, none of my laptops have serial ports and I don't have a desktop.  Moreover, I have noticed that newer Linux distributions don't support USB to serial converters because serial controlled devices are becoming obsolete.

So, If can't use the serial port, what should I use? Is there any way to use the USB port directly with out getting my masters in electrical engineering?  What do you use?

Thanks,
iLL

The cheapes and best way to control things with your computer is the parallel port  I created a page for it
http://geocities.com/scancool/parallel.html
but if you dont have a parallel port go for usb I got a kit and put it together for like $10 all you need is the component
http://www.delcom-eng.com/productdetails.asp?productnum=802300