BS2-IC Rev J

[pomprocker]

I picked up a BS2 from an electronics store a little while back to I could do some of the projects in the robot builders bonanza 3rd edition book for some learning experience. I put together the platform for it on a breadboard last night.

I don't have a DB9 port on my MacBook Pro that is recommended to program a BS2 with, so I tried using the SparkFun 2103 USB breakout board.

It got too late at night before I got it to work, but does anyone know if those breakout boards can be hooked up to the BS2 properly for a USB programmer?

[Steve Joblin]

Many USB to Serial adapters have trouble talking to stamps due to the drivers they use... Parallax recommends specific ones that they list on their site.

[pomprocker]

Here is a reply I got from parralax tech support:

I do not believe so; the level the Basic Stamp needs to
reprogram is +-12VDC RS232 not the 5VDC that the USB port delivers. You
might be able to communicate with that module, but not reprogram the
Basic Stamp.

[ceruleanplains]

that's odd.  I have a Board of Education (BoE) kit from Parallax and it runs off of 9VDC or 4AA (6 VDC) or USB.  Can't really help you with a prototype of that board as I have the full BoE.  But I can help you with some Parallax projects when you get there.

[pomprocker]

Yes my breadboard setup is running off of 4 AA NiMH (4.8v) batteries. But RS232 voltage is +/- 12vdc.

[ceruleanplains]

Are you using a serial to USB converter or an actual USB?  I have a serial to USB converter from Parallax and also a mini-USB cable that runs from that to the computer.  I program over that COM port using the Parallax IDE (see download section on Parallax website).

The other questions I have are I know this is perhaps obvious but did you look at the PIN diagram for the BS2 when hooking it up to the breadboard? I can't think of a way to confirm that your BS2IC isn't fried, but it's possible if you didn't have a pure enough conditioned signal (though probably unlikely).

Please attaching a diagram of your breadboard design as it would be more helpful for discussion.

[pomprocker]

Are you using a serial to USB converter or an actual USB?  I have a serial to USB converter from Parallax and also a mini-USB cable that runs from that to the computer.  I program over that COM port using the Parallax IDE (see download section on Parallax website).

The other questions I have are I know this is perhaps obvious but did you look at the PIN diagram for the BS2 when hooking it up to the breadboard? I can't think of a way to confirm that your BS2IC isn't fried, but it's possible if you didn't have a pure enough conditioned signal (though probably unlikely).

Please attaching a diagram of your breadboard design as it would be more helpful for discussion.

I was using the sparkfun.com usb breakout board (2103)

but I had just bought the parallax usb-r232 w/ cable  one for about $17

I am using the breadboard setup as described in the book Robot Builder's Bonanza 3rd ed.

I am confused though as some sources say it requires 6-15vdc to power, and the book says 4.8vdc is okay.

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/stamps/basicstampfaq.pdf

http://books.google.com/books?id=oqI5WC8M8qEC&pg=PA240&lpg=PA240&dq=bs2+programmer&source=web&ots=YF241ZAqKl&sig=RCZjy8Etzsfnz0ZhQy5AFJ8zop8&hl=en#PPA233,M1

[pomprocker]

trying again this last weekend no luck. i used the proper amount of votage, but the stamp software couldnt see the stamp.

maybe my programmer that i wired together is bad?

[Admin]

Hmmmm the BS2 requires TTL, not RS232:
"Serial PC interface"

So if you use a USB to RS232 adaptor, it won't work.

You need a USB to TTL adaptor.

[ceruleanplains]

I have the Parallax USB to Serial (RS-232) Adapter for one of my boards of education.  It's likely that the comm. interface of the BoE is what allows the use of the RS232 connection instead of as Admin states TTL.  There's a chip on the BoE that you're lacking for serial connection.   Sorry about that. 

I did have other problems where my voltage was low on my BS2IC where I had enough VDC to have the board's power to turn on but not enough for communications.  I swapped out and used new batteries in that case and it worked fine.  So you may have an undervolt problem also.



"Parallax has designed a USB to Serial (RS-232) adapter that is compact and economical. This adapter works with all of our products. If you don't have a serial port on your machine, this is an easy solution. To use this adapter simply plug it in to your machine's USB port using a USB A to mini B cable (#805-00006). Next point the operating system to the appropriate driver. Then add the driver port to your Parallax BASIC Stamp module, Javelin Stamp module, or SX-Key software IDE and you're ready to program with a virtual COM port.

Parallax designed it using the latest FTDI chip (FT232RL). This adapter supports multiple operating systems. FTDI provides fully functional drivers, maintaining and improving them as operating systems change (such as Windows)."