Search found 21 matches

by Tinkerer
Sun Jan 23, 2005 7:14 am
Forum: Computer Programming
Topic: I want to hire a BASIC stamp or PIC programer
Replies: 1
Views: 2760

I want to hire a BASIC stamp or PIC programer

I have a project that needs imbeded control and I think a BASIC stamp or PIC is the way to do it. I want to concentrate on all the other aspects of the project, learning how to use and program these devices on my own will take too much of my time. I do want to learn more about them as we go, but for...
by Tinkerer
Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:36 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card
Replies: 11
Views: 5237

Re: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card

That Pico ACD uses 0-5v input just like the joystick port. I'm betting they are pretty similar internally. In either case I have to make my instrument have that output.<p>The Pico has great software which is alone makes it worth the purchase. But I have a joystick port now- no $ outlay. If I can rea...
by Tinkerer
Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:44 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card
Replies: 11
Views: 5237

Re: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card

I've got it! Check this out: http://www.picotech.com/low-cost-data-loggers.html <p>It's a printer port ADC that requires no power, have software and drivers for any language you could want including basic, and costs under $200! It can even feed data straight into Excel! IT'S PERFECT! They have quite...
by Tinkerer
Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:13 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card
Replies: 11
Views: 5237

Re: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card

I used 1 too many zeros! I think I only need 10khz sample, not 100 like I said in previous post. 48khz is plenty.<p>It looks like there are lots of small da boxes on the market for under $100 designed to work with BASIC and either a serial or parallel port. I'll check those out.
by Tinkerer
Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card
Replies: 11
Views: 5237

Re: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card

Interesting but one per second ain't even close. I need much faster sampling, at least 100 per millisecond.<p>"the poor man's data acquisition card" might work. 256 should be enough. I'll do some surfing to see if I can get more detail.
by Tinkerer
Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:06 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card
Replies: 11
Views: 5237

Re: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card

Thanks for telling me! I might have really gone nuts trying to read a DC input. I see no reason why AC voltage wouldn't work in my application- but I did need to know it's the only thing that would in the soundcard! As for response anything in the audible range will work.<p>I still need to know how ...
by Tinkerer
Thu Jan 13, 2005 4:03 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: a/d voltage voltage record with sound card
Replies: 11
Views: 5237

a/d voltage voltage record with sound card

Is it not-too difficult to use my sound card as an a/d to record voltage? Is there existing software? What kind of voltage and current will the input tollerate before going poof? Can a Basic Stamp or PIC perform such a feat? I know most have a/d converters.<p>I simply need to measure time and voltag...
by Tinkerer
Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:53 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: WAV file format
Replies: 4
Views: 2678

Re: WAV file format

thanks, philba. dang! that's complicated stuff.
by Tinkerer
Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:52 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: WAV file format
Replies: 4
Views: 2678

WAV file format

How do I get a look inside a WAV file and what would I see?
by Tinkerer
Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:19 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....
Replies: 26
Views: 12013

Re: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....

It may be that some cards do it and others don't. I might have to invest some research time on various cards and their abilities. What kind do you use?
by Tinkerer
Mon Jan 10, 2005 5:41 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....
Replies: 26
Views: 12013

Re: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....

I just learned that sound cards have Automatic Gain Control. That's going to mess me up. Measuring amplitude peaks is vital, if I can't pick out peaks this won't work. AGC is going to equalize everything! Drat, and I was so close.
by Tinkerer
Mon Jan 10, 2005 3:39 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....
Replies: 26
Views: 12013

Re: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....

I do appreciate all the input, but let me repeat: ultrasound and light _will_not_ work in my application. I have already explored both and I'm developing something else specificly because they won't. I'm not going say any more about what I'm trying to do because I believe it to be patentable and mor...
by Tinkerer
Sun Jan 09, 2005 3:51 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....
Replies: 26
Views: 12013

Re: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....

Ok, forget I said "chirp". I'll need it to send the signal to whatever I decide will make the sound at the same moment it starts the clock to time the echos. I checked those data acquisition PCMCIA cards. They would be great but are WAY out of the budget.<p>Isn't there a way to use the sou...
by Tinkerer
Sun Jan 09, 2005 3:01 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....
Replies: 26
Views: 12013

Re: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....

The project requires ranging up to several hundred feet. Ultrasonics loud enough to work would have dogs barking a mile away! Look, really, this is not my question. I need a computer/software to catch the echo and process it to determine the distance. It's possible there is computer/software designe...
by Tinkerer
Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:06 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....
Replies: 26
Views: 12013

Re: Sonar in a chip? I think I need a PIC programer....

I really don't know hardly anything about PICs, Basic Stamps, DSP, or programing. That's why the inital post. I only know what I need it to do. I was hoping to hook up with someone that could either point me to something already existing that could work (longshot, I know) or willing to do it for a r...