ComputerVoltageSources

After a little bit of a false start (due to a keyspan USB->Serial interface
going bad on me) I can report that I am happily and easily programming
the PSIM-1 on my G5 iMac. I'm running the development environment
in VirtualPC (running WindowsXP) and using a rather generic USB->Serial
interface (don't have the name right now but I can get it for you if you need
it). It runs very well and quickly. Maybe a little expensive solution but it
is one step closer to not having an extra PC around just to to two tasks
(developing for the PSIM-1 and burning EPROMS). The EPROM burning
software even runs in a DOS window under VirtualPC/WindowsXP but I
can't get a USB->Parallel interface to present itself as an LPT device. I think
I'll have to eventually go shopping for an new USB connected EPROM burner
in order to rid myself of the PC (now if only I could rid myself of Microsoft!!).

PS Don't try this with a KeySpan device, It is recognized by OSX but got very
confused in the emulation, to the point where I think the firmware got roached
in it (this device happens to have a little processor in it and runs firmware
to do the USB->Serial translation).


--- In ComputerVoltageSources@yahoogroups.com, "drmabuce" <drmabuce@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Jason
> ok i'll try to tackle these, i'm more of a software guy too.
> you hardware gurus feel free to jump in anytime if i f^&k this up!
> ;'>
> 
> --- In ComputerVoltageSources@yahoogroups.com, Jason Proctor
> <jason@> wrote:
> >
> > i'm not really up on what's going on with the concept, having caught 
> > the beginning of this thread on sdiy and then lost it until a day or 
> > two ago when i learned it had moved here. i have what may be regarded 
> > as a few dumb questions.
> 
> i suggest that it's worth wading through the message traffic on this
> site to get the big picture. On a project this complex, consensus is
> pretty hard won and there are some folks working on this with a deep
> pool of hands-on expertise. There's a lot of widely applicable info in
> those posts
> 
> > 
> > - does it have to be rs232 for the computer interface?
> > 
> > i've not seen a serial interface other than usb or firewire on a Mac 
> > in living memory, and i'd be surprised if it survives on PCs for much 
> > longer. however, MIDI's going to be around for a while yet, and 
> > presumably USB for a while longer. can we have one of those instead?
> > 
> 
> i believe we are constrained by the design of the BasicAtomPro
> architecture- which is RS232. So if you are living in MACland, a USB
> to RS232 converter and some sort of PC emulation will probably be
> required. Look for some of Mike Firman's posts. He has some experience
> with MBASIC on a MAC. 
>     Please keep in mind that the realm of this kind of gadget is
> really neither PC or MAC.... it's PIC...basicstamps..... the little
> 'computer-on-a-chip' gadgets that operate the radial-saw elbow of
> those robots you see on Robot Wars! RS232 is still very much alive in
> that world.
> I find most of my best hints and tips in the hobbyist robot sites
> 
> 
> > - larry's PSIM layouts look pretty good. are all 8 inputs etc that 
> > people are talking about necessary or even supportable by the 
> > hardware platform? 
> >
> 
> 8 ins and outs are supported by Grants basic PCB design. But this is a
> DIY project so you can always 'roll-your-own' and implement fewer
> I/O's if you don't need them.
> 
> > as a software tweak and hardware klutz i'm kinda looking forward to a 
> > module i can tweak...
> > 
> 
> it's nice to have the power to implement a complex function with
> something OTHER than just opamps in your toolkit eh?
> Willkommen and have fun!
> -doc
>