Hello all, new to Arduino here and actually - electronics in general as well. I've purchased and read the getting started book and have an Uno on order to start messing around with the examples, etc.
While buying the Uno I was surfing sites like Sparkfun and noticed a few things I can't really find answers to and hoped there is either a document / wiki I don't know about yet I can get a pointer to and/or that I can draw from the wisdom of folks here. I have searched but am in that awkward spot where I don't think I know what to search for yet...
Questions:
I am interested in Xbee in the future (not going there as a first step, but want to start learning) and see "shields" for this and for Ethernet. It appears to me that you actually just "snap" these on a board like an Uno and voila - you get that functionality. Am I correct in this understanding? The other options appear to involve some amount of soldering, etc. Is this what a "shield" is... a pre-made snap-on component or are not all shields created equal?
I see a lot of blue stuff and a lot of red stuff. I am assuming this coloring is done on purpose. What is the meaning of it?
Any other tips or hints would be helpful and I'm definitely not opposed to reading but am at that awkward point where without some manner of guidance I don't know what next step to take. Thanks!
t appears to me that you actually just "snap" these on a board like an Uno and voila - you get that functionality. Am I correct in this understanding?
They don't "snap" on. They plug in. There are a bunch of pins that align with the headers on the Arduino, and fit right in when a little pressure is applied.
The other options appear to involve some amount of soldering, etc. Is this what a "shield" is... a pre-made snap-on component or are not all shields created equal?
The definition of a shield, as applied to the Arduino, is an assembled board that plugs in. They can be obtained fully assembled or as kits that you solder together.
I see a lot of blue stuff and a lot of red stuff. I am assuming this coloring is done on purpose. What is the meaning of it?
It's just done to confuse you.
If you explained what "blue stuff" and what "red stuff" you are referring to, a somewhat more helpful answer might be possible.
It doesn't mean anything. A PCB can be any colour. Some manufacturers make their shields to match the colour of a genuine arduino, some, such as sparkfun, carry some red ones. No significance at all.
Xbee is the "easy" but not cheap way to get started communication between Arduinos. Some of us are also working on a low-cost solution with Nordic Semiconductor chips: http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Nrf24L01-2.4GHz-HowTo
You'll find friendly replies here to well-thought-out questions...