Hello,
I really hope I can get some help.I recently properly rediscovered micro controllers, and arduino's name seemed to pop up on the top.
I am a Computer Engineering student and I am very keen on picking up random projects based on computers at home.I had a few projects on my mind(may or may not be micro controller related). And most of them seemed to link up with micro controllers and embedded systems.
So I thought of having some fun and decided to get a micro controller like arduino.I haven't got it yet, because when I went to the shop, it seemed like I had no idea what I was doing and the retailer also refused to sell an arduino uno to me saying that I need to learn some stuff before.
So I had a small project as my initiation planned i.e controlling the electrical appliances power on and off, like the tube light and the fan and few power points in my room using a computer.
Since I am from computer engineering background, I was taught a lot of software, but only a little bit of hardware, because of that I am completely confused. So here are a few of my questions.
1.How do I choose which dev board or micro controller to go with?
2.How can I learn more about this stuff?
3.I came across freeduino and it is cheaper in my country compared to arduino should I get that?
4.How do I know what all I stuff I need with my controller?(I did not even know about the power brick, the salesman told me)
5.What all wires and other peripherals would I need with my controller?
6.Can someone link me to some pages which explain retail micro controllers in detail. I do not want links to micro controllers's wiki page, I need some commercial mixed with technical advise in this area?
Thank you I have some more questions but will edit this post to add them later since I cannot remember them as of now.
But basically I am a completely newbie to all this and need a lot of help. I can program in C/C++, Python, Java.
Prefer C and Python and also I use Linux based Operating systems preferably. I am currently using a custom debian based distro called Adonis linux.
mihir:
the retailer also refused to sell an arduino uno to me saying that I need to learn some stuff before.
That retailer is an idiot. Returning to that store is a waste of your time.
So I had a small project as my initiation planned i.e controlling the electrical appliances power on and off, like the tube light and the fan and few power points in my room using a computer.
High voltage things are dangerous. Start with low voltage things like LEDs and servos.
1.How do I choose which dev board or micro controller to go with?
Something with a DIP processor so replacing the processor is fairly painless when you accidentally fry it.
2.How can I learn more about this stuff?
Read then do. The best way to learn is to get your hands dirty. That's why the retailer is an idiot.
3.I came across freeduino and it is cheaper in my country compared to arduino should I get that?
4.How do I know what all I stuff I need with my controller?
Search the internet for "arduino starter kit". A good kit will have a list of parts. That will give you a very good idea of what to get.
(I did not even know about the power brick, the salesman told me)
The what?
5.What all wires and other peripherals would I need with my controller?
Breadboard. Wires. LEDs. Resistors. (the last two always go together) Beyond that, pick things that look fun.
6.Can someone link me to some pages which explain retail micro controllers in detail. I do not want links to micro controllers's wiki page, I need some commercial mixed with technical advise in this area?
Your best bet is probably to buy an experimenter's kit, or some other kit, with a Uno. Then you can work through the examples from simple to more complex, and learn as you go. Not everyone goes this route, but it's the path of least resistance, probably, for getting in to it. You won't need a power brick right away, since you can power the Uno and simple projects right from your USB port.
Off the top of my head, I can think of no reason to avoid the Freeduino. It's based on the Arduino Diecimilia. For most purposes, that won' t matter for learning to work with it. The Diecimilia uses a jumper to select USB power, whereas the Uno has an auto-select. Some people prefer the older design. There are, I think, some other hardware differences -- I think the FTDI USB controller, for example. Again, not important for picking it up and learning with it.
(I did not even know about the power brick, the salesman told me)
The what?[/quote]
Sounds like a wall-wart to me.
6.Can someone link me to some pages which explain retail micro controllers in detail. I do not want links to micro controllers's wiki page, I need some commercial mixed with technical advise in this area?
I don't understand.
That's what Crow said to Mal, and look what happened to him.
We could point him to the ATmega datasheet. I don't have a link handy for that -- you'd think they'd put something like "The latest version of this document can be found at ..." either in the first few or last few pages of that thing.
justjed:
We could point him to the ATmega datasheet. I don't have a link handy for that -- you'd think they'd put something like "The latest version of this document can be found at ..." either in the first few or last few pages of that thing.
Permanent link to the latest datasheet. That would certainly be a nice change.
Wow guys amazing support.
I love the patience with which you tackled all of my question, thank you very much.
I have played with LEDs and resistors before, at my school I did some assembly programming for rotating text on a led display and the board consisted of an 8086 processor and a few micro controllers( I forget the chip numbers).
And also I attached LEDs and resistors to my computer case fans 2 years back, with a 12V supply.
And I have written a 32 bit protected boot loader for a 80386, in assembly. NASM
By power brick I mean, something to power the board, it had a DC in.
I will look at the starter kits. Thank you fellow members, your support is seriously of astonishing quality. :d
Ok Guys I got one of the starter kits. I mean I got the same components from my local store.
I got something similar to the budget started kit which was for $65 at adafruit.
It cost me $23 here.
I got a freeduino with atmega 328 instead of the arduino except for that everything is the same.
So I will be starting up on projects soon.Will post if I have any questions.
Another thing is I can use the arduino getting started guide for the freeduino as well right?
