Sorry- very newbie questions

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Hi all

I have tried searching here (and Googling in general) but haven't yet found the answers to everything I am looking for.
Is there a 'getting started' guide that is a little more in-depth than the one on this site ( http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage )? Perhaps that would help me.

Here's my situation- I'm super-cheap.

... Ok there's a little more to it:

-I have purchased several Shields from Radio Shack on clearance (a touch-screen shield and camera shield. I also have some from a previous 'Shack clearance sale; a DMX shield and motor shield). I have started backwards I guess, since I bought the shields before the microcontroller board.

-I believe these shields are compatible with the Arduino Uno and the Mega, but I don't know what these names mean, leading me to my first question:

  1. Is there a page that shows a matrix of the differences between all of the Arduinos (of which I understand there are a lot)? I guess I'd like to start with understanding the offerings from Arduino, and not even get into other versions yet like the Nanode, Teensy, and Sanguino).

-I guess I should buy a mega so I can get started, but there seem to be different options of that, as well; the numbers I see listed with "Mega" change. Most seem to say 2560, but some say "8U2" , "16AU", "16U2", "328P" or "CH340B"...
Question 2) Are these a reference to the processor on the board? Are the shields I bought compatible with any Mega? What do all of these numbers mean?!

-Question 3) Some listings say "R3". Is this Revision 3? What does that mean? I have never seen R1 or R2, are they very old? Does this matter?

-I am looking to buy a clone as they are 1/2 to 1/4 the price of a 'real' Arduino; I understand that there are risks inherent with buying knock-offs from China. Question 4) What's a good way to make sure I am getting a board that will work with the shields I've already got? It seems there are many physical form factors (mini, micro, etc) and if I stick with a standard-sized Mega I should be OK (right?).

-Question 5) Do all Arduinos have a USB port? Do some need level-shifting of some sort? I'd prefer not having to build (yet another) USB-to-serial cable if I can help it.

If it helps, I have prior experience with other microcontrollers, I used the Basic Stamp family for a while, and also PIC micros. This means that I know how stupid I sound with all the above questions, but I guess I am just a little frustrated with trying to get started and not really understanding the Arduino family at all or knowing where to start.

I will be using Windows as the development environment, unless there's a pressing reason to use Linux.

Thank you for any links or information you can provide.

2

All the boards are described here and there's a link to a comparison matrix near the top of that page.

3

I have started backwards I guess,

Indeed.
Start with Google:
Google this:
"arduino" (who would have guessed ?)
pick this one:

then pick this one:

Then click on all of them until you have answered all of your questions.

I guess I should buy a mega so I can get started,

but since

I'm super-cheap.

you should buy an UNO because 90% of the tutorials and projects online were created for the UNO R3.

I'm trying to research your question about the meaning of "R3" but it seems it is not as easy as I had thought .

4
  1. Are these a reference to the processor on the board?

Yes

What do all of these numbers mean?!

They are just part of the name of the processor chip, so numbers might have some connection with the amount of memory that some chips have.

Some listings say "R3". Is this Revision 3?

Yes.

I have never seen R1 or R2, are they very old?

Not that old. You never see any reference to a revision 1 until there is a revision 2. The changes are minor.

I am looking to buy a clone as they are 1/2 to 1/4 the price of a 'real' Arduino;

Who do you think pays for this forum? It is Arduino and the only way they get money is from sale of their products. So you would have to be rather cheeky to use this forum yet not contribute.

Do all Arduinos have a USB port?

Most do yes but not all.

5

From that link I found this, which answers a lot of questions.

http://arduino.cc/en/Products.Compare

Perhaps my Google-fu was weak, I was searching things like "differences between Arduino Due and Uno boards specs".

raschemmel:

I have started backwards I guess,

Indeed.
Start with Google:
Google this:
"arduino" (who would have guessed ?)
pick this one:
http://arduino.cc/
then pick this one:
http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Products
Then click on all of them until you have answered all of your questions.

I guess I should buy a mega so I can get started,

but since

I'm super-cheap.

you should buy an UNO because 90% of the tutorials and projects online were created for the UNO R3.

I'm trying to research your question about the meaning of "R3" but it seems it is not as easy as I had thought .

6

Some listings say "R3". Is this Revision 3?

Everyone knows that. The question is what were the revisions ? (exactly)

7

Grumpy_Mike:

  1. Are these a reference to the processor on the board?

Yes

What do all of these numbers mean?!

They are just part of the name of the processor chip, so numbers might have some connection with the amount of memory that some chips have.

Some listings say "R3". Is this Revision 3?

Yes.

I have never seen R1 or R2, are they very old?

Not that old. You never see any reference to a revision 1 until there is a revision 2. The changes are minor.

I am looking to buy a clone as they are 1/2 to 1/4 the price of a 'real' Arduino;

Who do you think pays for this forum? It is Arduino and the only way they get money is from sale of their products. So you would have to be rather cheeky to use this forum yet not contribute.

Do all Arduinos have a USB port?

Most do yes but not all.

Sorry, I hadn't thought of that. I have never paid for forum access anywhere but usually I see ads on them and I guess I don't see ads here (though I installed AdBlock about a year ago so I am getting used to not seeing ads any more).

But, wasn't the Arduino developed as open-source hardware, meaning anyone can (and is encouraged to) build it? Isn't the open-sourcedness (to coin a phrase) partly responsible for the success of the Ardunio?

I've never been accused of being cheeky before- - I rather like it :wink:

Anyway, I don't want to turn this into a whole philosophical discussion so I'll turn back to a more technical question - I see most are listed as having a USB port. Is this just for power and loading software, or will (any) Arduino operate in host mode as well?

Thanks

8

raschemmel:
[

I guess I should buy a mega so I can get started,

but since

I'm super-cheap.

you should buy an UNO because 90% of the tutorials and projects online were created for the UNO R3.

I'm trying to research your question about the meaning of "R3" but it seems it is not as easy as I had thought .

Fair enough- perhaps I should buy an Uno and learn with that, then graduate to the Mega or the Due, which has significantly improved specs.

9

or will (any) Arduino operate in host mode as well?

No not the normal ones.

The Due and the Yun could operate in host mode but it is not common.

10

I see that the operating voltage varies (3.3V or 5VDC) between models. The Uno and Mega 2560 are 5V whereas the Due is 3.3V. I assume this is important for using Shields(?) Are most shields 5V devices?

11

Well we already know you're cheap..

I'm super-cheap.

I see that the operating voltage varies (3.3V or 5VDC) between models.

The Pro-Mini comes in both flavors.

12

Are most shields 5V devices?

Yes.

13

Are most shields 5V devices?

Let's see, why would that be....do you suppose that because the UNO is a 5V device and shields are designed plug into an UNO ...

14

Grumpy_Mike:

Are most shields 5V devices?

Yes.

Thanks - things make more sense now

15

Are there compatibility issues with using an Uno type board that uses a CH340T instead of the Atmega16U2?

16

Are there compatibility issues with using an Uno type board that uses a CH340T instead of the Atmega16U2?

http://robocellar.com/product_info.php?products_id=81

It looks like it might be ok.

17

Forgot to come back and post. I got two clone Megas and everything seems to work fine except for one SD card reader shield that others seem to have the same problem with (incompatibilities).