Getting Started Tips

Home Up Custom PCB Boards Getting Started Tips Timing Pulse Generation Object Exchange FAQ Programming Examples

 

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First, you need to get a Propeller Chip!

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I recommend the "Demo" board, if you have the $$. 

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This has all the connectors and components for USB, VGA, TV (via RCA connector), audio, mouse, keyboard, and power. 
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Has a solderless breadboard area for easy prototyping
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The onboard microphone, digitized by sigma-delta 1-bit ADC using 2 pins is also interesting.
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A very cost effective alternative is the "Proto" board (but you'll need a soldering iron!). 

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USB version of the Proto board is now available.  Just connect to your PC with USB cable and provide power.  No PropPlug required.
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Comes with just power connector.  But, if you get the "Accessories Kit" for it, you'll have VGA, keyboard, and mouse. 
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It's is very little effort to add TV (I just spliced into an RCA cable and soldered it to the board.  You just need 3 resistors to make it work).   You can do a similar thing for audio and, in a pinch, for VGA keyboard and mouse.
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One trick here is connecting to the computer.  I would recommend the "Prop Plug" for this as there is a place on the Proto board to just plug this in and go.  Alternatively, you can build a simple RS232 serial interface using 2 or 3 transistors and a couple resistors and capacitors (available, e.g., at RadioShack).  But, several people (including myself!) have had some trouble getting this to work right away...
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There are several other options...  Look here and here. 

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You might like the Education Kit for solderless fun.
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Next, you need the Propeller Tool to program the Propeller.

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Download this here.

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The User Manual is included.  Click on "Help" on the menu.

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I highly recommend you download my bookmarked version here.
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You should probably also have a look at the Datasheet. 

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Now, you need some "Spin" programs to test your setup.

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Here's a simple "Hello World" example using  the VGA_Text or TV_text drivers

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Try my "Hello World" examples for more basic TV and VGA drivers. 

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Several demos also come with the Propeller Tool.

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Here's a minimal program that toggles output pins.  

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Finally, you need to write your own programs!

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I highly recommend going through the "Toggle" examples in the User Manual.

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These examples also come with the Propeller Tool.
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Stick with TV_text or VGA_text for simple, basic video display

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Somebody has probably done something similar to what you want to do...

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Look in the "Object Exchange" 
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Try searching through the "Forum" 
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Note:  Use http://search.parallax.com to look for things in the forum.  Include "F=25" in the search to only get Propeller results.