Post by thread:[EE]: Cybiko - Inexpensive Terminal/wireless netwo

For those that could use a handheld RS232 terminal here's an inexpensive approach (US$99): http://www.cybiko.com It comes with an AC adapter and a DB9 RS232 cable that plugs right into a PC. They also give away a free SDK in C and assembler for this Hitachi H8S based system. It also has a wireless 900MHz interface for talking to other units. Each unit can also act as a relay for other units. So you can increase the effective wireless network length by using these relays. Custom software could also allow you to use these as a wireless network for your PCs but the data rate would be restricted to 19.2k bps. Cybiko development news site: http://www.devrs.com Jeff -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

{Quote hidden}> -----Original Message----- > From: Jeff Frohwein [SMTP:jeffKILLspamDEVRS.COM] > Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2000 4:32 PM > To: .....PICLISTKILLspam.....MITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: [EE]: Cybiko - Inexpensive Terminal/wireless network? > > For those that could use a handheld RS232 terminal > here's an inexpensive approach (US$99): > > http://www.cybiko.com > > It comes with an AC adapter and a DB9 RS232 cable that > plugs right into a PC. They also give away a free SDK in > C and assembler for this Hitachi H8S based system. > > It also has a wireless 900MHz interface for talking to other > units. Each unit can also act as a relay for other units. So you > can increase the effective wireless network length by using these > relays. > > Custom software could also allow you to use these as a wireless > network for your PCs but the data rate would be restricted to 19.2k bps. > > Cybiko development news site: http://www.devrs.com > > Jeff > After looking at the web site and grabbing my credit card, I realised it's only sold in the US :o( Wonder if they are going to be marketing it in Europe etc? I guess CE marking etc might be difficult/expensive. Mike -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

> After looking at the web site and grabbing my credit card, I > realised it's > only sold in the US :o( > Wonder if they are going to be marketing it in Europe etc? I guess CE > marking etc might be difficult/expensive. Not to mention the fact that the beasty uses 900MHz... *Not* going to be popular in Europe as is. Peter -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

> > After looking at the web site and grabbing my credit card, I > > realised it's > > only sold in the US :o( > > Wonder if they are going to be marketing it in Europe etc? I guess CE > > marking etc might be difficult/expensive. > > Not to mention the fact that the beasty uses 900MHz... *Not* going to be > popular in Europe as is. > Actually chaps it could be available in the UK!!! HSBC (A UK Bank for those not in the UK) have a newsletter that is sent out to their student customers and that has a competition to win 4 of these beasties. There should be no problems manufacturing the units to meet European requirements i.e. 869MHz so the only question is where are they available from. The newsletter is no help as it only refers to the .com website. Toys R Us? They could be grey imports but a respectable company like a Bank would get involved in shady practices, would it :-) Anyone out evaluating toys for Christmas noticed them ? Regards Chris -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

A 'caveat' might be in order regarding wide-eyed optimism and the programmabilty of the Cybiko - While *there is* an SDK complete with Compiler and an Assembler - it is not completely clear (at least in mind) just what the Cybiko "executes" in terms of actual "program code". It appears, after several days of reading and study that the Cybiko executes it's own brand of p-code (pseudo code) produced by the 'C' Compiler. I am unclear at this point what the *exact* purpose of the 'assembler' is ... Also - the CPU used in the Cybiko according to Cybico is from the Hitachi H8S family, and according to one website is a H8S /2246 which according to the data sheet from Hitachi means it contains 128 K bytes of ROM. Ugh ... I have bought one - it's cute, so far it keeps accurate time and the calendar/alarm clock feature works but battery life (*maybe* it's just mine) seems very short - there are only two 700 mAH cells that power this thing and who knows how much 'sleep' this thing gets between executing p-code ... I have also been unsuccessful in determing how the serial port is accessed on the Cybiko - my findings at this very minute after some limited e-mail correspondence and posting on Cybiko's board is that it CAN'T be programmed and that the Cybiko's os known as CyOS has total control. There are a lot of 'file control calls' and the Cybiko operates on I/O with the 'streams' concept in play - just *maybe* there is a reserved word to address serial I/O and a corresponding *secret* data structure that allows the SCI ports (serial ports) on the Hitachi H8S to be set up as desired. In searching the web for additional information I came across what seems to be an *older* Cybiko developers web site that offers just a few more technical details - albeit perhaps older and slightly non-applicable info on the Cybiko device: http://204.176.70.215/devsarea.asp You will also find a Cybiko 'simulator' that requires MS VC 6.0 at the above site - one can compile code, debug the logic on the PC before 'hitting the actual target'. They (Cybiko, the company) also seems to have used some development tools from 'Cygnus' - I have not explored this aspect ... I would *love* to hear from someone with who has dug into this deeper than I have! Jim EraseMEjvpollspam_OUTTakeThisOuTdallas.net {Original Message removed}