PICaxe programming cable
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:02 pm
In response to a couple people using the PICaxe cable I'll take some guesses as
to answers (one is on order and I'll try it out later this week).
The PICaxe cable uses the FTDI chip, but different IDs, however the Windows
registry may still list it as an FTDI device, which is where BASICtools looks
for compatible serial connections. Anyone want to answer whether that's true --
it means BASICtools would list that port in capital letters.
The PICaxe cable only brings out RXD and TXD, remember we name RXD and TXD from
the perspective of the BASICchip. I know at least one user has it up and
running.
How to stop a program-- PICaxe breaks the program on some character sequence
into the UART. In our case we look for a ctl-X or ESC character for 1 second
following a reset. If we do not see either of those then the user BASIC program
in started up.
While we could use a similar scheme to the PICaxe, we think it's better to do it
with reset. BASICtools allows for "Manual RESET" mode (renamed recently) which
will prompt the user to toggle the reset pin (you can connect up a pushbutton on
just use a wire).
Or you can add the serial stop feature to your BASIC program. If your program
runs forever, which most control programs will. Change the
WHILE 1
'.. do some stuff
LOOP
to
WHILE 1
'' do some stuff
if RXD(0)<>-1 then END
LOOP
will accomplish the serial break
PS: In response to a user comment, BASICtools has simplified its options menus,
removing some items normally not used in BASIC (but were used in C). So those
tools are out at setupBASIC.exe on the support page.
to answers (one is on order and I'll try it out later this week).
The PICaxe cable uses the FTDI chip, but different IDs, however the Windows
registry may still list it as an FTDI device, which is where BASICtools looks
for compatible serial connections. Anyone want to answer whether that's true --
it means BASICtools would list that port in capital letters.
The PICaxe cable only brings out RXD and TXD, remember we name RXD and TXD from
the perspective of the BASICchip. I know at least one user has it up and
running.
How to stop a program-- PICaxe breaks the program on some character sequence
into the UART. In our case we look for a ctl-X or ESC character for 1 second
following a reset. If we do not see either of those then the user BASIC program
in started up.
While we could use a similar scheme to the PICaxe, we think it's better to do it
with reset. BASICtools allows for "Manual RESET" mode (renamed recently) which
will prompt the user to toggle the reset pin (you can connect up a pushbutton on
just use a wire).
Or you can add the serial stop feature to your BASIC program. If your program
runs forever, which most control programs will. Change the
WHILE 1
'.. do some stuff
LOOP
to
WHILE 1
'' do some stuff
if RXD(0)<>-1 then END
LOOP
will accomplish the serial break
PS: In response to a user comment, BASICtools has simplified its options menus,
removing some items normally not used in BASIC (but were used in C). So those
tools are out at setupBASIC.exe on the support page.