[time-nuts] Thunderbolt Monitor

Chris Albertson albertson.chris at gmail.com
Wed Jan 23 18:10:58 EST 2013


You realy can't know if a processor is to large or small until you
have at least a outline of the software design.    In this case the uP
is reading test from a serial port at a low data rate.   It is running
a filter and sending a small amount of text back to the GPS.   So the
load on the CPU is trivial.    The harder part is sending that data
off to a larger computer, likely using Ethernet.  It coud use UDP at
one second per packet.  Depends on how much you want to do on the
device.

That MSP430 is going to be used to interface an anemometer (wind cups)

Mymethod normally is to do as much development as I can on a big
computer like my Mac.  Then move the software down to the target
environment.

TI sells another Launch pad for $18 that uses an ARM.  This is a much
more capable CPU but for data logging maybe over kill.   But if the
plan was to host a web server you'd need something like the ARM.

But actually the AVR inside the Arduino can run a web interface. but
with ARM powered LaunchPads for $18 I'd go with that.

On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 12:38 PM, James Harrison
<james at talkunafraid.co.uk> wrote:
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> Absolutely - however, I suspect the MSP430 might be a little too small.
>
> I'd be looking at something like a Raspberry Pi and a serially
> attached screen. Adafruit do some lovely boards like these:
> http://www.adafruit.com/products/1115
>
> It's not $5 but it's not exactly exorbitant. Or just use a Pi and a
> HDMI capable TV if you have one spare.
>
> Cheers,
> James Harrison
>
> On 23/01/2013 19:55, Chris Albertson wrote:
>> You can't compare the size of a Windows binary to a uP RAM.   If
>> you look inside the .exe file you see that 90% of it is dealing
>> with the Windows OS.   The actual computations are very, very small
>> and don't use even half the 16KB Flash.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 10:10 AM, Bob Camp <lists at rtty.us> wrote:
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> Heathdos.exe 123 KB Heather.exe 572 KB Server.exe 176 KB
>>>
>>> (each would be plus what ever they pull from DLL's and the OS)
>>>
>>> Ti LaunchPad MSP-EXP430G2 - MSP 430 version ($4.30):
>>>
>>> MSP-430G2553 Microcontroller:
>>>
>>> 16 KB flash 512 B RAM
>>>
>>> MSP-430G2452 Microcontroller:
>>>
>>> 8 KB flash 256 B RAM
>>>
>>> I suspect you would get about 5% of it into a MSP430.
>>>
>>> Bob
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message----- From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
>>> [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of Chris Albertson
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 11:44 AM To: Major L. McGee
>>> III; Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Thunderbolt Monitor
>>>
>>> I was looking into porting much of LH into an Arduino or TI
>>> Launch Pad (msp430) And then a display would be web based.  But
>>> then I decided to go back to grad school and there went any free
>>> time.
>>>
>>> But I think that is that way to go.  The TB is best kept in some
>>> light-out closet and who wants to stand of a step stool to read
>>> an LCD when a web interface could put a better display on your
>>> smart phone or computer
>>>
>>> I did just buy a TI Launchpad.  For $4.30 shipping included I
>>> could not resist but I have in mind a MUCH smaller project
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 8:31 AM, Major L. McGee III
>>> <majorm at sc.rr.com> wrote:
>>>> I have been following this on the list for a while now and was
>>>> curious if anyone is actively working on a open source monitor.
>>>> I see the one made
>>> by
>>>> Adam VK4GHZ is no longer being sold.  This got me back on track
>>>> for
>>> wanting
>>>> to make one of my own.
>>>>
>>>> I have been using either tbmon or lady heather but always have
>>>> issues with
>>> a
>>>> usb to serial converter when I start the computer.  It will go
>>>> haywire and cause it to freeze and make the mouse malfunction.
>>>> Once I disconnect the converter (I have tried other makes as
>>>> well) it works fine.  Usually I can reconnect the converter and
>>>> things will work again.
>>>>
>>>> What I would like to do is make a 2 or 4 line lcd readout to
>>>> display
>>> various
>>>> info.  I really liked VK4GHZ's page type selector knob.  I can
>>>> see that being very useful.  On a youtube video by n6vmo said
>>>> the thunderbolt used
>>> a
>>>> ASCII Hex and "needs to be converted by using 64 bit floating
>>>> point math".
>>>>
>>>> So are any of you currently working on this or have decided to
>>>> quit and
>>> have
>>>> any information to share?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________ time-nuts
>>>> mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
>>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and
>>>> follow the instructions there.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Chris Albertson Redondo Beach, California
>>> _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing
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>>
>>
>>
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-- 

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California


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