I have another video already shot, it's just that I keep forgetting to upload it.

In the mean time, I am waiting for my 4th GPS in a row. Been very unhappy with the performance of all the modules up to this point.

Let us know which one you settle with - I'l be very interested to know.

Thanks and Cheers,
Matt.

Ahh - gotcha. You can get the basic logic from anduino code, but you are right - it can be quiet different.

I wouldn't say the arduino stuff seems to be completely unrelated. I've learnt a lot from reading the arduino tutorials and code and using similar circut layouts and converting the code to C#, even though I've never touched one. There's some great tutorials (from Sparkfun and Earthshine Electronics, for example) that takes you though many projects. Using their tutorials, I was able to figure out how to get shift registers working, blinking lights, button inputs, etc. Now I'm taking myself though the "Make - Electronics" book to get some more solid grounding before I start building serious stuff...

Let us know how you go. You ask a great question.

Thanks for the code! I was just reading a blog about the I2CBus the other day...

Love it! I was thinking a few weeks ago how it would be nice to create a PCB with a programmed chip on it. I was thinking of programming a ATmega328 and putting it on. No more! This fits the bill perfectly! What I'm eventually looking at doing is bringing up some sensors whenever I go flying so I can load it on the PC when I get home.

This is perfect. I was just thinking last week it would be great to be able to make a circut board and solder on a programmed chip that's Netduino compatable. This is one step better!

Welcome mate! Check out this topic, it may help: http://forums.netdui...t-read-problems Cheers, Matt.

I had the same problem. Check this topic about AREF and check the wiring picture for AREF. That's what fixed it for me. http://forums.netdui...rch__1#entry192 Have fun!

Hi Shane and welcome! The Debug.Print will appear in the Output window within Visual Studio or Express. Cheers, Matt.

Nice!!! I thinking I could use something like this communicating using SOAP for a future project.... hmmm

Welcome Naga!
Regading your question about the number LED, yes you can!

Here's one I hooked up. For more info, see CIRC-05 in the Sparkfun Anduino tutorial. Links to that tutorial in my post in the topic Eric Burdo refers to...



After I wired up the LED's and got it working, I hooked up the number LED..

... and here's the code! There's 3 examples on playing with the shift register.

using System;
using System.Threading;
using Microsoft.SPOT;
using Microsoft.SPOT.Hardware;
using SecretLabs.NETMF.Hardware;
using SecretLabs.NETMF.Hardware.Netduino;

namespace Sparkfun___project_15
{
    public class Program
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// This is an example program in the use of Shift Registers 
        /// and the digit display
        /// </summary>
        public static void Main()
        {
            OutputPort LatchPort, ClockPort, DataPort;


            // this is how I wired it, doesn't really matter, 
            // as long as your code here matches your wiring 
            LatchPort = new OutputPort(Pins.GPIO_PIN_D8,false);
            ClockPort = new OutputPort(Pins.GPIO_PIN_D12, false);
            DataPort = new OutputPort(Pins.GPIO_PIN_D11, false);

            
            while (true)
            {
                /*
                //  Example 1: Up and down each number to the 
                // power of 2 (light test/Knight Rider if you're 
                // not using the digit display but seperate leds!)
                if(t >= 7 && direction == 1) direction = -1;
                if(t <= 0 && direction == -1) direction = 1;
                 
                t+= direction;

                    LatchPort.Write(false);
                    ShiftOut((int)System.Math.Pow(2, t), ClockPort, DataPort);                    
                    LatchPort.Write(true);
                 
                    // Compare which light goes on to match the associated number..
                    // this can be useful in figuring out the diagram in the 3rd example.
                    // ie matching which light matches which number
                    Debug.Print(System.Math.Pow(2, t).ToString());
                    Thread.Sleep(3000);
                */
                

                /*
                // Example 2: Cover every combination (Just for the fun of it)...
                for (byte i = 0; i <= 255; i++) 
                {
                    LatchPort.Write(false);
                    ShiftOut(i, ClockPort, DataPort);
                    LatchPort.Write(true);
                    Thread.Sleep(20);
                }
                 * */

                /* 
                 // 
                 * Example 3:  Count 0 - 9 and . representations, based on my wiring.
                 *      
                 *  The numbers in the below diagram can also be figured out
                 *  using the Example 1 code...
                 *  
                 *       32
                 *      ___
                 *  64 |   | 16
                 *      ---   <--128
                 *   8 |   | 2
                 *      ___  . 1
                 *       4
                */
                
                // Do the math and make it "look" simple
                //byte[] Numbers = {126, 18, 188, 182, 210, 230, 238, 50, 254, 242 };
                
                // Or add each light to turn on.  Easier to follow...
                byte[] Numbers = { 32 + 64 + 16 + 8 + 2 + 4, // Digit 0 = 126
                                     2+16, // Digit 1 = 18, etc
                                     32+16+128+8+4, // Digit 2
                                     32+16+128+2+4, // Digit 3
                                     64+16+128+2, // Digit 4
                                     32+64+128+2+4, // Digit 5
                                     64+8+4+2+128, // Digit 6
                                     32+16+2, // Digit 7
                                     32+16+64+128+8+2+4, //Digit 8
                                     32+16+64+128+2 // Digit 9 
                                     };
                
                for (int iCurrentNumber = 0; iCurrentNumber <= 9; iCurrentNumber++)
                {
                    LatchPort.Write(false);
                    ShiftOut(Numbers[iCurrentNumber], ClockPort, DataPort);
                    LatchPort.Write(true);
                    Thread.Sleep(100);
                }

                // make the dot blink a few times....
                for (int iCurrentNumber = 0; iCurrentNumber <= 9; iCurrentNumber++)
                {
                    LatchPort.Write(false);
                    ShiftOut(1, ClockPort, DataPort);
                    LatchPort.Write(true);
                    Thread.Sleep(50);
                    LatchPort.Write(false);
                    ShiftOut(0, ClockPort, DataPort);
                    LatchPort.Write(true);
                    Thread.Sleep(100);
                }
                
            }
        }

        private static void ShiftOut(int DataOut, OutputPort ClockPort, OutputPort DataPort)
        {
            // clear shift register read for sending data
            DataPort.Write(false);
            ClockPort.Write(false);

            // For each bit in dataout, send out a bit
            for (byte i = 0; i <= 7; i++)
            {
                // set clickpin to low prior to sending bit
                ClockPort.Write(false);               
                DataPort.Write((DataOut & (1 << i)) != 0);
                ClockPort.Write(true);
            }
            ClockPort.Write(false);
        }

    }
}

Whatever it is, I'll be getting it... (unless it's Netduino controlled car - haven't got that much money!)

You can also get the eBook version for US $27.99.

Thanks mate!!

Thanks David for the reference to the Make: Electronics book. Exactly what I'm after!! (now to find someone in Australia that sells them!)....

Looking forward to whatever the annoucement is.

Great idea! It looks like a Pharos GPS-500 III, using a SiRFstarIII chip ... http://www.compuviso...ver-for-pc.html Love to know how you go!

Welcome Asymptot, Some great "getting started" stuff is also in this thread... http://forums.netdui...d-with-netduino Cheers, Matt.

I've been going through the "Complete Beginners Guide to the Arduino" from Earthshine Electonics. It's for the Arduino, so I've had to convert the code from C to C#, but I've had a lot of fun! http://www.earthshin.../6-starter-kits http://www.earthshin...KManualRev4.pdf I've also found Sparkfun's Arduino Inventor's Kit Manual very good... http://www.sparkfun....oducts_id=10057 Little Bird Electronics here in Australia sells the kits without the Anduino - perfect for my situation, but in the end I just went to my local electronics shop and bought the parts as described in both guides...

[snip!]
I was wondering if there is a way to see how busy the CPU is. In the normal world, if you wrote a programme that had While(true){} and waited inside it for an event, you'd be shot (in most cases).
[/snip!]

Good question. You would think a while(true) loop would mean 100% CPU utilitzation and therefore higher power usage. Is that the case?

According to the manual (page 12) for the em406a (compatable with the Adafruit GPS shield), altitude is reported, but I've never seen it in action. http://www.usglobals...6/em406a_ug.pdf I've doing some flying myself and looking at a similar project...

Also don't forget to compare the development environments. You can download both of them without a purchase of any hardware. Not putting down the incredible work and result of the Arduino environment, but I personally prefer the Netduino environment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you can't do step by step debugging with the Arduino, but you can with the Netduino ...

Congrats! Great pic too. I'm looking into doing something like this - Eventually..