Anybody in Vancouver BC ??? Looking for a microcontroller ki

  • Thread starter MAILER-DAEMON@wrec.com
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MAILER-DAEMON@wrec.com

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I've been looking into getting a microcontroller kit to start learning
about them. Preferably to be programmed in BASIC.
The problem is I don't know where I can go in my city to buy such a kit.
I'd rather not mail order - I'd rather buy something locally.
Thanks
 
On Oct 15, 8:43 pm, "MAILER-DAE...@wrec.com" <MAILER-DAE...@wrec.com>
wrote:
I've been looking into getting a microcontroller kit to start learning
about them. Preferably to be programmed in BASIC.
The problem is I don't know where I can go in my city to buy such a kit.
I'd rather not mail order - I'd rather buy something locally.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Try driving just across the border to a Radio Shack, and get their
"What's a Microcontroller" BASIC Stamp kit for $79.99 USD.

The BASIC Stamp is a greast way to start learning about
microcontrollers. It's programmable in BASIC (only), and there are a
lot of resources to get you going.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2117994&cp

All you need in addition is a PC with a serial port, and a 9V battery.

Good luck
Chris
 
"MAILER-DAEMON@wrec.com" (MAILER-DAEMON@wrec.com) writes:
I've been looking into getting a microcontroller kit to start learning
about them. Preferably to be programmed in BASIC.
The problem is I don't know where I can go in my city to buy such a kit.
I'd rather not mail order - I'd rather buy something locally.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Have you looked in the Yellow Pages? That's what I did decades
ago when I needed a local store. Picked one out, pretty much
at random, and it turned out to be pretty good. On later trips,
I came to realize it was a part of a cluster of such stores, something
I'd have missed if I'd picked some other store at random.

Ask in the local newsgroup, it must be something like van.general.

Find a local amateur radio club, and ask there. The Radio Amateurs
of Canada keep a list of local clubs at their website, http://www.rac.ca
and there is also a list of upcoming amateur radio club fleamarkets,
which you might find of interest (since at least some of the items
that show up for sale can be of use to the general electronic hobbyist),
though the season may be over by now.

The RAC also has a list of local ham equipment dealers, and they
might be a place to ask about the local electronic stores.
http://www.rac.ca/opsinfo/dealers.htm

Someone used to keep a list of local electronic stores, and it
either included those in Canada or there was an appendix, but
it's been so long since I saw mention of it that I can neither
remember any details nor expect it to still be in existence.

Since I've only been in Vancouver twice in my life, and even
if I did visit any electronic stores (I can't remember), it
was twenty years in the past so I have no idea what's there.
There used to be some hobby type stores, though generally a
lot of those everywhere have disappeared. There are bound
to be distributor type stores, and dealing with them will
likely vary, with some not wanting to deal with anyone
who isn't buying a lot of stuff. I think there's an Active
Electronics out there, and they've always been open to low
quantity purchases.

Michael
 
On Oct 16, 11:43 am, "MAILER-DAE...@wrec.com" <MAILER-DAE...@wrec.com>
wrote:
I've been looking into getting a microcontroller kit to start learning
about them. Preferably to be programmed in BASIC.
Click to expand...
The PICAXE is by far the best solution for an introduction like this.
http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/
No idea if it can be had locally to you though.

The other (more expensive) option is the BASIC Stamp as Chris
mentioned. The PICAXE is more popular now though.

The problem is I don't know where I can go in my city to buy such a kit.
Click to expand...
Sorry, can't help you there, I've only ever spent 4 days in Vancouver,
and didn't see a single electronics store. But then again I wasn't
looking.

I'd rather not mail order - I'd rather buy something locally.
Click to expand...
What's wrong with mail order? cheap, easy, and more options available
to you.

Dave.
 
Chris (cfoley1064@yahoo.com) writes:
On Oct 15, 8:43 pm, "MAILER-DAE...@wrec.com" <MAILER-DAE...@wrec.com
wrote:
I've been looking into getting a microcontroller kit to start learning
about them. Preferably to be programmed in BASIC.
The problem is I don't know where I can go in my city to buy such a kit.
I'd rather not mail order - I'd rather buy something locally.
Thanks

Try driving just across the border to a Radio Shack, and get their
"What's a Microcontroller" BASIC Stamp kit for $79.99 USD.

I missed the BASIC bit. The poster could just dig out that old 486
Click to expand...
and run DOS on it (or one of the "free" variants. DOS used to come
with BASIC. The I/O becomes the printer port, and one could
always add a second printer port card for more I/O lines. Eventually
buy or build a card with more I/O lines, easy to do when the expansion
bus is still ISA.

It's bulkier, but it's a cheap way to start. Especially when someone
may be more interested in the things being controlled rather than
the actual controller. If a specific dedicated use eventually
comes up, they can buy an actual microcontroller, where the smaller
size is likely an important point.


Michael
 
On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:43:59 GMT, "MAILER-DAEMON@wrec.com"
<MAILER-DAEMON@wrec.com> wrote:

I've been looking into getting a microcontroller kit to start learning
about them. Preferably to be programmed in BASIC.
The problem is I don't know where I can go in my city to buy such a kit.
I'd rather not mail order - I'd rather buy something locally.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Maybe try here: http://www.rpelectronics.com/

They have Parallax products listed
(http://www.rpelectronics.com/English/Content/Divisions/Div_71_100.asp)
although you may want to call first to ensure what you want is in
stock.

Also, if memory serves, "Radio Shack" got renamed "The Source by
Circuit City" in Canada for whatever reason.

The ham radio suggestion is an excellent one as these guys are usually
a) helpful and b) knowledgeable.

Regards,
Gilles.
 
et472@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Michael Black) wrote in
news:ff1acq$s19$1@theodyn.ncf.ca:

"MAILER-DAEMON@wrec.com" (MAILER-DAEMON@wrec.com) writes:
I've been looking into getting a microcontroller kit to start
learning about them. Preferably to be programmed in BASIC.
The problem is I don't know where I can go in my city to buy such a
kit. I'd rather not mail order - I'd rather buy something locally.
Thanks

Have you looked in the Yellow Pages? That's what I did decades
ago when I needed a local store. Picked one out, pretty much
at random, and it turned out to be pretty good. On later trips,
I came to realize it was a part of a cluster of such stores, something
I'd have missed if I'd picked some other store at random.

Ask in the local newsgroup, it must be something like van.general.

Find a local amateur radio club, and ask there. The Radio Amateurs
of Canada keep a list of local clubs at their website,
http://www.rac.ca and there is also a list of upcoming amateur radio
club fleamarkets, which you might find of interest (since at least
some of the items that show up for sale can be of use to the general
electronic hobbyist), though the season may be over by now.

The RAC also has a list of local ham equipment dealers, and they
might be a place to ask about the local electronic stores.
http://www.rac.ca/opsinfo/dealers.htm

Someone used to keep a list of local electronic stores, and it
either included those in Canada or there was an appendix, but
it's been so long since I saw mention of it that I can neither
remember any details nor expect it to still be in existence.

Since I've only been in Vancouver twice in my life, and even
if I did visit any electronic stores (I can't remember), it
was twenty years in the past so I have no idea what's there.
There used to be some hobby type stores, though generally a
lot of those everywhere have disappeared. There are bound
to be distributor type stores, and dealing with them will
likely vary, with some not wanting to deal with anyone
who isn't buying a lot of stuff. I think there's an Active
Electronics out there, and they've always been open to low
quantity purchases.

Michael
Click to expand...

Thank you all for your suggestions - I will look into the RAC idea.
Radio Shack here was bought out by Circuit City and became The Source.
But not "the source" for microcontroller kits:)
I might just go across to Bellingham and visit a Radio Shack store - I'll
make sure I phone 1st and see if they have them. The Picaxe has a
distributor somewhere in Ontario also.

Thank you.
 
Gilles Kohl (gilles_delete_this@compuserve.com) writes:

Also, if memory serves, "Radio Shack" got renamed "The Source by
Circuit City" in Canada for whatever reason.

About twenty years ago, Radio Shack spun off its Canadian division
Click to expand...
as a separate company. About five or so years ago, the Canadian company
was bought by Circuit City. Radio Shack, the US company, didn't like
the fact that a key competitor was operating in Canada under the Radio
Shack name, so it went to court to win the right to cancel the agreement
that let the Canadian company use the name "Radio Shack". Hence Radio
SHack in Canada had to change its name, and get rid of any Radio Shack
branded items (which was less than it had once been, Canadian Radio
Shacks had been adding non-Radio Shack items over the years, unlike years
ago when everything in the stores were branded Radio Shack items.

But, while you still can get some part and tools at The Source (and
at the same kind of premium price that you'd pay when they were Radio
Shacks) the selection is limited, and there sure isn't any microcontroller
for sale there.

Michael
 
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