RS-485 / DMX Board for the Prop-SX

[JonnyMac]

Well, we had so much fun with a DMX project that we're working on for one of our customers in the entertainment/amusement industry that we decided to go forward and build an add-on board for the Prop-SX (will work with the Prop-2 as well, but there are limitations vis-a-vis serial RX/TX with the BS2).

As soon as we have board built we'll post a picture, but for you software types I'm attaching a schematic (PDF).  The module will fit onto the P8-P15 header (with a mounting screw to lock it on), can read a 9-position DIP switch for DMX applications, and uses an RS-485 transceiver so that it can do full-duplex serial over RS-485 is specialty applications (using CAT-5 or other suitable twisted-pair cable).

Stay tuned, this is going to be fun!

[JonnyMac]

BTW, if you're interested in networking with SX (core controller of the Prop-SX), see my column in this months (January2008) issue of Nuts & Volts.