Nuts & Volts

PART HAS DEPARTEDUnfortunately between thewriting and publishing of my OctalLogic Probe article in the April issue,Jameco has discontinued part#176532. If anyone can recommend analternate source for MV50G or asuitable replacement LED withsimilar specifications (Green, T3/4, 300mcd @ 20 mA, Radial leads) it wouldbe appreciated.Jim BrannanShop@ImpossibleEnterprises.comMONEY MATTERSI read the February Design Cycleon the 68HC908. Do I have to buy aCyclone to see if I like using the68HC908? The price of approx. $500seems steep to see if I like a processoror not being just a hobbyist. Isthere another way to go with the projectthat I could maybe afford? Thanks!Dan StarkeyResponse: There are other lessexpensive ways to deal with a68HC908. The minimum you can getaway with commercially is about $200.by J. ShumanREADER FEEDBACKYou can use serial bootloaderprograms to load the 68HC908’s Flash.However, you still need a hardwareprogrammer to put the bootloadercode into the device initially.The Cyclone PRO is a multipurposeprofessional tool, which isreflected by the price. The $18068HC908 MONO8 programming/debugging adapter you can get fromDigi-Key is a barebones platform.I did some walking around theweb for you and found that the $180-$200 mark is about standard for anyminimal MONO8 setup from variousmanufacturers. That’s comparablewith the Microchip MPLAB ICD 2 package,which goes for $149 bare. I alsolooked for some do-it-yourselfMONO8 projects but found none.That’s typical of Freescale stuff asmost of the supporting hardware ismore easily purchased than fabricatedfrom scratch. Remember, Freescalecame from Motorola and Motoroladidn’t care much about us hobbyistsas most of their stuff was bought upby corporations like GM, Ford MotorCompany, and Uncle Sam. Freescaleis turning that around but the thirdparty hardware support guys haven’tquite caught up with the idea yet.Continued on page 100EVERYTHING FOR ELECTRONICSPublished Monthly ByT & L Publications, Inc.430 Princeland Ct.Corona, CA 92879-1300(951) 371-8497FAX (951) 371-3052Product Order Line 1-800-783-4624www.nutsvolts.comSubscriptionsInside US 1-877-525-2539Outside US 1-818-487-4545P.O. Box 15277North Hollywood, CA 91615FOUNDER/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERJack LemieuxPUBLISHERLarry Lemieuxpublisher@nutsvolts.comASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/VP OF SALES/MARKETINGRobin Lemieuxdisplay@nutsvolts.comCONTRIBUTING EDITORSChuck Hellebuyck TJ ByersJeff EckertJon WilliamsPeter BestPhil DavisJames Antonakos Vaughn MartinG.Y. XuJoe StramagliaRobert Reed Dan GravattDave Prochnow Paul VerhageCIRCULATION DIRECTORTracy Kerleysubscribe@nutsvolts.comSHOW COORDINATORAudrey LemieuxWEB CONTENT/NV STOREMichael Kaudzesales@nutsvolts.comPRODUCTION/GRAPHICSShannon LemieuxCopyright © 2006 by T & L Publications, Inc.All Rights Reserved6 May 2006All advertising is subject to publisher's approval. We are notresponsible for mistakes, misprints, or typographical errors.Nuts & Volts Magazine assumes no responsibility for theavailability or condition of advertised items or for the honestyof the advertiser. The publisher makes no claims for the legalityof any item advertised in Nuts & Volts. This is the soleresponsibility of the advertiser. Advertisers and their agenciesagree to indemnify and protect the publisher from any and allclaims, action, or expense arising from advertising placed inNuts & Volts. Please send all editorial correspondence, UPS,overnight mail, and artwork to: 430 Princeland Court, Corona,CA 92879.