Subj : Re: recent projects
To   : JEFF THIELE
From : Mike Powell
Date : Sat Aug 13 2022 09:36 am

> I'm not sure what they're doing with GPU boards; I think they're mostly used
> for crypto-mining and the like.

> FPGA dev boards typically have lots of I/O pins for connecting with the
> outside world. The FPGA design software also usually includes pre-built
> modules from the vendor that one can use in one's designs, and most of them
> have a UART as a pre-built module. With a soft UART at one's disposal there
> are a couple of options:  MAX232 module ($2 on Amazon) or an ESP-12 module
> ($15,29 for five on Amazon).

I don't know why but I often confuse the two... I am pretty sure I did mean
FPGA.  :)

> A MAX232 module connects to a UART on one side and  DB-9 RS232 port on the
> other, and handles the voltage differences as well.

> ESP-12 modules can be programmed to all sorts of things, but almost all of
> them come from the factory programmed to be a WiFi modem. They behave pretty
> much just like a Hayes-compatible modem, but instead of dialing phone
> numbers, one dials internet addresses. They accept AT commands and generate
> the usual "CONNECT" and "RING" messages, although there are some additional
> AT commands available to facilitate things like searching for and connecting
> to a WiFi network.

I have seen those.  Some folks have used them to get some pretty old
machines (old in comparison to the public internet age) connected to the
internet.

Somewhere recently I saw a post on social media where it looked like
someone put something together, about the size of a Raspberry Pi, that was
functioning as a real dial-up modem.  As mine are getting old, I was
curious about those, but couldn't find it when I went back looking later.
I need to keep my eyes open.  :)

There used to be an aussie who would post once a week on his YT channel
about new SBCs, chips, and other project material that had shown up on the
various shopping sites during the week.  He'd also talk about what he might
be using some for, show some of his project, etc.  I have not seen his posts
in a long time but that used to be my source for finding out about such
things.

Mike


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