Might just go to Radio Shack

[gpoehlein]

I don't know how many of you guys have been the the old Shack lately, but I went by a few days ago to get a portable FM radio for my dad for Christmas and discovered they have electronics kits again! And not just a couple of the "25 in 1" exploration kits, but real "solder the components to the PC board kits!" not only that, but they have THREE different microprocessor kits (BASIC Stamp, Parallax Propeller AND Arduino). They have a number of the Make brand line of starter sets. They even have the altimeter module for the Arduino. After doing a little online research, I found out that RS went to the customer base in a Blog and found that what the public really wanted was a return to their roots.

I haven't built an electronics kit in a number of years, but I think I'm gonna try some of this stuff out pretty soon. And they have the Make Arduino starter set, so I may have to try that one out as well (I like the idea of building and programming a dual deploy altimeter with the Arduino).

Now, if only they'd bring back the old "P-Box" kits!

[GDJ]

Now if they came back to Canada I would be a happy camper!

[sylvie369]

The good people at Parallax will be happy to hear about your interest. They're excited about getting into RS with real space on the walls, not just a couple of parts in a bin.

I suspect the altimeter module you mentioned is the Parallax one, not an Arduino.

Both Arduino and the Parallax folks have lots of good instructional manuals. You'll find an Arduino book for sale at RS, while the Parallax ones are all free downloads from their website.

[gpoehlein]

You are correct sir - the altimeter module is indeed from Parallax. However, it does say usable with most microprocessors, so it might also work with the Arduino. I was a baaaad boy last night - I went ahead and bought the MAKE Arduino Ultimate Microprocessor Kit and the Getting Started with Arduino book. I went with the Arduino set because it is programmable via USB and there is software available for Macintosh. This way I can use my MacBook Pro with it. Oh, and, as it happens, I already had a copy of MAKE 25 - the issue with the "Arduino Revolution" section. This is gonna be a lot of fun and really interesting!

[sylvie369]

You are correct sir - the altimeter module is indeed from Parallax. However, it does say usable with most microprocessors, so it might also work with the Arduino.

It will work just fine with the Arduino. The good folks at Parallax even show you how, right here:

http://sites.google.com/site/paralla...-module-ms5607

I understand there are some idiosyncracies with different Arduinos, so you might want to check out this forum thread as well:

http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...09#post1062009

(Disclaimer: Yes, I am a Moderator for the Parallax forums)

[ndzied1]

Oh, and, as it happens, I already had a copy of MAKE 25 - the issue with the "Arduino Revolution" section. This is gonna be a lot of fun and really interesting!

MAKE 25 got me and the kids started w/ Arduino. We got an UNO with some extra stuff for learning from Canakit (http://www.canakit.com/)

GDJ: No need to wait for RS. Canakit is a great source in the Great White North for you. Even works for me down here in the lower 48 of the US of A.

I was wondering how to work the Arduino into rocketry. I'll have to check out the Parallax altimeter module.

[Dr. Quigley]

MAKE 25 got me and the kids started w/ Arduino. We got an UNO with some extra stuff for learning from Canakit (http://www.canakit.com/)

GDJ: No need to wait for RS. Canakit is a great source in the Great White North for you. Even works for me down here in the lower 48 of the US of A.

I was wondering how to work the Arduino into rocketry. I'll have to check out the Parallax altimeter module.

You might also wanna take a look at the ArduPilot, it's expensive, but it's an Arduino variation designed for aerial stuff. It might be overkill, unless you wanna do something like an R/C glider or some sort of self-guided or self-stabilized rocket.

You could also gather up some sensors like an accelerometer, a barometer, or a GPS to make your own altimeter.

[troj]

So, yesterday I needed to drop by Radio Shack to pick up desolder wick for my RRC2 repair project . While there, I decided to poke around a bit, and see what they had in the way of kits, figuring the boys might get a kick out of it.

One of the things I found right away was a TV Tennis Kit (Pong, for those of us old enough to remember it!).

Having had fun assembling Heath Kit kits when I was a kid (I really miss my old Heath Kit alarm clock), I decided to grab one, brought it home, and showed it to my 8 yr old. He thought it was pretty cool.

So, today, after school, we assembled it. Dan isn't ready to solder, but putting the components on the board and clipping the excess leads afterward is well within what an 8 year old can do.

Now we have a working Pong game, and he thinks it's pretty cool. Hopefully kits like this stay popular for a good, long time, and I can use them to teach him how to solder.

-Kevin

[fyrwrxz]

Kev- just had to jump in. Dad taught me how to solder on the old Heathkit "Mohican" receiver. I can never solder without thinking of how patient he was and how much I loved my old man. Anybody taking time to involve their children like this is a great man in my opinion. Thanks for reminding me of great memories.

[JPVegh]

The radio shack in my town is little more than a cell phone store. I went in there looking for some wire wrap, no one in the store knew what I was talking about. I had to go to San Antonio to find the wire and wrapping tool.

[o1d_dude]

The radio shack in my town is little more than a cell phone store. I went in there looking for some wire wrap, no one in the store knew what I was talking about. I had to go to San Antonio to find the wire and wrapping tool.

Interesting. The RS nearest my house has gone from that business model back to the original parts and tech goodies for hobbyists. There still is a small section of the shop with cellphones and they push them (old loves die hard) but they sell solder, soldering irons, wicking, solder suckers, terminal strips, wire, SW radios, and the rest of the things that made RS famous.