{"id":1,"date":"2012-07-08T03:49:52","date_gmt":"2012-07-08T03:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/msunderman.com\/wordpress\/?p=1"},"modified":"2012-08-22T02:07:39","modified_gmt":"2012-08-22T06:07:39","slug":"hello-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/msunderman.com\/wordpress\/2012\/07\/hello-world\/","title":{"rendered":"TI MSP430 LaunchPad Development Kit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TI<\/a><\/p>\n

Welcome! \u00a0Let’s start today with a review of the Texas Instruments MSP430 LaunchPad kit, aka the MSP-EXP430G2<\/a>. \u00a0It’s a great value for the experimenter at only $4.30. The kit includes a ‘G2553, the premier chip in the Value Line of microcontrollers. Almost an oxymoron, isn’t it. Lucky for us, this chip hits the sweet spot of cheap and loaded with features.<\/p>\n

TI upgraded the kit in late 2011 to include this more capable microcontroller and a lesser spare chip, the ‘G2452. I’m not sure why the spare is included, maybe for breadboarders or people who can’t keep their bug-zappy fingers off the pins.<\/p>\n

How do these devices stack up? \u00a0Check out their features in the table below, or on TI’s Product Search<\/a> page. Future articles will focus on the MSP430G2553, so pay particular attention to the stats on that puppy.<\/p>\n

TI MSP430 LaunchPad Comparison<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Feature<\/h2>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Original Kit<\/h2>\n<\/th>\n

\n

New Kit<\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

MSP430G2321<\/h2>\n<\/th>\n

\n

MSP430G2452<\/h2>\n<\/th>\n

\n

MSP430G2553<\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Flash ROM<\/th>\n2K<\/td>\n8K<\/td>\n16K<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SRAM<\/th>\n128 bytes<\/td>\n256 bytes<\/td>\n512 bytes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GPIO<\/th>\n10<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16-bit Timers<\/th>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UART<\/th>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10-bit ADC Channels<\/th>\n8<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Temperature Sensor<\/th>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Frequency<\/th>\n16 MHz<\/td>\n16 MHz<\/td>\n16 MHz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Have I “sparked” your interest yet? Alrighty, then. You’ll need your own board and a little free software to keep up with the program. Do it now, and you’ll be up and running in a week. I’ll do my best to keep you afloat as we push the LaunchPad to its limits. These links oughta get you moving…<\/p>\n