So I’m home for a quiet little vacation, not much. Some home cooked food, a little TV perhaps and some high speed internet. Too much to ask for? No. I don’t think so. But this time it wouldn’t be so. Why? Firstly I went to the Iron Maiden gig downtown, and had a mind blowing time. Once the neck recovered, I had to get started on what appears to be the most daunting assignment of my life.
So I have to do a little something with a microcontroller. Not too hard. A little code, a little soldering and a photo diode later, we’re all done. But I never had any experience writing code for embedded systems or more importantly embedding any systems. So after a lot of research I decide to go for an Atmel AVR chip. Unfortunately I end up getting an at89c51, an intel 8051 based one. And the chip burner initially doesen’t work because my paralell port doesen’t work.
A lot of work and exchanges later, I get a working serial burner and hook up my microcontroller to an 16×14 backlit LCD, and an MX232 to connect the chip to the computer. Bottomline: I’m not having a good time anymore. Nothing seems to work.
On the bright side, what’s supposed to take a week or so to learn, I got a hold of in under 4 hours…. And yes, that’s all the gloating that’ll be in this post.
In other news, my mom (ps. thanks to mom for all the help in the electronics department) purchased a HP Scanner/Printer and when it came in, I opened it and prepared to set it up. Much to my amazement, or rather frustration (frustration’s more like it) I find the ink cartridges aren’t there. They’re missing while they should’ve been there. Now mommy’s angry and we go all the way back to the shop. I didn’t have to go, but why on earth would I miss the show.
Ultimately the printer went back and another one took it’s place. And I successfully scanned one photo till now. I have to figure out a good archival tool and set everything up for my parents to use it.
I’ve become more and more interested in music therapy lately. And I’m simply amazed how listening to angry and violent music can soothe me down and relax me. And how calm and soothing music can also do the same.
Until next time.
Now playing: Dream Theater - Octavarium
[tags]electronics,atmel,microcontroller,hp,pritner,mommy,me[/tags]
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