Customer Reviews

Arduino Duemilanove Starter Kit

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hacktronics starter kit is a good inexpensive way to start getting familiar with the Arduino. There are other more expensive kits available with more items included, but if you are unsure of your level of interest or ability this is a good place to start. I already have a fairly well supplied 'junkbox' so this was adequate to get me started.

The only issue I ran into was with the version of software I downloaded. I went to http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software and downloaded the Linux version listed near the top of the page. I would have figured it would be the most current version, but what I got was arduino-013 and appearantly that was the wrong version for the Duemilanove with m328p. After a week of trying to troubleshoot it with no success and asking several people what the problem may have been I ended up back on IRC Freenode #arduino and after a brief conversation with TheMadEngineer. I found that I had the wrong version of software. I quickly downloaded arduino-015 and all is well. For the sake of information I have yet to get the Windows version to run. When you try to open it in XP it just goes off into oblivion and never does anything. It may be the machine it is on, but it was a complete waste of time to download.

This is a decent starter kit, but be aware that there are better options out there. Adafruit Industries offers a basic kit like this for a $5 more with better parts as well as a tutorial and a deluxe kit with a breadboard and prototyping shield, along with a tutorial, parts, etc for only $20 more. Now they both ship with the Arduino Uno.
I recommend they drop the price on this one, or throw in more jumper wires, etc to boost the value. I am not associated with Adafruit Industries, I just like the way they make tutorials and have all open source products. I wish they would update this to show that it now comes with the Uno.

A great way to get started with Arduino. An hour after opening this up, I had a six LED chaser display going just by modifying the simple Blink code in the Arduino example sketches. A couple other items that you may want for basic projects are a mini speaker (8 ohm) and a little servo or two. You can easily find a simple sketch (code) on the net that will run servos and there are sound examples included in the Arduino software that will play tunes on your speaker. To hook a servo to a breadboard, you can insert three stiff little wires into the female servo plug and this will fit nicely with the holes on your breadboard.

I heard about the Arduino through one of my friends on fonebug.com. I had to see what it was all about. It's totally awesome! I've had it for only a couple weeks now and have built all kinds of cool stuff. If you have any kind of background in programming, the scripting language is a piece of cake. And even if you don't there are tons of tutorials to help you along. I recommend the Arduino to anyone who is even remotely creative.

I read the description and looked at the picture, and it seemed as if the arduino that comes with the kit was duelmanove, but when i got the package it was arduino uno. I still found a use for the arduino it came with, but i was a little dissappointed. Still a great kit though because i recently went to fry's and they were selling a kit like this for more than twice as much. So change the description to say that it comes with arduino UNO, not duellmenove and nobody will have anything to complain about.

Product is good. Its working as expected and using in the class.
It would be good if we you get more LEDS and resistors with the product.

There are many sources for the Arduino, but Hacktronics puts together a very nit accessory kit, and is very helpful with their tech support. The Arduino itself is a simple, fun to use and infinitely extendable, flexible microprocesser (outdoes the basic Stamp and others). I've been posting project ideas at [...] and reviews of other accessories.

For being a total newbie to the electronics world, this kit was great for me. It had a decent number of extra connection wires and resistors. Worked great, just don't forget to install the drivers if you have vista or you will not be able to connect it to your laptop. Works great and shipped to me quickly.

The hacktronics guys are extremely responsive. They answered all my email questions promptly. A guy called Mark was extremely helpful. I recommend them highly.

Amazing kit, good price, lots of stuff, good for beginners and GREAT to go along with the book below;

Getting Started with Arduino (Make: Projects)