Programming and Customizing the Basic Stamp Computer (TAB Microcontrollers) (Paperback)

by Scott Edwards (Author) "Computers are old news..." (more)
Key Phrases: unblank display, accumulator cap, debug cls, Stamp Boot Camp, Hello World, Function Set (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Essential for Stamp Users Extremely clear and well written. Fills in areas where the Stamp manuals are weak. The included CD is as useful as the book. The CD includes Stamp 1 & 2 programming software, the Basic program code for the original Stamp manuals, and the excellent series on Stamps that Scott wrote for Nuts & Volts Magazine; ***** This book got me hooked on Microcontrollers Great book for smart people, who don't have knowledge of Microcontrollers or electronics but want to. The projects are great and so are the examples --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Program functional tools--or wacky inventions--with the basic stamp. Here's a roll-up-your-sleeves guide to programming the BASIC Stamp microcontroller--and implanting it in virtually anything your fertile imagination can come up with. Programming and Customizing the BASIC Stamp Computer, by J. Scott Edwards, shows you how to get started with essential programming fundamentals and electronic assembly techniques. Then it delivers step-by-step instructions for building and customizing projects ranging from a magic message display, mobile robot with sensor whiskers and a sonar rangefinder to a wireless household remote controller, desktop time/temperature display, data logger and a network communication terminal. If you thought the fun had gone out of desktop PCs, this hands-on book of eye-opening projects will set you straight.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill; Bk&CD-Rom edition (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0079136842
• ISBN-13: 978-0079136848
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #157,751 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real 'get me started' manual, May 21, 2001

By	Kevin Jackson (Germantown, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Programming and Customizing the Basic Stamp (Paperback)

Does the thought of programming your own micro computer device get you into a cold sweat? Did me, until Scott Edwards publish this book.

Using this book I was able, in four hours, program the Basic Stamp II to do most of the simple things I wanted. Now, I have had some electronics experience but not at programming PIC based devices but I found it very easy with this book.Its simply set out and starts at a level that will allow even the most raw beginner to get a foot hold in programming these devices. This is a very good guide to getting you started and soon writing your own programs. It may look a bit on the expensive side but it was worth every one of my Amazon discounted pennys!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to the Stamp, July 15, 1998

By	Myke Predko (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

Scott Edward's book is targetted for the beginner that wants to get into electronics and has heard that the Stamp is a pretty neat thing. The book starts out with an introduction to the Stamp and Electronics in general. Included is a pretty good primer on prototyping circuits.

From this, the user is give more detail on the Stamp (including how to build programmer cables) followed by "Boot Camp": an introduction to programming the Stamp and basic I/O. Scott spends equal time on the BS1 and BS2 and notes differences between the two.

My only disappointment with the book is while he introduces the more advanced I/O functions ("DEBUG", "SERIN", "SEROUT" and "BUTTON") in the example projects and appendices, he doesn't explicity explain them or give hints based on his experience.

The majority of the book is dedicated to the twelve projects presented in the book and this is where the reader will learn the most abo! ! ut the Stamp. The projects focus on interfacing to other devices and this is where the book really shines. LCD (not surprisingly), RS-232 Serial, Keypad, Servo, temperature probe and an Ultrasonic (!) interfaces caught my eye.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for Stamp Users, April 28, 2000

By	Raymond J McArthur (Liverpool, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Extremely clear and well written. Fills in areas where the Stamp manuals are weak. The included CD is as useful as the book. The CD includes Stamp 1 & 2 programming software, the Basic program code for the original Stamp manuals, and the excellent series on Stamps that Scott wrote for Nuts & Volts Magazine.