Parallax eb500-SER C User manual

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Copyright ©Parallax, Inc. Special Instructions for eb500-SER C (#30068) 3/21/2007 Page 1 of 2
Special Instructions for eb500-SER C
If you recently purchased an eb500 Bluetooth AppMod (Stock# 30068) or a Boe-Bot®Kit for
Microsoft Robotics Studio (Stock# 28118), please read this carefully.
The eb500 modules labeled “eb500-SER C” send a signal that interferes with BASIC Stamp I/O
pin P3. We recommend that you follow the instructions below to find out if you have a SER C
eb500 module, and if so, clip off the offending pin. If you have an eb500-SER C module, you
may also return it for a replacement. (See page 2.)
IMPORTANT: If you have a Boe-Bot® Robot Kit for Microsoft Robotics Studio, the eb500-
SER C’s output signal that interferes with P3 disables the Boe-Bot robot’s right IR detection
circuit. (See Bluetooth Boe-Bot for MSRS.pdf.) Follow these instructions to fix the problem.
√Check the white barcode label on your eb500. If it reads “eb500-SER C”, go to the
next step. If there’s no “SER C” on the label, this notice does not apply to your eb500
module.
√Clip off the pin that causes this problem, as shown in here:
This pin has been clipped
so that it is flush with the
plastic header.
Does your eb500’s bar code
label read “eb500-SER C”?

Copyright ©Parallax, Inc. Special Instructions for eb500-SER C (#30068) 3/21/2007 Page 2 of 2
Module Replacement Option
If you have an eb500 module labeled SER C but are either not comfortable with clipping off the
pin, or if you make a mistake that damages the module while doing so, you may return it for a
replacement. Simply call or email the Parallax sales department and a sales representative will
assist you.
•Call: toll-free in the continental US: 888-99-STAMP
•Email: [email protected].
NOTE: Replacements may be delayed due to inventory backorders.
Technical Details
eb500-SER module revisions A and B (labeled eb500 A and eb500 Rev B respectively) had an
optional hardware flow control feature that allowed devices with serial buffers to send/receive
flow control signals to/from certain eb500 pins. When the eb500 gets plugged into a Parallax
carrier board AppMod header, these flow control pins connect to BASIC Stamp I/O pins P2 and
P3. Since these eb500 pins were disabled by default, P2 and P3 could be used for other
purposes.
BASIC Stamp + eb500 applications do not use the eb500 module’s hardware flow control feature
because the eb500’s buffered serial flow control is not compatible with the BASIC Stamp byte-
by-byte flow control. When flow control is required, BASIC Stamp + eb500 applications use a
protocol-based flow control. For an example, see Appendix A of Bluetooth Boe-Bot for
MSRS.pdf, available for download from www.parallax.com.
The eb500 revision C (labeled eb500-SER C), no longer has an optional hardware flow control
feature. However, it transmits an output-low signal to BASIC Stamp I/O pin P3, and it cannot be
set to input by any means, so we recommend removing the eb500 pin that sends the low signal as
shown on page 1.
The eb500 Revision D (labeled eb500-SER D) also has the optional hardware flow control
feature removed, but the P3 signal issue has been corrected.
The eb500-SER is designed and manufactured by A7 Engineering – www.a7eng.com.