USB confused (running out of hair)

[cncmachineguy]

Thanks Dave. Yes the FTDI route is by far the easiest. In fact I even have some chips for that. But sometimes, giving up board space for a chip seems crazy, if nut just impractical.

Now if CDC is the equalvalient to usb->serial, but done in the PC, well that gets closer, even close enough for me.

Oh, and thanks for the toupee link, I may need it soon

My analogy to FTDI:

120Vac->12Vdc output battery charger->12Vdc battery->inverter (120Vac output)->PC powersupply->12Vdc output for MOBO.

To build a UPS, would it not be easiest to go from battery to MOBO?

[dhouston]

Now if CDC is the equalvalient to usb->serial, but done in the PC, well that gets closer, even close enough for me.

Well, according to AN1164 you can do that but a quick scan of the first few pages convinces me that USB-serial chips (onboard or external) are still the best choice, by far.

[mister_e]

If you really insist on pure USB, there have been threads here on that. Jan Axelson's web site is also quite helpful. There are methods for interfacing under Windows but you are pretty much on your own for Linux and OSX.

• http://lvr.com/

• http://ssimplyhair.com/toupee.aspx

The second one is a real must

AAwwww come on guy, don't be lazy, leave the FTDI for students.... there's everything you need to do real USB here.

[dhouston]

AAwwww come on guy, don't be lazy, leave the FTDI for students.... there's everything you need to do real USB here.

Au contraire - USB is for the students who need to learn the nitty gritty. I've made it to 70 with all my hair by taking the easy way out.

I bought Jan Axelson's USB Complete when she first released it and quickly decided I would avoid real USB forevermore.

I develop for Windows, Linux & OSX and the USB-serial chips (or external adapters) are the only practical way to handle all three.

[cncmachineguy]

Steve, I agree, sort of. Everything to do USB is here for the PIC side. As for the PC side, maybe everything is here. If one wants to develop in C of VB, I think everything is prolly here. Well, If I want to work in C, "I" prolly wouldn't be here. So if thats needed, then its not all here. And VB? well what flavor?? 6 and .net? Maybe I am just too stubborn, but as a hobby, I have NO plans to buy anything from them guys. Nor am I going to get the exppress version (which may not work).

It seems I need to look further into CDC. but NOT for pic32 as the app note Dave linked would suggest.

If I find the energy to keep persuing this, I will hop back on the CDC for dummies thread and ask zillions of questions there. In the mean time, How does 1 go about accessing the "port"from their app if using CDC? I know it will be app specific, but whats the process? Does it become COMx and just use regular serial commands to use it?

[mackrackit]

With CDC the PC will think it is talking to a "regular" com port. COMxx

Here is another example that might be of use...
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/cont...USB-SD-LOGGING

[cncmachineguy]

Dave, that is a great example of both USB and sd card reading/writing. So can I assume there is a LB part also?

[dhouston]

.... there's everything you need to do real USB here.

How about the modem control signals (DTR, RTS, etc.) with CDC?