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Well, I have taken another look at robotics and realized why I stopped in the first place. I can't seem to get the picaxe to be recognized by the computer. I am using a serial cord, and power is definitely getting to the picaxe. I have tried too many times to locate the problem and thought that second pair of eyes might be helpful. Below I have attached a photo of what I have done with the 28x1 picaxe. Thanks for your help!
It might help if you
It might help if you provided a few more details on how far you get - which computer you’re using, software, what does or does not happen etc. - have you installed any necessary drivers? is your computer recognising the serial cord? Is your software telling you anything at all?
Aside from that I have a two general suggestions - firstly, it seems from your image that you’re shorting the vin and vout on the voltage regulator - perhaps your pen slipped though? I think the diode might also cause a V drop of about 0.6 V but if your supply is >6v then it shoudn’t matter?
Of course checking that you have your input pins 1-2-3 in the right order goes without saying.
If all else fails, then spend a bit more money and get a programming board that DOES work, to help you get familiar with the quirks of it. I use the AXE STACK for the 18X (which I actually recently just smoked…)
Did you tied reset pin (#1)
Did you tied reset pin (#1) high through 4K7 resistor? If not, your 28x1 resets itself erratically, this will prevent a program from downloading properly.
Did you set up your computer?
Did you install a programmer (Axepad is a good one which you can download from here: http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/ you just have to choose LinAxepad if your using linux WinAxepad if your using windows MacAxepad if your using mac, etc) once you install that, then install the drivers (their on the same page closer to the bottom under AXE027 PICAXE USB Download Cable ) then you have to install the compiler (again on the same page under PICAXE Compilers (v1.0): ) and finally you have to go into Axepad, click options, choose what Picaxe you have, then go under port (still in options) and for mac type in the set of numbers it gives you or in windows and linux choose what COM it’s on and if it doesn’t work after that check your board setup (especially your microcontroller) and make sure everythings connected right
Response to questions
Thanks, here are some more details:
- I are using a pc computer with picaxe programming editor version 5.2.11
- When we plug the chip into the computer it says that now hardware is found
- As far as I am aware the computer is recognizing the serial cord
- My power supply is over 6 volts
- I have triple and quadruple checked our pins and they are all in order
- I have a 4k7 resistor tied high to reset pin 1
Here are some questions I have
Do I need a certain button for the reset switch?
Does it matter what type of audio input jack I use (see picture of the one I am using)
How would I figure out for sure if my computer is recognizing the serial cord?
Try these things
1. Instead of a regulated power supply, just use 3 or 4 AA’s. (4 if rechargable, 3 if not).
2. Yes, that stereo jack will work. Are you sure you have each pin going to the right place? If it’s on a breadboard, you could try switching them up.
3. Remind your PC that you’re connected. How? Like this: Once it’s plugged in, use the program editor and go to View > Options > Serial Port. Un-select the COM that you have selected, select a different COM, click Refresh, and then select the right COM. Click Apply. Upload again.
4. Try connecting power and ground to the other side of the Axe, as well.
5. No, the switch doesn’t matter, as long as it can connect pin 1 to 0v. On a breadboard, you can just connect a wire between them and remove it.
Vista/XP/7
i couldn’t find it on my windows 7 machine, so i installed it on my XP, and it worked like a charm… try it if you got a XP machine stading around. it helped me 
Try these
1. If you have the AXE027 (USB to 3.5mm Stereo Jack) and it’s NOT working, get a copy of a FREE program named FT_PROG
from this location: http://www.ftdichip.com/Resources/Utilities.htm#FT_Prog and click on “Clicking Here”
This program will allow you to program just about any part of an “FTDI” chip. You should get the “users manual”;
it’s large and very complete. BTW- This months issue of Nuts & Volts Jun 2010 pg53 covers how to use the FT_PROG
for this specific problem. The Stereo Jack is wired a bit backwords. Instead of the back-ring, (which is normally Ground),
our friends across the Atlantic Ocean made the Tip Ground. Go Figure.
2. If you havr purchased a “USB to Serial” adapter, the cable “WILL NOT” work. It only puts out ±3 volts. To fix this
problem, go to Sparkfun at: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=133
and get the RS232 Shifter Board. This will correct the problem and supply the ±5 volts shift that you needed to start
with. It is also available as an SMD device. If you want to roll your own, there is a link to show the Schematic.
3. Last but not least…go to my web site and find other circuits and fixes: http://elecurls.tripod.com/
Choose: PICAXE or FTDI
good luck.
Cant…
Can’t really help you with a drawing, (other than the on computer stuff) This is a problem with your hardware then, i had a problem similar to this a while ago and it turned out my microcontroller was in backwards you might be able to get more help if you take a picture of your actually configuration.
