Hi,
Since I'm a beginner, I figure I'd start with the "Start here" robot. Question though: the walkthrough says to be sure to order the USB version of the PICAXE starter kit, but the place I was going to order from charges an extra $15 or so for the USB version, versus the serial version. Is it really necessary to have the USB cable, or does the serial version simply suffer from longer loading time into the PICAXE?
Thanks.
qin__23
I think that the main reason
I think that the main reason you should go for the USB cable, is more and more new computers ship without serial ports and only have USB ports (I know the newest of my laptops only has USB ports). I don’t think there is any difference in upload speeds using one instead of the other.
If your computer has serial,
If your computer has serial, go for that!!
While I agree with Frits 
While I agree with Frits If you will ONLY use that computer go for serial. I use my home PC and sometimes my work laptop so I needed the USB. My laptop doesn’t have serial. You may save some money later by getting the USB now. The cable separatly costs $25 or something outrageous like that.
Wow, you guys are quick with
Wow, you guys are quick with the replies!
Thanks for the input.
I will probably go with the serial version, as the PC I will be using will have a serial port.
Even if I dont use that PC, I’ve got a few serial-usb adapters (I do quite a bit of serial programming).
qin__23
Slower
I’m a bit slower than the rest. Excuse me. God hasn’t quite finished with me yet.
Would the USB cable actually be faster than the serial cable? The reason I ask (as you know, I’m no picaxe expert) is that I perceive the bottleneck to be serial comms with the PIC rather than the PC end.
Now if the USB cable were used to program a picaxe which NATIVELY supported USB, it might be a different story.
I’m not sure if the USB
I’m not sure if the USB cable is faster than the serial cable. I only have the USB cable and have never tried the serial cable. The USB cable does appear to just be a USB-to-serial thing though, since a COM port pops up when I insert the cable, so I guess there’s no native support (like there is in my LPC-H2148 board, which pops up as some strange device that takes control over the mouse).
Serial To USB Convertor
The Picaxe folk sell a convertor for the serial cable to make it a USB cable. It costs about the same as the price difference between the packs. So if you find out later that you get stuck without serial ports, then you can just get that then. In the mean time you save your self some lolly.
buying parts
HELLO,
I’M NEW TO THIS SITE AND TO ROBOTICS BUILDING. I LIVE IN AMERICA BUT THE “PICAXE starter kit” ALONG WITH MANY IF NOT ALL OF THE PIECES REQUIRES TO PAY IN EURO NOT USD. DO I NEED TO BUY FROM ANOTHER SUPPLYER? OR DOES IT MATTER WHAT CURENCY YOU PAY?
i don’t know you should ask
i don’t know you should ask them!! anyways i never had problem with buying on amazon (i normally use euros).
Please only ask your
Please only ask your question in one spot and not two. Also lay off the BOLD CAPS it is really annoying.
let us know how that works
let us know how that works out if you try it. I’ve read that for lots of pic programmers, just converting from usb to serial doesn’t work, since usb voltages (especially for laptops) don’t always achieve high enough voltages to put the pic in programming mode.
hey guys
Hey guys! I’m planning out my first robot and it’s gonna be pretty much the little 8, but I’m going to kind of make it my own. I was just wondering if I bought the picaxe 8 board, would it be possible to do everything and add another motor? Or should I just get the more expensive starter pack? I mean if I have to I will I’m just a little worried about the soldering. . . I’ve alway been accident prone. . . well thanks for reading:)
In general, I just do not
In general, I just do not recomend the "little 8" for a first time project. Yes, it is cheaper, but you get what you pay for, to put it short. The "Start here"- project is made to be the best starter project, end of story 
Thanks for the responses
Thanks for the responses guys:) Well I’m about to upload some hand sketches of my first robot in a bit and then i think you’ll know what I’m getting at. I tried to do it in sketchup but I need a bit more practice:) thanks for the great replies guys
Another motor?
Not sure what you mean, what would the other motor be for? If drive motors, one of the difficult things to do is attaching wheels to new motors. Unless you get lucky and there are some already made for them, like th GM3 motors currently used. Some servos also can have similar wheels attached.
If adding an additional motor to the 2 already driving the wheels, I believe the PICAxe only has a motor driver for the 2 wheel motors. You would need an additional h-bridge, that you could probably wire to some other pins not in use.
What did you have in mind for the motor? Perhaps another RC servo would work?
