A lesser K8055…

Velleman support and development,

I’ve read your note about school projects and understand why it’s written in a somewhat unfriendly way.

However I have a question that is related to my (school) project.

The lessons I teach are the first two years for students who are interested in electronics. (VMBO elektrotechniek for Dutch readers.)
So they learn the basics. To make the lessons even more attractive I have developed a parallel interface they can make and use during lessons and take home to connect to their own computer.

There is a lot of software available for the parallel port and I’ve written the program EasyProgIntFace that also can be used for the K8055.
There is however one problem, the parallel port isn’t supported anymore on most new computers. I know a PCI card can be used but unfortunately my ICT management loves Dell (I don’t) and they gave me new computers without even a PCI slot.
So I need another interface. The K8055 would perfectly do, but is just too expensive for this purpose.

The question is:
Is there a way to have a k8055 without the analogue in- and outputs, or is there a way to buy the needed electronics for the USB connection? There is a budget to develop a dedicated PCB for this.
The K8055 then would be nice when they start studying at highschool(?). (ROC for Dutch readers.)

If you have a better idea please let me know.

h.hoorsma@EduTechSoft.nl

We are currently working on a low-cost scaled-down ‘K8055’-like module.
Sorry, no details yet.
Stay tuned and check the ‘coming soon’ page of our site every now and then or subscribe to our newsletter.
http://www.velleman.eu/distributor/newsletters/

What about other kits? Like K8090 8-Channel Relay Card and the PICKIT2 Starter Kit for example?
If I would be studying electronics as a beginner my imagination would be going wild with those

Thanks for your response.

To make clear what I really meant please visit this site,

edutechsoft.nl/intscher.html#Les1

This program shows step by step how a schematic diagram can be read. The switches can be set by using the buttons of the connected interface. The advantage is that now s1 and s2 can be served simultaneously.

As you can see it are really the basics that I teach. Most of the time we have to spend on learning and practising the NEN 1010.
Nowadays most students didn’t ‘play’ with electronics in their youth. They really have to develop those skills, from the beginning, at school.
You will also have noticed that many people would like to program the k8055, but have not even the slightest idea what the binary numeral system has to do with it.

edutechsoft.nl/intscher.html#Les5

That’s why I’m looking for a cheap and simple interface.
I do use the k8055 during my lessons because it’s really cheap for what it delivers. It’s however to complex and expensive to be used for what I (they) need. That are also the rasons why the K8090 and the PICKIT2 aren’t an option.

I have subscribed to your newsletter, even although I visit this site almost every day.

Hilbrand.