Hacking the E-mag?

[jeffremiller]

I just bought an E-mag and the Linux Geek in me just can't stand to wait...

Has anyone started hacking the E-mag? I see the 14 PIN socket on the board (for a PBASIC Stamp?) Does anyone have board specifics, such as Flash size, programming interface, etc,etc)

A couple of ideas that have already crossed my mind:

ambient emperature sensor / display on LED
shot count alarm speaker or vibration?
game timer alarm speaker or vibration?
Battery level indicator on LED

I guess you can see where I'm going ith this... Just something to play with.

Is there a group developing this type of "non-essential" creature comforts?

I'd love to help.

J_

[Bartman]

Yea, we have a flash programer, jsut waiting for my last tourney in august. Then I plan to strip out the burst modes, and make teh gun semi only.

with the extra space in the flash, I want to add a anticop eye, using the post for burst mode as a conectore for teh eye.

Keep posting here, and as we get closer to ripping the chip out, we can both get together and talk.

Bartman
team I have no Idea
www.ihni.org

[jeffremiller]

A second board would be the ultimate but I'd settle for the tech specification and programming info on the one I have. I've started researching the Paralax PBASIC stamp and I see mega potential in it. Most of it is just "giggle" features such as the termometer and humidity but the game/ammo alarm I saw mentioned in a review as a possible enhancement. If AGD is reading this, let me see the code and play with it for awhile.

I'll sign non-disclosures, etc. I just want to see this platform exploited to it's fullest!

J_

[Bartman]

Well, I have almost finished the drawing for my new body. after I turn that, I will be ready to figure out 2 things, one the ACE(or something similar) and how I am going to add it to the board. I am hopping like heck this will help stop my chopping problems.

I have a friend going to get to work on the chip soon, to see if we can get into it, and change it to serve my purposes better.

Any ways, I hope this doesn't get closed so we can keep exchanging Info about the Hack.

Bartman
team I have no Idea
www.ihni.org

[jeffremiller]

If you look inside the grip there is a vertical row of 14 sockets for a stamp... looks like this will fit.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F010%5F017%5F001%5F000&product%5Fid=900%2D3272

That way, you should have to actually hack the existing flash load or the board much. This stamp has access to the I/O lines on the board and can run independent programs.

I guess it depends on what you want to do to the thing.

J_

[jeffremiller]

OK... I'm going to test this pinout tonight and see if voltage is present on the corect pins. If so, I think this is what I need. Sorting out the I/O lines is going to be a pain. Perhaps someone with AGD would be kind enough to post the pin-outs?


<table BORDER WIDTH="100%" NOSAVE >
<tr>
<td>Pin</td>

<td>Name</td>

<td>Description</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>1</td>

<td>VIN</td>

<td>Unregulated power in: accepts 5.5 - 15 VDC (6-40 VDC on BS1-IC
rev. b), which is then internally regulated to 5 volts. May be left unconnected
if 5 volts is applied to the VDD (+5V) pin.

</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>2</td>

<td>VSS</td>

<td> System ground: connects to PC parallel port pin 25 (GND) for

programming.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>3</td>

<td>PCO</td>

<td>PC Out: connects to PC parallel port pin 11 (BUSY) for

programming.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>4</td>

<td>PCI</td>

<td>PC In: connects to PC parallel port pin 2 (D0) for programming.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>5</td>

<td>VDD</td>

<td>5-volt DC input/output: (Also called +5V) if an unregulated voltage
is applied to the VIN pin, then this pin will output 5 volts. If
no voltage is applied to the VIN pin, then a regulated voltage between
4.5V and 5.5V should be applied to this pin.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>6</td>

<td>RES</td>

<td>Approximately 4.2 volts, causing the BASIC Stamp to reset. Can
be driven low to force a reset. This pin is internally pulled high
and may be left disconnected if not needed. Do not drive high.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>7-14</td>

<td>P0-P7</td>

<td>General-purpose I/O pins: each can sink 25 mA and source 20mA. However,
the total of all pins should not exceed 50 mA (sink) and 40 mA (source).</td>
</tr>
</table>



[This message has been edited by jeffremiller (edited 07-03-2001).]

[RobAGD]

Well as I recall the current board dont really support the BASIC stamps. There was a memory issue that intern left the code out to use it.

Support for the BASIC chip will go away on the next set of boards to be made.

-Robert

[AGD]

Guys,

Yes the pinouts were for the Basic Stamp but we put that on hold when it became apparent that the industry was going away from programable chips. Anti chop eye software is under development now and not worth you spending time on. At any rate the memory in the chip is almost full so you dont have much room to play with anyway.

AGD

[jeffremiller]

But I still have this burning desire to hack the code. I don't want F/A I don't really even need an ACE. I want other features!

Features that AGD probably wouldn't consider such as temperature, humidity, alarm and vibration for the shot counter and timer, possibly a bootup sound, programmable LED messages for team name or my name or something.

I know I've read that the alarm was being considered as well as a battery level indicator but It's not the same as doing it yourself.

Please, would AGD consider showing a few of us the code used? I called but the guy I talked to recommended that this is the place to post such questions. Any experimental load images, etc?

J_

[RobAGD]

There are no codes to hack, it's not an angel with codes liek NICKLES08 SILVER11 blah blah blah

There is no FA in the guns, the code ( meaning the program that allowed it ) was removes.

ROF might be tweakable as thats just a user set varable with a max setting limit.

-Robert

[donggie]

Originally posted by RobAGD
There are no codes to hack, it's not an angel with codes liek NICKLES08 SILVER11 blah blah blah

There is no FA in the guns, the code ( meaning the program that allowed it ) was removes.

ROF might be tweakable as thats just a user set varable with a max setting limit.

-Robert

Has anyone figured out how to "tweak the ROF?

If so, How?

Don

[Have Blue]

Well, I just ordered an AVR programmer and a BASIC stamp - after talking with Jeff at tech training this past weekend, I'm going to take a stab at porting the Warlord code over to the E-Mag.

While not truly hacking the board, would anyone be interested in replacing their E-Mag's red display with a nifty green unit? I'd like to gauge the demand to see if it's worth ordering a bunch...

[donggie]

What's the cost? Hard Install?

Anyone figure out how to at least remove the limiters on the board?

Don

[RobAGD]

Actually I want a nifty Blue LED :)

-Robert

[Sledgehammer]

I'd <b>LOVE</b> a green LED