INTRODUCTION

The microprocessor has entered the consciousness of almost everyone in our society and has revolutionized the design of electronic products and appliances in a way that no other device has ever done to date. Electronic engineers and technicians and hobbyists have seen electronic projects transition from tubes to transistors to integrated circuits and on to micro-processors. In the mid 1990's, the BASIC STAMP micro-processor came into being. The BASIC STAMP I microprocessor is a powerful tool for creating many different types of complex electronic circuits. Following the BASIC STAMP I, a more powerful BASIC STAMP II or BS2 emerged permitting even more complex projects to be build in a fraction of the time, and with far less components and cost than previous circuitry using discreet transistors and integrated circuits. In short the STAMP II has revolutionized electronic project building. Project building has seen a recent resurgence in the last few years and the STAMP II controller is a very, powerful and often used building block. The STAMP II has been discovered by engineers, technicians and hobbyists alike and has made project building a dream.

The beauty of the STAMP II is its reduced instruction set, its ability to perform tasks quickly and efficiently with a decent amount of memory. The STAMP II can run off a standard 9 volt transistor radio battery. And consumes little power. Utilizing the STAMP II microprocessor allows project designs to be powerful, flexible, and have a much lower parts count than a discreet IC design. The STAMP II allows project designs to be "upgradeable" and to evolve as more features and complexity are needed, try that with discreet logic.

The evolution of the STAMP II has is long and varied and has developed a "cult status" and it has become very popular and widely utilized. The STAMP I and II since their inception have allowed many electronic minded persons to construct all types of electronic projects and systems from simple light LED followers to more complex Internet interfaces. The STAMP II has had a large following over its life to date and as such has created an extensive library of expertise and software, so that many newcomers can benefit from all the combined experience. There are very helpful newsgroups, webring and email groups dedicated to helping STAMP II newcomers. Many STAMPERs are readily available and willing to help newbies. The STAMP II since it has had a long evolution has many support chips, interfaces, and sensors available for those wishing to build modern complex circuits.

The Stamp II Communications and control Project Book features twenty four projects from basic serial communication to the more complex twelve channel Internet based alarm reporting system. This book presents many novel, interesting and useful projects, for technically minded people who are interesting discovering the joys of building hands-on projects using the powerful BASIC STAMP II micro-controller. There are many projects designed for electronics hobbyists, radio hams and Internet "junkies"

Hardware as well as software for each project is presented in an easy to understand format, which will allow anyone with a basic interest in electronics and microprocessors to assemble as well as program, any of the projects described in this book.

One of the reasons the STAMP II has been so successful is that it can be interfaced with many different types of sensors and external devices quite readily. The BASIC Stamp II can often be interfaced with the outside world with one or two wire interfaces. Many applications such as analog to digital conversion or temperature sensing, and external memory devices can be interfaced with two wires. One wire devices or I2C devices are very easy to interface to the STAMP II. The Dallas Semiconductor one-wire devices are available as sensors, external memory, and they even have a one-wire weather station which can be used with the STAMP II.

Many of the projects in this book are complete and self contained in their own right, but also could be used together with other projects to form more complex projects and systems. Some projects could be used an idea generators for more complex systems. We hope this book will act to spur your imagination for building and modifying the circuit and programs contained within, to gain a better appreciation of the power and flexibility of the STAMP II microprocessor.

Hobbyists, engineers, technicians and amateur radio enthusiasts alike will appreciate this fascinating new book. This book also contains many resources in its three appendices. The first appendix contains many charts and tables which will help the STAMP II programmer. The second appendix contains many data and specification sheets for support integrated circuits used throughout the book. The third appendix provides many resources, websites, Internet forums and people helpful to STAMP II programmers and hobbyists.

                                                        BOOK  CONTENTS

The "alternative" STAMP II is low cost substitution for the BASIC STAMP II.. This chapter will show you how to construct your own less expensive "alternative" for about half the price of the original! You can substitute the "alternative" STAMP II for nay BS2 project in this book.

Chapter two covers the basics of interfacing input and output devices. STAMP II microprocessor to a personal computer. STAMP II (BS2) Interface diagrams. Sample software routines are presented including a QBASIC program for uploading and downloading data between microprocessor and a PC  In this chapter we explore new and interesting specialties ICs or building blocks. While not a specific STAMP II project, this chapter presents special ICs which can be used with the BASIC STAMP II processor to create new and interesting serial IR and radio remote control projects. This chapter is an project idea generator designed to stimulate your imagination using the some new dedicated microprocessors which combined with the STAMP II create powerful

In this chapter we explore new and interesting specialty ICs or building blocks. While not a specific STAMP II project, this chapter presents special ICs which can be used with the BASIC STAMP II processor to create new and interesting serial IR and radio remote control projects. This chapter is an project idea generator designed to stimulate your imagination using the some new dedicated microprocessors which combined with the STAMP II create powerful

This project is a real time saver and prevents headaches. Wiring 10Base-T Ethernet Networks can be a long and frustrating task, frought with problems. The RJ-45 Cable tester uses a STAMP II to test all eight wires in an Ethernet cable using a "walking LED" pattern. The "tester is a two piece unit. One end is placed at the originating end of the cable and the second part of the tester is placed at the end user PC and will test "opens" and "shorts".

Chapter 5 ---- Infrared Communicator Project
Chapter five presents an infrared communicator utilizing the STAMP II. This IRDA transceiver.
allows the STAMP II to communicate with other IrDA enabled computers, laptops and PDAs.

Chapter 6 ---- Multi-Channel Wireless Alarm System

The wireless alarm system is a two part system which combines a twelve channel alarm system with a transmitter and a complementary receiver and LCD display unit. With this alarm system you can monitor sensors, doors, windows, floor mats etc, the resultant alarm warning is sent via radio to a remote receiver and display. The LCD display unit beeps and displays the particular alarm sensor which was activated.

Chapter six describes the construction simple and inexpensive way to measure lightning activity of an for use with the Dallas Semiconductor 1-wire bus. This monitor provides real-time data on lightning activity by counting the number of lightning strikes in the area. This device is designed to either be used stand-alone or to supplement the WS-1 One-Wire Weather Station, providing the weather hobbyist additional weather data.
The Basic Stamp 2 to display the number of lightning strikes per minute on a row of 8 LEDs. Depending on the mounting configuration, the lightning sensor is capable of detecting lightning strikes greater than 50 miles away.

Chapter eight illustrates a twelve channel remote control system using an IBM PS/2 type keyboard, interfaced to as an Abacom model AM-RT4/RT5 series wireless transmitter. An Abacom receiver coupled to a BASIC STAMP II controller provide a means to control twelve different devices via radio control. This system can be expanded control to many devices if desired.

Chapter nine interfaces the STAMP II to the Motorola MC145447 caller-ID demodulator. The program reads in the caller-id data, stores it in EEPROM, and outputs the info on the serial LCD back- pack. The program also allows selection of up to 10 telephone numbers which arecalled "blocked numbers." If a "blocked number" calls, the program can choose to inhibit that call from reaching the telephone or answering machine, etc.

Chapter ten presents the Touch Tone Decoder with LCD display of decoded digits, which can be utilized in many applications including ham radio or robotics or remote control projects. The Touch Tone Decoder with Display can be used to monitor Touch Tone sequences over radio or the telephone for monitoring purposes.

Chapter eleven presents the Touch Tone Decoder, which can be utilized in many applications including ham radio or robotics or remote control projects. The Decoder can be used for Sel-Cal or selective calling in radio applications. First, it's a real-time DTMF to LCD display readout, Secondly it decodes a "selective call" sequence of "#753" whenever it occurs, and Thirdly, sends a ham radio call-sign in Morse Code three times in succession as a "pager" alert.

Chapter 12 ---- Radio Mailbox

This chapter presents the Radio Mailbox which can be used by Ham Radio or CB enthusiasts to retrieve voice messages left for them by radio buddies. The Radio Mailbox connects to any receiver and it looks for the proper Touch Tone sequence and records voice messages while you are away from your radio transceiver.

This project provides a four message keyer for Amateur Radio. The user can input four different messages, their character counts, and use four buttons to display the output and/or key a transmitter. NB: the messages are limited to the upper and lower case letters, digits 0-9, space, period, comma, ? and /.

Chapter fourteen illustrates an automated Fox for Amateur Radio direction finding. Fox hunting is a popular radio hobby activity, where is a hidden transmitter is located using direction finding techniques, often prizes are awarded for finding the Fox quickly. This project can alsoused as a Morse code ID and Keyer for a Propagation Beacon. A station Propagation Beacon station for HF radio would require some changes to the code. The Beacon sends Morse ID, then a tone for 1 minute, then pauses 1 minute in a loop.

Chapter 15 ---- "Smart" Azimuth/Elevation Rotator Controller

Chapter fifteen presents a STAMP II is utilized to control Azimuth/Elevation or AZ-EL rotator for amateur radio satellite communication. The STAMP II forms a "smart" controller which controls the 5400/5500 series Yaesu antenna rotators

Ham Radio repeaters, increase effective communication range between two stations. The Amateur Radio Repeater controller in this chapter will allow you to build a very capable system with many features; including a Touch Tone decoder for remote control functions, timeout timer, and ID timers, anti-kerchunk, CTCSS encode/decode and muting, voice and CW-ID, using digital voice recorder, and a burglar alarm/tamper alarm. This is a fun project with lots of possibilities.

The Remote Balloon Data Telemetry System is a unique telemetry which allow a balloon enthusiast to collect high altitude atmospheric pressure and temperature and immediately send the information in "real-time" to a receiver on the ground. The project was designed for balloon and amateur radio enthusiasts who like to combine both hobbies.

The Aero-photography project interfaces a Stamp BASIC Stamp II micro-controller, a radio link and an electronic camera, which will allow you to take fantastic pictures from a model plane, a glider or from a kite. High level commands are used for reading/writing square waves, usingserial communication. The STAMP II interface monitors pulses on one receiver channel. When a state change occurs (corresponding to a switch being moved on the transmitter), the interface generates a command string which it outputs to the camera via the built-in RS 232 port. Alternatively the interface can trigger the camera at regular intervals without an RC link.

The Cell-alert System monitors four different channels and will call a cell phone and alert a person at the other end of the call for each of the four channels which may have been activated with a series of different musical notes. Each channel plays a different sequence of musical notes. Simply plug in Cell-alert into a phone line and a power supply and its ready to serve.

The Page-alert monitors up to eight different input channels and will call a pager and inform the party carrying the pager that one of eight devices has been activated, by indicating the particular channel with a one or zero in the string of eight places

The Data-Alert system featured in chapter seventeen, monitors four alarm sensors or channels and will call a phone number of you choice and leave a data message with the Data Term or a remote personal computer, connected via a modem. The Data-Alert utilizes a mini modem chip, and is connected to your telephone line.

This chapter presents sensor modules for the Cell-Alert and Page-Alert and Data-Alert projects. A normally open/closed sensor input circuit, a infra-red body heat detector, a comparator/threshold detector and a listen-in module are all covered in this chapter. The listen-in module was designed for the Cell-Alert project only.

The Data-Term unit utilizes a Stamp II controller and a modem, The Data-Term is connected to a telephone line and waits for call from the Data-Alert unit. The Data-Term can accept data, information and commands from the Data-alert, and can control remote X-10 and local relay controls.

The Weblink project monitors up to twelve different channels or sensors, and will notify you via a remote web page browser. A Stamp II controller is coupled to a Siteplayer mini web-server, connected via a broadband Internet connection, and will remotely notify if any of the channels has been activated. With the Weblink system you can monitor windows, doors, temperature, voltage changes, etc.

Chapter 25 --- Xlink System

The Xlink, is a Web enabled remote control system which marries a Stamp II micro-controller with a Siteplayer mini web server module. With the Xlink, and a laptop, you are can remotely control a matrix of 25 different X-10 control devices plus and additional six local relay controlled devices via the Internet. The Xlink is placed at your home or office, and you can control devices using any remote browser, this is the ultimate control project.

                                                         AVAILABILITY

This exciting new book will be published by McGraw-Hill in the Fall of 2002/Winter 2003 and should be available in a book store  soon!