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Frank Brickle wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:fc22d18f0812101259i1371faaav50d7e2db58a95101@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Can anybody suggest a reasonably rich starting config,
that is, enough to do some <br>
real development without going overboard on bells and whistles?<br>
</blockquote>
Frank,<br>
<br>
I had exactly the same problem, after having received the BB packet,
which comes absolutely naked. Nothing else in the box, apart the board.<br>
<br>
What you need is the following :<br>
<br>
- A 5V power supply. <b>Beware</b> of brick power supplies that under
no-load gives maybe 9V, to go down to 5 under load. That is a sure way
to<br>
burn your board. The PS needed is a stabilized one, that measures 5V
even at no load.<br>
<br>
- A cable for the monitor, with an HDMI connector at one end, and a
DVI-D at the other. Like this one :<br>
<div align="center"><img alt=""
src="cid:part1.05040900.05060003@weaksignals.com" height="137"
width="201"><br>
<div align="left"> The DVI-D connector can be single-channel, you
don't need a more expensive dual channel.<br>
<br>
- A USB cable, not so easy to find... In order for the USB OTG port to
work as a host port (and you need this if you want to connect a keyboard<br>
and a mouse to it), the connector at one end must be a mini-A with
pin 4 shorted to pin 5. The connector at the other end for practical
reasons<br>
it is better if it is a female B, so you can connect the cable of a
powered hub to it. Like this cable :<br>
<div align="center"><img alt=""
src="cid:part2.01040107.03000009@weaksignals.com" height="176"
width="207"><br>
<div align="left"><br>
<br>
- A powered HUB. Must be a powered one, as the OTG port of the BB can
supply only 100mA, which are rather scarce.<br>
<br>
- A serial cable, which I am afraid you will have to build yourself.
The cable at one end will have a female 9 pin Cannon connector, and at
the other<br>
end a Berg strip, to go on the equivalent connector on the BB. Only
2 wires plus ground are actually used. The wiring can be found on the BB<br>
Hardware Reference Manual. This cable will be used to monitor the
messages sent out by the BIOS (for lack of a better word) of the BB when<br>
booting, using a terminal program on a PC.<br>
<br>
- At least a couple (or more) of SDHC cards, 4 or 8GB each.<br>
<br>
- A screen with a DVI-D input connector. A normal VGA screen is not
suitable<br>
<br>
- (Optional) A USB <=> Ethernet dongle to connect your BB to your
router, and let it inspire the atmosphere of the Internet...:-) I am
not responsible <br>
for induced damages... {:-)<br>
<br>
- Last, but not least, and I would say of utmost importance, tons and
tons of patience... I don't say nothing else, you will see for
yourself...{:-)<br>
<br>
Well, I do hope to not have forgot something<br>
<br>
Good Luck ! (you will need it...)<br>
<br>
73 Alberto I2PHD<br>
<br>
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