Re: What does an embedded beginner need to know?

On Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:35:46 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jon Kirwan wrote:
On Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:27:28 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jon Kirwan wrote:
On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:51:34 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jon Kirwan wrote:
On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:04:32 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
[...]

The H to L difference is
mostly a remnant from the TTL days. That stuff really could not source
worth a dime.
Don't I know it. I will never forget Ioh=400uA.
I'll never forget the time when I pushed one real hard driving a diode
sampler, touched it and ... tssssst ... had seven blisters on my index
finger, 1/100" spacing.
That's how to avoid ever losing your pin spacing ruler, I'll grant
you!

You reminded me how I didn't like the LM1488. That thing was hot just
sitting there. Hot enough in normal operation that I couldn't keep my
finger on it for long. The LM1489 was cooler, but still hot. I was
very glad when the MAX232 became available.
There's also CMOS versions. I have never embraced the MAX232 although it
now has 2nd sources. Single sourced Max parts won't be used on my
designs because clients had too many issues with delivery problems.

At the time, it was just the MAX232 (not the A version) and not much
else as an option. I suspect it was one of the few early parts giving
MAXIM a boost. Today, I agree. But back then I didn't have a lot of
options, other than hot, power-hungry LM1488's and LM1489's. So
anything was better, single source or not.

Why didn't you use the 14C88 and 14C89? They are around since the 80's.

My first significant hobby project that I designed myself was when the
MAX232 didn't exist and the only options for me was the 1488/1489.
This would have been 1981. My next significant one requiring RS-232
was when the MAX232 had recently come out from Maxim and it made more
sense to use one part than two and fewer rails, so I don't recall even
knowing about the C versions at the time (or looking to find out,
having had already seen such benefits to getting away from the
1488/1489 pair.) Do you know when they first came out as a commonly
available part?

Jon
.

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