Re: Rabbit vs. AVR

[Dave McLaughlin <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Andy,

Depends on what you want to use the devices for. The AVR devices are
great if you want a simple interface and no Ethernet, such as working
with RS485, CAN , RS232 etc. The cost of the Rabbit modules are much
higher than an AVR device. You still need to build a PCB for both if you
are doing your own design. This is always the case with the Rabbit Core
Modules as they are not standalone boards and require power etc.

Your initial costs of getting on the AVR trail is the development tools
but once you have these, they suit all future projects too, much the
same as the Rabbit. One tool I would suggest you get is the JTAGICE for
in circuit debugging. If after using the Rabbit and having the ability
to debug your code by setting breakpoints and stepping through the code,
you will be at a loss without this capability. It will also take longer
to figure out what is happening in your code without one. Ask Ian Bird,
he is a convert on the AVR and an expert with the JTAGICE now. Right
Ian?  :o)

For Ethernet, the Rabbit is your best bet. All the hardware and
libraries are done and the larger code space in the Rabbit makes it
easier to do larger projects. The largest AVR at present is only 128K of
Flash so a wee bit limited on the same as the Rabbit with up to 512K of
flash. That is not to say that the AVR won't do what you want, it all
depends on the needs of your project.

I happily use both alongside each other on my CAN bus network. The AVR
devices handle all the simple IO etc and the Rabbit is used (or will be
when completed) as a touch screen interface to it all.

As for the SMD side of things, there are some excellent ready built
boards out there that you can use (check on AVR freaks under tools).
Nearly all of then have 0.1" pins you can connect to which is easier
to
make a PCB for than SMD. Saying that, even the 128K ATMega128 is not too
difficult to solder onto a board. All you need is a steady hand, a fine
tip soldering iron and some solder braid to clean up any pins you
accidentally soldered together. A bit of practice and you can do them
without thinking about it :o)

If you have any more questions, give me a shout.

Regards
Dave...

---
Very funny Scotty, now beam down my clothes!!
---
http://www.v8carlton.com
http://www.embeddedcomputer.co.uk
---



UKHA wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I've been looking to improve my electronics capabilities (yet again)
> and have noticed a lot of you here use AVR stuff. I've been working
> with Rabbit RCM 2200's but wanted to know what one gives over the
other.
>
> I've had a look around and concluded (perhaps wrongly)  that anything
> that I want to have an ethernet network connection should probably go
> on a Rabbit since the cost appears so much lower. It just seems to me
> that there are a lot of people who rave about the AVR stuff, and I
> don't know enough about them to make a real decision as to what's
> better for me. I do see that the AVR stuff seems to all be surface
> mount, which is a big minus in my book (soldering skills are limited).
> I've taken a look at avrfreaks but there's just way too much
> information there to be of any real use to me (or I guess anyone
> starting out)...
>
> Has anyone got/used both the rabbit series and AVR? Any comparisons or
> opinions?
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Andy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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