Freeduino SB Kit.

Note: This kit requires soldering.

Open-Source Arduino-compatible Semi-Kit.

All the hard SMD soldering is done! you add the included sockets, pins and connectors and your on your way. (All included)

Freeduino SB is HVW Technologies' special port of the Arduino project's Diecimila reference design. They also added some other cool enhancements & changes from the reference Arduino Diecimila:

1. This is a mini-kit. We've done all the hard soldering of the tiny surface-mount components. You just take care of soldering the large sockets, pins, and connectors, and save a few dollars!
2. Uses a Mini-B or regular USB-B jack (USB Mini jack included)
3. Added a power switch (yes, this is a new improvement to the design!)
4. Added an location for an optional ARef trimpot

Seriously, the Arduino is an excellent microcontroller development platform, especially if you're not that well versed in using C on an Atmel platform. The brilliant Italian team behind Arduino has created a nifty programming environment that runs under Windows, Linux and OS X that streamlines C into something that is much easier to use. Not quite as easy as the Basic Stamp PBASIC language, but it is much more powerful.

The Arduino team also created a hardware design for their software to talk to, Using a built-in USB chip, all you have to do is plug your Freeduino SB into a USB port, t urn it on , and you're ready to download code!

Surely you may have questions, right? Let's see; you in the front row - you have a question?

But what’s an Arduino?
It’s an open source electronics prototyping system using popular proven tools and hardware. It’s designed to be easy to interface with sensors and actuators, and inexpensive enough you can use many in your projects!

Is that all there is about it?
Not at all! A large part of the appeal of Freeduino/Arduino is the frequently updated software used for programming the hardware. The Arduino programming language is based on a very easy-to-learn open-source language called Wiring, which is similar to C/C++, but streamlined for quicker development!

What is this “Open-Source”?
Good question! In short, it is a set of principles given to a project by the project’s creator that lets everyone use it, and have access to the source design. The creators of the Arduino project allow anybody to use their hardware designs and software, as long as everybody shares back in return! (It’s a big topic - do an Internet search!)

What are the hardware specifics?
An Atmel ATmega328 running at 16MHz, connected through an FTDI232R USB-to-serial converter (just plug it into a USB port, and go!).14 digital I/O pins (6 with PWM) and 6 analog inputs. Power comes from your USB port, or external 6-20VDC power supply. Your PC is protected by a 500mA resettable fuse. LEDs for power, Rx/Tx activity and pin 13 “test” are all pre-installed!

What can I do with it?
LOTS! There’s a great many projects documented online. When people use open source software, they seem to like to share what they’ve done! As of this writing, searching Google for “Arduino Projects” results with 336,000 pages!

Can I build this?
If you can do basic soldering, you bet! We’ve taken care of the hardest stuff. You just finish it, then download and install the latest Arduino programming software!

This is a Open Source project, and is licensed under the Creative Commons A-SA 2.5 license.
“Arduino” is a trademark of the Arduino Team (www.arduino.cc).
The Freeduino SB is based off reference designs by the Arduino Team.

Visit the resource page for downloads.