Re: Stamp code

[<aah@nofs.navy.mil>]

Tom,
  You are close.  However, you are transmitting
the arguments in coded 'binary', whereas I prefer pure
ascii.  That is, if the command is EX and the
argument is 3250, then you would send the command
string
    EX 3250
to the stamp.  Let it do the conversion from an
ascii '3250' into the equivalent binary.  It uses
a couple of extra characters, but is much easier
when entering commands manually.
  Your starting and ending random characters are a
primitive form of checksumming.  Again, works fine
in a non-manual mode, but my preference is to be able
to work with a system through direct interaction.
You are also requiring the stamp to retransmit the
entire uploaded string, which takes additional time
rather than just sending an ACK/NAK.  Safer, perhaps,
but actually doubles the chance of an incorrect
transmission.
  Certainly the 0.4sec delay and faster serial speed
for the stamp are things that someone should be able to solve.
The 10-second delay doesn't bother me since I don't intend
to use Windoze for the final system. :-)
Arne