Not sure if there is something like this…
Are there any ‘generic’ modules that would allow me to connect a bunch of 3 input sensors to a gadgeteer main board more cleanly than having to use a breadboard?
If you look at the attached image, I am looking something that would possibly support the connectors shown in the attached image (the one connected to the ping sensor as well as to the breadboard).
You could do this with an IO60P16 module.
Thanks ianleee…i just looked at this module. From what i’m seeing, this would require soldering, is that correct?
Typically, everything you find online is with different pinout. There will need to be wiring and soldering. That is different when using gadgeteer and this is why we recommend it for users who do not want to wire of use soldering irons. I see you already have some gadgeteer gear 
But, what modules you want to wire? I only see proximity.
you could use teh MakeBread or GHI Extender modules, that give you a row of .1" pitch pins to connect things to. You could use those with a veroboard/stripboard and have multiple connections if you wanted.
Honestly, the breadboard is best for prototyping, and MakeBread / Extender are best for helping out. Once you’re wanting to build a permanent solution, a quick Eagle design will give you something you can use perfectly - in fact, if you want to suggest eveerything you are planning to connect I am sure someone can gadgeteer-ise it quickly for you.
BTW I am really looking forward to seeing you support SecureID on your fez
You could just solder on some female headers to the PWM rows. Then you can plug your OneWire sensors in directly if that’s what you wish.
that would be me…sadly, im not very good at soldering…but I have a bunch of sensors (ir, pir, sonars, compass) that are not gadgeteer modules that i’d like to use as it would be more cost effective. i’ve used these with a controller that have the headers already on the board, so like the gadgeteer modules, i was able to easily snap them together without soldering or need for a breadboard. i guess if i want to use these sensors, i’m going to have to do some soldering…unless…Gus, how much to bribe you to solder some headers on to that board ianlee mentioned
Thanks Brett, i’m reading up on the MakeBread and i think it is something that would be helpful in my case.
Soldering is not that hard, you just need some practice ! 
Seriously, you’re not going to avoid soldering, sorry. Even with a MakeBread or Extender you’ll likely have to solder. There’s some great tutorials on the net, and if you’re looking for inspiration check out eevblog.com and see Dave’s soldering video tutorials. I have to say most of the challenges you hit may be related to equipment, but if you have a half decent iron and tip, and decent solder (don’t try to start with lead-free) you’re good to go.
@ dizzy,
What kind of sensors do you need? What kind of inputs? Analog? Digital input? Digital output? OneWire?
For instance, the module that Ian pointed to will not be able to do OneWire or Analog, so you will have to be more spicific as to your needs.
I’m working on a module with lots of 3 pin analog inputs, but it might be usable with digital inputs, and possibly onewire. But RS Components are stuffing me around, so I’m still waiting for parts that I should have had a week ago.
See this: http://www.tinyclr.com/forum/topic?id=8588&page=2#msg85546
Maybe this will work?
@ dizzy soldering headers on to extenders etc is one of the best ways to learn to solder.
@ dizzy - MakeBread guy here - it’s made for using on a breadboard (if that wasn’t obvious from the name ). I can send it to you assembled or with just the gadgeteer socket soldered so you can do the 0.1" through hole header. Let me know if you have any other questions. Also, I agree with what others have said about soldering. Even a beginner level of skill will open up a whole lot more of this hobby to you.
@ brett - thanks for the pitch.
GMod, i would like to basically converting an autonomous rover/bot i have to use gadgeteer or perhaps gadgeteer + arduino…it will have two sharp gp2d12 ir sensors, 1 PIR , 1 sonar, 1 compass, motor controller, & an xbee module… I would like to add the temperature and a camera module to it as well. In any event, right now i just want to get the basics going which is the ir and sonar sensors, as i feel by the time i get it operating with those, i’ll have a good understanding of how to make gadgeteer boards work with any generic sensor and it will also give me a better understanding of the modules, gadgeteer framework and .netmf.
Attached is a picture with the previous controller, wires and some sensors taken off. In the earlier version, the controller was housed underneath the chasis and battery on top…in this version i think its going to be much easier to work with if the modules are on top and the battery underneath. i’ve already drilled some additional holes to screw in the cerbuino…but i think i’ll need to probably start stacking boards or modules on top of each other vis-a-vis standoffs to accommodate everything i’d like…
i definitely will be getting a couple…i’m looking at the extender module and i’m wondering if i were to solder the headers on, wouldn’t it be essentially the same?
Looking at how close those holes are on the extender, i’ll probably burn through a few before i get it right trying to solder headers on there…so the makebread is probably going to be a better avenue for me…i will try my hand at soldering though, i will.
the holes on both the extender and the makebread are spaced the same. the difference is the extender has two gadgeteer headers (one in, one out), so is better suited for using unused pins on a socket that you have a module on.
I looked at the videos Brett recommended, and i’m telling myself that the reason i sucked at soldering was because i was just using the wrong equipment (radio shack bought)…so i am inspired to give this another shot once my ‘better’ tools arrive.
I do have a follow-up…a number of the sensors i want to connect will be analog sensors…so as GMod mentioned, it looks like the IO60P16 may not work for me in this case.
Is there any other modules that will do analog currently (until Gmod gets his module production ready)? (keeping in mind i am looking to solder on a bunch of 3 pin headers for these sensors which all have a single signal pin)
thanks again for all the very helpful feedback
Hey Dizzy,
I’d suggest you check out the Gadgeteer socket info at GHI Electronics – Where Hardware Meets Software that gives you an overview of the pins you can use in a Gadgeteer socket. You can see that an A Socket has 3 Analog-in pins plus a GPIO; if you can get by with that, you can wire up your sensors to those pins (thru MakeBread or Extender). But it’s probably unlikely that you can find a module to do exactly what you want, but it’d be a fun exercise to buiild one. The Eagle files for most modules are readily available so it’s an easy job to take that and add headers that you want and let you do whatever connections you want. If you want a hand to start things off, let me know what you have to connect and what connectors they have and I’ll see what I can do.
Hi Brett…and thanks,
I need to connect 3 sharp gp2d12, 1 parallax ping, and a devantech TPA 8x1 thermopile.
the TAP81 can control it’s own servo, which i want o be able to do.
so my ideal board would at a minimum have:
the other stuff i think i can connect directly since to the cerebuino since they are gadageteer modules (such as motor motor controller and camera).
Where can i get more info on “Eagle” files? what editor does one use to model new modules?
OK, so that’s quite a list. It’s unlikely that you’ll get that all from one socket, you might need to look at a couple of sockets. (also note, you said “male analog headers” but I think you just mean “male headers”, particularly when you are talking about digital IO pins 
)
An A socket will give you the 3 analog-in pins
An X or a Y socket will give you the digital IO pins
An I socket will give you the I2C pins
A P socket will give you the PWM pins
So now you can design a “device” that uses those 4 sockets.
“Eagle” is a low-cost electronics design package that is commonly used product to make this kind of module. There is a no-cost but restricted version that will only allow you to use a board of no more than 100mm x 80mm and 2-layers. Quite timely, see this thread http://www.tinyclr.com/forum/topic?id=9094 for a basic Eagle tutorial video series discussion.
http://www.tinyclr.com/forum/topic?id=9084 is an example of how Bec A Fuel has designed a Gadgeteer module.
The way I’d start something like this is figure out what you’d wire up to what, so taking the socket map I created above to a little more detail, and check that your mainboard will support these all. Then I’d try to find the closest device to what this is today (unlikely to be everything you want ) to use as your starting point. Then I’d look for the actual connection headers you want; for instance what are the header pin spacing on your 3-pin sockets, or can you even buy them (or do you just want to use screw-down terminals?) Then use all this as a starter; add the other things you want, including your new connectors. Once your scematic has the parts you want you then wire them up in schematic mode; once that’s right, move to PCB layout and put stuff where you want.
I’m happy to give you a headstart if you’d like - I’ll create a clean Eagle file with the headers and stuff you might want so you can take it further?
Brett,
thanks very much for your help and advice. I’d love if you can give me that head start, BUT only if its no trouble…i’m not one of those that try to get others to do my work and i feel awkward some times asking for that level of help. That said, i do have some reading and learning to do here i think…so any help is appreciated (you’ve already given me plenty to be honest).
thanks again.