Hello all.
I started putting up some YouTube videos showing my progress playing with the Fez Spider. Personally, I like to watch videos of people doing stuff as a learning tool, so I thought I would share mine.
Right now, there isn’t much, but I’m going to try to put out more videos as I experiement. From what I can see on these boards most of your guys are pretty advanced, but someone may find them useful, inspiring, etc.
My channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrBildo
More to come, I promise. 
Thanks,
Mr. Bildo
Very cool. I am sure others will ask fro the code for the touch display and servo and it would be ideal if this is posted on codeshare if you like. http://code.tinyclr.com
We look forward to seeing more videos.
Welcome to the community.
Thanks, Gus. I will do that!
Since the Gadgeteer platform is so new, we don’t have a lot of online help resources in the form of tutorials, videos, etc. GHI has some solid introductory stuff, but we (the community) need help like this. Stuff like your servo video is very handy and appreciated! We’ve got a long way to go to fill in the gap between “just got Kit X” and “advanced prototyping”.
Coincidentally, I just got a couple continuous rotation servos for a project, so your code will be very helpful!
Thanks and welcome to the forum!
@ Mr. Bildo,
That servo your are using in your videos, is it a modified servo ?
I am curious because stock RC servos have end stops and cannot spin all the way around.
@ ransomhall – Thanks! I originally started with the videos for my co-workers who also have the Fez Spider. They are all very pro .NET devs, but working with microcontrollers is very new to them. Then I figured they could be helpful for anyone new to this kind of development.
@ jdal – it’s a continuous rotation servo. A little different from the kind you’d use on an RC car or something. http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/servo/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/102/Default.aspx
Great stuff! Do you have a companion blog?
These videos are awesome. I tweeted links to them - are you on Twitter? If so I’ll mention you in future tweets.
Mr. Bildo - In case you didn’t know, Kerry is not just some crazed tweet-aholic (well, maybe she is :)). She is on the MS Research team responsible for Gadgeteer. She’s always looking for good material to tweet and post on http://www.netmf.com/gadgeteer/ .
@ ianlee – I do not have a blog. My plan is to release more videos and companion code on the tinyCLR codeplex. If I end up blogging anything it will be at our company blog and I’ll post a link if I get there.
@ Kerry & ransomhall – my twitter is @ MrBildo, although I don’t do much dev talk there. My FB is MrBildo as well.
I’m working on another video with code I hope to release in the next 24 hours. I’m hoping to put out new material several times a week. My suggestion is to subscribe to my channel for updates.
Thanks
–Mr. Bildo
Also, I plan to keep my video’s targeted towards the Gadgeteer/new to microcontroller development audience. I remember many, many years ago (ugh) when I ordered my first BASIC stamp controller I would have loved to have had some very simple videos to help me get started with circuits, design, etc. (although I had a sub to Nuts and Volts). 
Good start on the videos. Will definitely be a good resource for folks getting started.
Only suggestion I would make is that you may find it easier to work with the extender module if you solder a row of header pins on instead of wire leads. That way the extender can simply plug into a row of holes on the breadboard, which stabilizes the module. Here’s what mine looks like:
[twitter URL borked switching to embedded pic below]
I forget now whether it was Ian or Valentin (aka Architect), but one of them used right-angle header pins, which allows you to mount the extender vertically on the breadboard, so it isn’t hanging off like mine does.
Thanks for sharing your work with the community! Keep 'em coming…
@ devhammer – it’s funny you bring this up. Soldering on a pin header was plan A. I went down to my local Radio Shack assuming they’d sell header strips. They didn’t. So, being somewhat impatient, I thought, “I wonder if I’d gain any flexibility if I just solder on some test leads.” In any case, that’s what I ended up with, plan B.
Any chance you have a link where you ordered yours from? Mouser? I ask, because I don’t want to have to order them in bulk and some places make you do that.
Thanks!
Sparkfun has them:
Right-angle breakaway:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/553
Straight breakaway:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/116
10-pin straight:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10527
I prefer the breakaways, because then I only use what I need, and I can save the rest for other projects and proto board work.
The nice thing is, they’re cheap, though you may want to see if there’s other stuff you need (jumper wires, breadboard power supply, etc.) so you’re not spending more on shipping than on the actual parts.
And yeah, Radio Shack is a mixed bag these days. Unfortunately, though they’ve started stocking some mcu stuff (mostly arduino and parallax gear), their selection is still pretty tiny. But when I’ve needed barrel jacks, battery holders, LEDs on short notice, they usually have what I need.
I haven’t checked mouser for headers, but I did order a bunch of SMD resistors and transistors for the IR module I’m working on, and they ship VERY fast.
And I know all about being impatient…even started a whole thread on the topic:
http://www.tinyclr.com/forum/20/5775/
:
Must have been Valentin. I have all mine mounted same as you.
@ Bildo - check eBay. I think I bought a bag of 20 or 30 for about the same price as 3 from SparkFun.
Hello sir,
This is exactly what I am planning to do, and after I saw your video, I will order a kit today.
A fast simple question, What do I need more than “FEZ Spider Starter Kit” and a servo to be able to do like what u did?
Thx
@ hassanayoub85
You’re going to want a standard breadboard…easy to find at just about any electronics retailer, or on Amazon, Sparkfun, or a variety of online stores. Also some header pins…see my earlier reply and Ian’s for ideas of where to get those. Last, but not least, you’ll want some jumper wires. I like 6" M-M for this kind of thing.
Thanks for the info on obtaining header strips, guys, that’s exactly what I was looking for.
Dear Mr. Bildo:
Could you please shows a figure for all the components connection?
Thanks.
