Geocaching Australia

Gawd, I haven't been on here forever... I almost forget what caching is!

Totally un-geocaching related, but I thought a few of you might like (or laugh at) my latest gadget:
http://www.calcwatch.com/

Yes, I am the world's ultimate nerd, and now have the gadget to prove it!

EcoDave.

You've posted it a few days late Dave

Well, *I* like it!

cool watch. how long did it take to make it?
Welcome back to the forum!

Yep, much nerdier than my old Casio DB-102!

Did you get one of those MSP430 watches at a TI MSP430 Day a few years ago, Dave?

They weren't as sophisticated, of course (mainly lacking the buttons) but were still pretty cool. I've got one going into a midnight-only cache sometime Real Soon Now...

So, what's it based on? An MSP430 or a PIC?

Papa Bear_Left wrote:Yep, much nerdier than my old Casio DB-102!

Did you get one of those MSP430 watches at a TI MSP430 Day a few years ago, Dave?

They weren't as sophisticated, of course (mainly lacking the buttons) but were still pretty cool. I've got one going into a midnight-only cache sometime Real Soon Now...

So, what's it based on? An MSP430 or a PIC?

It's a PIC 24FJ64. The actual schematic is the background pic.
Didn't go to the MSP430 days, haven't heard about that watch. Got a pic?

EcoDave.

Damo. wrote:cool watch. how long did it take to make it?

That's like the proverbial piece of sting question

First prototype from concept to working prototype was about 30 hours work all up. Not much at all.

How long does it take to actually make one? A few hours work I guess.

EcoDave.

EcoTeam wrote: Yes, I am the world's ultimate nerd, and now have the gadget to prove it!

EcoDave.

You NERD!!!!!!!

Nice to see you back in the ranks Ecodude

Looking good! I reckon you could fit a GPS chip in there with the batteries...

EcoTeam wrote: Didn't go to the MSP430 days, haven't heard about that watch. Got a pic?

EcoDave.

Here's a crappy phonecam shot of one:


At the MSP430 Days, I usually ran one of these off three lemons with copper (20c coins) and zinc (galvanised iron) electrodes, just to show that it was really low power. One's been running off a 2032 battery for almost 5 years now.

Papa Bear_Left wrote:

EcoTeam wrote: Didn't go to the MSP430 days, haven't heard about that watch. Got a pic?

EcoDave.

At the MSP430 Days, I usually ran one of these off three lemons with copper (20c coins) and zinc (galvanised iron) electrodes, just to show that it was really low power. One's been running off a 2032 battery for almost 5 years now.

Hey, what's the LCD used in that one? A custom thing? or something off-the-shelf?
That one looks to be 8 characters plus some extra stuff?

Would love to know more details about this!

EcoDave.

EcoTeam wrote: http://www.calcwatch.com/

Yes, I am the world's ultimate nerd, and now have the gadget to prove it!

EcoDave.

Even more so for registering the domain too