2026-03-18 03:21:02 <tpbsd       >  The late Randy Dumse (New Micros Inc.) Invented a minimalist host/controller protocol the revolves around the control A character. He called it "Easy-A". I used it with RS422 communication for PC to Forth node control.
2026-03-18 03:21:02 <tpbsd       > The idea is to put each node in a tri-state on the transmit line. Each node is listening for a ^A character.
2026-03-18 03:21:50 <tpbsd       > seems simple enough, the radio system noise immunity is very important imho
2026-03-18 03:24:49 <tpbsd       > I used to build about 20 remote environmental systems every day back in 2004, they had two types of radio choices, one was a 533 MHz 'garage door opener' type of system that used FM. These were really hopeless and short range, the other was a 900 mhz Spread Spectrum system. These were incredible and very long range
2026-03-18 03:25:37 <tpbsd       > the former was very low cost, the latter cost hundreds for each 900 MHz radio module
2026-03-18 03:27:26 <tpbsd       > I have some 2.5Ghz low bandwidth SS radio modules that cost about $25 each a few years ago, I think I'll test them with the above method using Mecrisp-Stellaris Forth
2026-03-18 03:28:15 <tpbsd       > theyre self contained, ready to use, just input a serial stream, no drivers needed.
2026-03-18 03:29:15 <Lord_Nightmare> ooh that sounds rather interesting! Is the "Easy-A" protocol documented anywhere?
2026-03-18 03:30:34 <tpbsd       > here is the github page: https://github.com/bfox9900/MaxForth-68hc11/blob/master/LIB/EASYA.MAX
2026-03-18 03:31:19 <tpbsd       > the Forth code is really simple, as all things in Forth
2026-03-18 03:32:06 <tpbsd       > I'll prototype it with a STM32F0 Dicovery board, but one can use anything really
2026-03-18 03:32:53 <tpbsd       > a better choice is probably a MSP430 running Mecrisp-Across because it can easily be put into sleep where it draws only nA
2026-03-18 03:33:54 <tpbsd       > after that a time synced polling design may be the easiest for a low cost group of sensors
2026-03-18 13:58:26 <veltas      > What was the nick Kragen used on here?  I can't even remember.  He's been off for a while.
2026-03-18 14:30:16 <KipIngram   > Can you remind me of anything "unique" about him?  Maybe I could remember that way.
2026-03-18 14:30:21 <KipIngram   > A mannerism/behavior?
2026-03-18 14:43:12 <veltas      > He kept writing years with a 0 at the start
2026-03-18 14:43:27 <veltas      > Lives in Argentina
2026-03-18 15:22:24 <Riviera     > Was in "02026"?
2026-03-18 15:31:47 <veltas      > Yeah
2026-03-18 15:32:48 <Riviera     > So in two years his software will break because many tools will interpret it as octal!! :p
2026-03-18 16:15:56 <veltas      > 'xentrac' or is that someone else?
2026-03-18 16:16:13 <veltas      > The problem is I've encountered so many people with nonsense names I can't keep track of them all
2026-03-18 16:16:45 <veltas      > Yeah xentrac is someone else
2026-03-18 16:20:39 <veltas      > Or maybe not
2026-03-18 16:21:49 <tpbsd       > veltas, time to write a searchable IRC nick database plugin ?
2026-03-18 16:22:05 <tpbsd       > in Forth !
2026-03-18 16:22:40 <tpbsd       > tho I would use lua with sqlite myself