OnStep Controller Kits

5/6/2021: New Products: Assembled Controllers I've decided to sell a couple of assembled OnStep controllers to meet the needs of those who have kit assembly hesitancy. The first of these is the ESPduino/Hujer controller. This controller starts at $27.50 assembled and tested. There is no other way to get into OnStep goto other than stealing it! This controller is based on a full fledged ESP32S running at 240MHz, not an Arduino Mega.

The second is also a ESP32S based on Alain Kinlough's MiniESP3. This is basically a MaxPCB3 without the extra two driver slots, but with all the Max's other feature support. It uses surface mount devices for ease of assembly and reliability. Details here.

2/13/2021: I have successfully flashed APM32F103CB µcontroller being sold by RobotDyn. So it seems there is a reasonably priced replacement for the STM32F103C8, which cannot reasonably relied on to have the 131K flash needed to load OnStep. ver. 4.23. The RobotDyn "Black Pill" STM32F303cc can also be used but is too pricey to include in a $30 kit. It is also generally unavailable for purchase.

I don't see much point in offering the STM32 at $35 again when the fully featured MaxESP3 is available for $40. For the time being I will offer the STM32 with the APM32F103CB for $30 and without the processor for $25. When the current inventory of STM32 parts is exhausted I will have to reevaluate its future as a kit.

12/9/2020: Still working on the STM flashing issue. Drew has had luck using STM-Flash.exe (SourceForge) to upload the Arduino IDE compiled OnStep software to the CKS and APMF103C8 STM32 clones (AVR licensed). Trying to get a handle on using it.

11/24/2020: Done a bit of reorganizing here. In the right panel are quick links to the contents of the site. Hope they help you find what you're looking for. On the orders page is a listing of what's currently available. You can just copy and past the listing to your email with your selections indicated and save some time. In the How To page I've added a MaxESP3 assembly tutorial. I'm going through a few hundred emails to mine questions and answers for the FAQs, so there's nothing there at the moment.

11/14/2020: Frankly, I don't know when the STM32F103C8 supply/situation is going to be resolved. In the interim I'm dropping the price of the MaxESP3 to $40 to fill the gap.

Here's the situation; STM has introduced some new processors and the supply of STM32F103C8 BluePills with 128K have disappeared. There are 64K versions around, but we can't use them. Whether this is a marketing ploy to push their newer designs or just poor planning is your best guess. RobotDyn has stopped taking orders on AliExpress for the STM32F303CC, the only proven replacement. The ones I ordered haven't moved in 5 weeks. It appears the ST or the devboards makers weren't prepared for the demand.

There are other sellers, but their devboards are not pin compatible with the F103C8 and they are running $11. The F303CC runs at 72MHz, a bit slower than the Teensy 3.2, but still half the speed of the ESP32. It has the required memory and can have a RTC added. Right now these are in short supply or too expensive for the STM32 kit.

Other possibilities are the CS or CKS32F103C8 and, APM32F103CB.

Due to time constraints, I am going to have to stop offering the assembling and testing of kits. I am working on a project for an assembled kit I hope to offer in the new year.