The SBC65EC is an embedded (PIC based) Single Board Computer (SBC) with 10Mbs Ethernet and RS232 interface. It can be added to any 10/100Mbs Ethernet network. It is programmed with a bootloader and the free Modtronix SBC65EC Web Server (source code provided for free too) at delivery. Configuration, control and monitoring can be done via a web based interface, HTTP CGI commands or UDP commands. Configurable Events are sent via UDP messages. It has 32 general purpose I/O ports, of which 12 are 10 bit ADC (Analog to Digital) inputs, and 4 are 10-bit PWM (Pulse Width Modulator) outputs.
It implements DHCP and NetBIOS, which makes it very easy to access on a network - no configuration of static IP addresses are required! When connected to a network with a DHCP server, it will automatically be assigned an IP address. If no DHCP server is present, the board will be assigned it's default IP address. The default IP address and NetBIOS name is 10.1.0.1 and "mxboard", and can be changed via the web interface. To access the board on a network with DHCP enabled, the NetBIOS name or assigned IP address (have to get that from DHCP server) can be used. For example, with the default NetBIOS name, the board's web interface can be viewed in a browser by using the following address: http://mxboard On a network without DHCP, the default IP address can be used: http://10.1.0.1
The web pages are stored in an external 24LC512 EEPROM. All source code for the default web pages, and example web pages are provided. Custom pages can easily be created by modifying the default or example web pages. The Modtronix Network Bootloader application or a standard FTP client can be used to upload new web pages to the board. The user can monitor and control all inputs, outputs, analog inputs and more via the default or custom web pages. The HTTP Web Server can dynamically replace tags on web pages with default and user defined real time information, like the values of I/O ports or analog inputs. The CGI Server makes it possible for default and user defined remote commands to be accepted via the HTTP GET command, like a button on a web page for example.
Click here to view a live SBC65EC demo board that is accessible via the internet! This demo has been created by simply connecting a SBC65EC board to a Billion ADSL Modem/Router. The router is then configured to make the SBC65EC a virtual server that is accessible via the internet. Most modern routers have this feature built in, and can be used.
The SBC65EC is delivered programmed with a bootloader. The Modtronix Network Bootloader is used to update the firmware via the network or internet.
The firmware is written in C, and can be compiled with the Hi Tech or Microchip MPLAB (student) C18 compilers. Example code and projects are provided to help creating custom applications. MPLAB projects for both compilers are provided in the source code download. A Free, student version of the Microchip MPLAB C18 compiler is available and can be used to compile the project. The compiled code generated with the student version is only slightly larger than that created with the commercial version. So, for users who wish to modify the firmware, all that has to be done is install the free compiler, open the MPLAB project, modify the code and compile.
Solder straps are provided at the back of the board to select RS232 or TTL levels for the onboard USART. Default settings are for RS232 levels, which enables this board to communicate with a PC via its RS232 port. This serial port is used for secondary configuration and debugging. All configuration that can be done via the serial port, can also be done via web pages. This enables the serial port to be used for other functions like Ethernet to serial interface converters.
Typical applications include HTTP Web servers (like the Modtronix SBC65EC Web Server), Mail clients, Ethernet to RS232 interface converter, Ethernet to RS485 interface converters, Remote control via Web Server, Protocol Bridge applications - Ethernet to USART, CAN, I2C, SPI etc.
Adding a Daughter Board to the SBC65EC The SBC65EC can be used as a full functional Single Board Computer. It's Daughter Board connector can be used as an expansion port to add additional functionality. It contains all free CPU port pins, power, I2C, SPI, RS232 signal,..... For further details about the Compact Daughter Board connector, see www.modtronix.com/microx/expansion.
The following Daughter Boards for the SBC65EC are currently available from Modtronix Engineering:
The SBC65EC can be used as a daughter board on the following boards currently available from Modtronix Engineering:
The LCD2S LCD displays has a connector for adding a keypad, with a maximum of 16 buttons. Events can be enabled on the SBC65EC to send UDP messages when a button on the keypad is pressed.
The LCD2S also has a couple of general purpose inputs and outputs. They can be controlled by sending the "lk" command to the LCD2S via HTTP or UDP. See LCD2S documentation for format of commands.
Also see our forum for additional information on using the LCD2S displays with the SBC65EC.