Tim,

I've used the XPort in a networked controller/sequencer for a golf ball
vending machine.  The controller is based on a PIC 18F452.  It accepts
credit card transactions from a mag card reader, communicates with a host
via the XPort for authorization, and sequences various solenoids and motors
to dispense balls.

The XPort worked well and saved a lot of design time. Lantronix's
documentation wasn't the best, but their tech support was excellent. The
only big down side is the Xport's cost in low volumes. Other than that, I've
got no complaints.  

The ball machine with the XPort has been in the field for 6 months without
any problems.  It's survived in an outdoor, golf course environment, which
is fairly hostile--Poor AC power with lots of glitches, fairly wide temp and
humidity changes, and a long Ethernet cable (buried) coupled with a few near
by lightning strikes now and then.  No failures so far.

I'm also currently working on a design using Lantronix's WiPort for a
wireless solution.  It's real nice.  Easy to integrate and has the benefit
of the lessons learned by Lantronix with the XPort. The WiPort has a second
serial port and several more configurable control I/Os.

Maybe the Freescale solution will yield a lower cost.  For me, since the
product volumes are low, it is a trade off between the XPort's high cost
versus the desire to keep the NRE costs low.

Cheers,

Dave Challis

-----Original Message-----
From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of
tim_webb@agilent.com
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 5:06 PM
To: piclist@mit.edu
Subject: [PIC] NEW Freescale Semiconductor single-chip fast ethernet
microcontroller


Has anybody seen this new chip?

This new chip seems to have it all!

What do you think? Pro's & Con's vs. Microchip and the Lantronix XPort.

I just bought a Lantronix XPort Embedded Web Server module, is it going to
be a waste of my time to try and integrate it with a microchip
microcontroller? 

Has anybody used the XPort in any projects? 

http://www.lantronix.com/device-networking/embedded-device-servers/xport.htm
l






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