Have you checked out the 1-wire mailing list ? http://www.techsay.com/default.php? = page=3Djoin.php&p=3Dsourceforge&CID=3DDEVDEV Owfs-developers mailing list Owfs-developers@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/owfs-developers Gus On 2006-Aug 06, at 20:43hrs PM, PicDude wrote: I recently had a bad support experience with Maxim/Dallas -- called 4 = times for support for the DS2450 over a couple-week period, and always got the voicemail of someone who is apparently the only support rep for = this. After 4 vmails I never received a response, so last week I raised hell = around their company. Even though they found me a field rep in NC who could = answer the Q's, and a manager assured me it would not happen again, still = decided after that it was last straw in the chain of other Dallas/Maxim negatives = -- high cost and constantly short supply (enough to discourage many CEM's), = and have finally made the decision to ditch them altogether. I have determined at this point that I can reproduce equivalent functionalities of the DS2450, DS18B20, and others using a PIC. It = will take me some weekends of development/coding, but I feel it will be best in = the long run and should eventually recover the costs. I do like the 1-wire concept, but now need to figure out if changing the specifics of the = protocol and associated timing will still violate their IP. Cheers, -Neil. On Sunday 06 August 2006 19:55, Anon wrote: > I don't know why Maxim makes it so difficult for small companies to > design with their components. I am developing a new consumer = > electronics > product. Unfortunately, I planned to use 4 Maxim chips that are = > hard to > find in small quantities (1-40). Standard distributors like Arrow, = > Mouser > and Digikey don't cary them. These components are excellent matches = > for my > design needs. Maxim offers some of their ICs for purchasing on their > website, but not the ones listed below. Perhaps someone can = > recommend a > broker or exchange website where rare Maxim components can be = > purchased at > reasonable prices. I would love to find alternatives to these = > components if > someone can offer some advice. National, Linear and Analog devices = > simply > cant match the selection, sophistication and price of switching = > regulators > and battery charging ICs. Please feel free to recommend other IC > manuafacturers that specialize in these types of components. > > DS2745 Low Cost I2C Battery Monitor > (chosen for its ability to cumulatively measure voltage & current to > estimate battery life, + its low cost, $1@1K) > http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/4994 > > MAX1555 Dual-Input, USB/AC Adapter, 1-Cell Li+ Battery Chargers > (chosen for its ability to intelligently charge a 1-cell lithium = > from a > wall adapter or USB port 5v rail, low cost .85@1K) > http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/4002 > > MAX1522 Simple SOT23 Boost Controllers > (chosen for its high frequency operation - small inductor, only a = > few > external components, low cost $1.07@1K) > > MAX1724 1.5=B5A IQ, Step-Up DC-DC Converters in Thin SOT23-5 > (chosen for its ultra low quiescent current, only needs a 10uh = > inductor, > has built in FET, very few external components, low cost $1.45 @ 1K) > http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/3024 > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs.Try it free. -- = http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist Gus S Calabrese Denver, CO 720 222 1309 303 908 7716 cell Please include and do not limit yourself to "spam2006". I allow = everything with "spam2006" in the subject or text to pass my spam = filters. -- = http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist