Vitaliy wrote:
> 
> The crystal is 3.57Mhz (an odd frequency, to be sure). The ELM320 is based 
> on the PIC12C509, so I guess the board can be used as a GP board...
> 
> Vitaliy 
> 

Vitaliy,
You need to get out more!  ;>

That is the color burst crystal for NTSC color TV systems.  Dirt cheap. 
  Probably was designed into your board due to it's low price.

I've ignored this thread up to now but knowing that the board is pic 
based makes it more interesting, at least to hobby folks.

It has a socket for an 8 pin DIP PIC chip; hobby people on this list 
often indicate a preference for dip over smt.  It has a crystal that can 
offer an accurate time base or it can be removed for one of the pics 
with internal RC oscillator freeing up two more pins.  It has both a DB9 
and a DB25 connector; if nothing else, it could be made into a "quick 
brown fox" generator.  It is built and waits only for a users pic to be 
inserted.

If it had been me, I would have asked piclisters for ideas of what to 
use it for, (maybe even contest fashion) with prizes (these boards) to 
the best ideas.  As an engine diagnostic tool, it appeals to a limited 
set of users but as a cheap breadboard for generic 8 pin pics, it 
appeals to a much larger group.  And finally, if I were teaching 
embedded controller classes in high school, college, etc, I would try to 
get the entire stock to have students use for class projects.

LED flashers, beepers, signal generators, where to stop?
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