Just got a new Gertboard

I just received a new Gertboard for the RPi. It was home when I arrived from my trip to Florida. When I opened it up, I was expecting that there would be a ribbon cable amongst the items in the box. However, as I started looking through the user manual, it became apparent that I was wrong.




The Gertboard has a different connection when used with the RPi.




The Gertboard has a GPIO connector, but is turned away from the RPi. The kit does have standoffs, the assumption is that the combination sits on the table. I will now Need to determine if I can actually put a ribbon cable on the Girtboard and connect it to the RPi. The combination takes up a lot of real estate and is really not functional for use with the Robot HW that I am building up. I only have so much room on the piece of Lexan. What this will probably force me to do is use the Gertboard to make a circuit and then duplicate it on a breadboard. Then again, maybe I will use the Gertboard for other things.

Put in order for Gertboard

I put in an order yesterday for an assembled Gertboard, an additional RPi, a cable breakout from Adafruit, and a wire connector kit.  I decided on getting the Gertboard after looking through the user manual.  I am convinced that it gives a lot more control over what the RPi can do in terms of interfacing that what I have available with the PiFace.  However, right now I will deal with the PiFace and report on the pros and cons of making my Robotic interface.

The key detail that told me this would be a good buy was the fact that the Gertboard has a plug panel arrangement.  You only patch in the items that you wish to use.  There are different groupings of capability on the board, but you only have to interface to some of them, and arrange them in any order you wish.  Good design for experimentation!