Important Detail!
This is a “bundle” offering. The price is for two SMART Response XE devices plus the Development Adapter.
The discounts for ordering quantities include a single Development Adapter. For example, an order quantity of 3 is six devices plus one development adapter.
OK, so what is it?
The SMART Response XE has been covered multiple times on Hackaday. This is that same device.
The trick is finding reliable devices for sale. Often they are sold “working when removed from service” but that was probably many years ago and they were stuffed in a closet with cheap batteries installed. The most common hidden problem is internal corrosion which might only affect a row of keys or the SPI programming connections.
The SMART Response XE Developer Kit includes 2 devices which have been cleaned and thoroughly tested. As a matter of fact, the devices no longer have the original classroom firmware.
They are shipped with the hardware smoketest installed. The is test covers every key on the keyboard and the menus, the full display, memory, and the 2.4Ghz transceiver.
The test suite is built using the open source SRXECore.
It measures 4.625in * 3.5in * 0.875in and weighs 4.5 oz and is powered by four AAA batteries (not included).
The back story
This is the same hardware used by the Pocket Enigma. The truth is I have too many of these devices.
The SMART Response XE Developer Kit is a reliable way to make your own projects using the SMART Response XE hardware. Every unit has been tested. (there is a big box of units which failed the testing process to prove it)
Hardware
Bundle: – 2 SMART Response XE devices – 1 SPI programming adapter
The SMART Response XE is a commercially manufactured device.
- measures 120mm * 90mm * 20mm
- powered by 4 AAA batteries (not included)
- 384×136 LCD display with 4 levels of greyscale
- full chicklet keyboard
- an ATMega128RFA1 chip with 128KB of FLASH, 16KB SRAM, 4KB EEPROM, AES encryption, and real random number generation (Summary Sheet)
- low power 2.4GHz RF transceiver
- 128KB FLASH chip for storing extra data
The included SPI Programing Adapter has a traditional 6-pin SPI female connector on one end and the required “bed of nails” long pogo pins on the other.
The programming adapter also has LEDs and pin outs to the extra contacts of the SMART Response XE to aid with development.
The hardware was commercially designed for use by grade level children in the classroom so it is built tough. It’s not indestructible but it’s robust and fun to make on-the-go projects.
Programming and Applications
There are a number of existing projects already available for the SMART Response XE hardware.
Two popular projects are the Arduboy and BASIC. Check out some of the other projects at Hackaday!
You can make your own custom projects with Arduino IDE or VSCode+PlatformIO.
The SRXECore was developed with the latter toolset. It provides functions for all the hardware capabilities. It even includes the source code to the smoketest which demonstrates nearly all of the library features.
Don’t forget the 2.4Ghz transceiver.
The SRXECore also includes functions for the extra pins from the programming adapter. There are functions for the LEDs and even a bit-bang UART output at 9600 baud available on one of the pins.
Up-Cycled Hardware
The Pocket Enigma hardware is upcycled from SMART Response XE classroom devices. These devices are not new. Some devices have a number written on the bottom. Please see photos for representative condition of the devices.