Last week, we introduced the SparkFun RedStick, a special new edition of the BadgerHack board we designed to teach people the basics of programming and soldering at our 2015 events. After its debut, we got a TON of feedback from customers asking us to sell the Badgers on our site for those who couldn't make it to our booths, and after some finessing and revising, behold: The RedStick. The RedStick combines some of our favorite features like the Uno’s Optiboot bootloader, the FTDI, a compact form factor, and, like the Badgers, the ability to plug directly into a computer’s USB port.
We've also been hard at work on some special add-on kits for the RedStick to help you add functionality and build simple projects with your board. Best of all, if you want to get your hands on a free Badger board and try out some of the add-on kits, come visit us in Austin, TX, at SXSW Create from March 11-13. We'll be set up in the Palmer Events Center, and we'll be running an interactive soldering booth with the Badgers so you can build your own! The three different add-on kits will be available for sale, as well as the new RedStick. In the meantime, if you want to see the RedStick and add-on kits in action, check out our video below, where each of our creative technologists got the chance to show off the projects they made with their add-on kits.
Why is the Redstick $5 more than the Redboard? It looks like it should be cheaper to make.
The board thickness is also different than our usual PCBs so it can fit into a USB port, which increases the PCB cost.
The RedStick has a boost converter that costs more than the linear regulator on the RedBoard. The advantage is that you can use a LiPo or 2x AA/AAA batteries to power the RedStick.
If I still have my badger from last year, can I still use it or have their been updates/improvements?
Also, it doesn't look like I will able to come to SXSW this year. :( I will be in San Antonio for an FRC regional competition that weekend.
Yes, you can still use the older Badgers. They have an outdated bootloader, so you would likely need to update it. The first part in the BadgerHack tutorial has a note about the old bootloader and links to instructions to either a) program the BadgerStick as-is or b) update the bootloader.
Very cool. I will see if I can burn the new boot loader. If that doesn't work, I may just break down and buy a redstick. :)
Thanks Shawn!