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1. I am only using Robolab 2.5 to drive Control Lab. Prior to 2.5 I was
using Robolab 2.0 with the free Lego Engineer software to drive the
interface. The 2.5 release removes the need for Lego Engineer. In fact I am
now getting errors with Lego Engineer if I try and use it with the 2.5
release. I have never used the Control Lab software.
2. I am using a regular serial cable to connect the PC to Control Lab. I am
using the IR tower cable in conjunction with a second serial connector to
convert the female end of the IR cable to a male connector to connect to the
female fitting on Control Lab.
3. I have used the Mindstorms touch sensor, light sensor, motor and a home
page pressure sensor on Control Lab with no problems.
4. I feel Control Lab and the RCX are different and have different uses.
Once a program has been downloaded to the RCX it can be used standalone
(i.e., remote and separate from a computer) and can be integrated into any
Lego creation you can think of, e.g., a motorized robot. With Control Lab
the keyword is "control". It is used to control Lego creations, rather than
being integrated into them. It is a much bigger device that has to remain
connected to the computer. It does have more ports (8 input and 8 output)
than the RCX. Only 4 of the input ports are powered.
In lugnet.robotics.rcx.robolab, Miles Gentry writes:
> If RoboLab 2.5 can work with Control Lab's 16 ports, then students could
> build some fantastic inventions. Let's make sure. Help me here, please.
>
> Does the Pitsco description of RoboLab 2.5 ". . . Functions with Control Lab
> interface box . . ." mean that you can use RoboLab 2.5 software with the
> "Control Lab Serial Interface and Adapter" (#979751) without the Control lab
> software?
>
> If yes, then what does the Control Lab box offer to RoboLab, e.g., its 8
> input ports and 8 output ports?
>
> Does the box require #979769 "Serial Cable" $30; or will an old IR Tower's
> serial cable or any other serial cable work?
>
> The Control Lab Touch Sensor looks different than the RoboLab touch sensor.
> Do the RoboLab & Mindstorms sensors (touch, light, temp, angle) work well on
> the Control Lab interface box under RoboLab 2.5?
>
> Pitsco sells #979751 for $265 on page 19 of its Dacta 2001 print catalog and
> at http://www.pldstore.com/pitsco2_30/finditem.cfm?itemid=309 in its Online
> Store. An RCX with AC adapter costs $139. Let's compare the Control Lab's
> port cost of $17/port ($265 / 16 ports) to the RCX's port cost of $23/port
> ($139 / 6 ports). Does that comparison look reasonable or do the devices
> defy comparison functionally?
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