Parts kit
Each student is given a parts kit containing the materials needed for the course assignments and labs. The kit is packed into a plastic box and contains:
- a flamingo pink Mango Pi MQ-Pro https://widora.cn/mqpro
a short USB-C extension cable with on/off switchhttps://a.co/d/1LONjaU- the cables we bought for Winter quarter are defective, so we removed from kit. Instead use reset button on the Mango Pi board.
- a slim USB-C hub/splitter https://a.co/d/c7Pl74S
- a USB OTG connector https://a.co/d/a9yR0XI
- a CP2102 USB-to-serial breakout board https://a.co/d/fbcCC3o
- a full-sized breadboard https://www.jameco.com/z/239-Adafruit-Industries-Full-Sized-Premium-Breadboard-830-Tie-Points_2500655.html
- Jameco, BusBoard, Velleman are solid! sometimes cheaper breadboards have flaky connection points, best to avoid
- jumpers (5-20 of each) https://www.taydaelectronics.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=dupont+jumper+female
- female-female
- female-male
- a handy reference card (Anna Mistele's custom design)
- a mini-box of small components:
- a 4-digit 7-segment display http://www.lanpade.com/7-segment-led-dot-matrix/5461as.html
- resistors (how resistance is encoded in band color, color code calculator)
- twenty 1K resistors (for leds, 4-digit display, transistors) https://www.taydaelectronics.com/resistors/1k-ohm-1-2w-5-carbon-film-resistor.html
- four 10K resistors (for push buttons) https://www.taydaelectronics.com/10k-ohm-1-2w-5-carbon-film-resistor.html
- eight LEDs https://www.taydaelectronics.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=led+5mm+ultra+bright
- four 2N3904 transistors (BJTs) https://www.taydaelectronics.com/2n3904-npn-general-propose-transistor.html
- tactile pushbuttons and colored button caps https://www.taydaelectronics.com/electromechanical/switches-key-pad/tact-switch/tact-switch-12-12mm-7-3mm-through-hole-spst-no-4-pins.html https://www.taydaelectronics.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=tactile+switch+caps
- mini claw clips (for cable management) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TWN8DQZ
Lab tools supplement
The lab activities require some additional hand tools and supplies that we keep in the lab room for shared used.
Hand tools and supplies for breadboarding:
- wire stripper, needlenose pliers, and angled cutter
- if you interested in purchasing your own tools, see recommendations in our guide to hand tools
- solid core wire, 22-24 AWG
- male-male jumpers, various lengths
- multimeter
For keyboard lab:
- PS/2 keyboard and mouse https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0758BF15X https://a.co/d/7j11KRC
- inexpensive, low-speed USB logic analyzer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077LSG5P2
- PS/2 breakout board
- we source a custom board from https://www.pcbway.com/
- other options from Adafruit https://www.adafruit.com/product/804 or Digikey https://www.digikey.com/short/ptjt5f4b
- can simply wire jumpers directly into keyboard plug (we did this for years and it works fine)
For graphics lab:
- display (monitor, tv, projector) that accepts HDMI input
- HDMI cable (Mango Pi has a mini-HDMI connector so need compatible cable or adapter)
Suppliers
We have found that parts from Tayda Electronics are a good value, especially when purchasing in bulk, although it will take a few weeks to arrive. Ordering from the Ali Express marketplace can be even more economical, but customer service and quality can vary by individual seller – buyer beware!
If looking to buy parts for your personal use, we also recommend Jameco, Pololu, Adafruit, and Sparkfun for their high-quality products and excellent customer service.