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True, but I guess we assumed that people would see a processor, not a module with all it's extra components and know that there is no way it could handle +-12 volts. That and in 13 years of working with micros this is the first customer to do this that we've come across.

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Basic Micro - Robotic Technology Evolved

I got him beat by over a week.
I did the whole RS-232 direct connect thing too. After about 10-15 minutes of testing all my leads, i decided to just, wing it and try TTL and it worked.

An IC could have a whole bunch of stuff hidden away, It's actually not that hard to stuff extra circuits in there during the design/production phase.
I didn't see just a processor, i saw an all in one device, i saw an entire module packed into a single, narrow IC. The actual chip die is probably only a couple mm by a couple mm, so theres no way we could have known if there are other components packed away inside the encasing material or not. Which i think is plastic. These could have been completely custom IC's.
Which may not be a bad idea if you guys do ever decide to make a pro version of the nano.
IE a narrow version of the pro.

This all gave me an idea though. If i can find a way to easily make a RS-232 to TTL bidirectional converter using just SMD parts, i could probably probably make all of this fit inside an IC socket. Then attach the IC socket permanently to the Nano.
It'll be a little thicker, but the footprint would still be an 18 pin narrow socket.

I only know how to convert RS-232 TX to TTL RX, not the other way around, so it would be write only.



Edit:
I see another problem.
The Basic ATOM Nano commands are NOT tied to specific pins. No extra hardware is required for programming. You can even use any USB to Serial adapter or RS232 circuit!
This was on the nano 18's page.
http://www.basicmicro.com/Nano-18_p_38.html

That's incorrect, as you do need additional hardware for programming. An RS-232 to TTL converter. I'll send an email out to dale right away.

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Basic Micro Blog
Universal Robot Controller

Mmm, well, yes and no.
You can't JUST use a serial adapter, USB, MAX232 or otherwise, you also need the diode and resistors to merge the TxD and RxD circuits.
The extra circuits they probably have in mind are the stepup circuit to turn Vin or your regulated Vcc to 12 or 13V, and the gate transistor to apply it, for programming the PIC in high voltage programming mode. You only need a simple serial port.

It's a sales blurb, a lot of tech data here is not a good thing. The data sheet, however, could have said more, made a better explanation, left lots less to the imagination. So it's been said, it will get fixed. Or we'll hound these guys ceaselessly.

'Nuff said.

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kenjj
http://blog.basicmicro.com/
http://kjennejohn.wordpress.com/