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What have you done with an RCX?

From the lens The Lego RCX, Inside And Out.

Have you used the NXT? Would you like to get hold of one?
If you have some info to add, or comments to make, please let me know. They don't need to be all sugar coated - I can take criticism if you think there is something to fix here.

HTML is permitted, comments are moderated for relevance and content.

  • AndyPo Apr 2, 2012 @ 6:28 pm | delete
    Excellent. Lego has come a long way since my childhood and my son is still at the DUPLO stage but I'm looking forward to playing with this soon.
  • Gabriel360 Mar 3, 2012 @ 12:35 pm | delete
    Woah. Really cool. LEGO RCX Controller? Awesome!

    Gabriel360
  • EDawg408 Mar 1, 2012 @ 1:55 pm | delete
    I have loved Legos all mu life and it is exciting to see my niece get into them. I haven't personally used and RCX but I do like both Legos and robotic experiments. I could definitely see this in my future. Very informative lens indeed!
  • Gigglegirl Feb 25, 2012 @ 9:46 am | delete
    very interesting lens!
  • naheedahsan Feb 16, 2012 @ 10:22 am | delete
    great lens with good information
  • skiesgreen Feb 9, 2012 @ 7:05 pm | delete
    It all sounds a but technical for my old brain but you have given so much good information and obviously know the subject well. Blessed and featured on Blessed by Skiesgreen 2012 and also on Games for Young and Old. Hugs.
  • Dave Jan 25, 2012 @ 8:41 pm | delete
    My only laptop that had a 9-pin connector was repo'd by my workplace, forcing me to accept a laptop with only USB ports. Is there a way to get the original RCX software to recognize the IR module through a USB? (I installed a USB -to -9-pin cable, and installed the cable software, but the Lego RCX software still won't recogize the connection).
  • dannystaple Feb 6, 2012 @ 4:41 pm | delete
    This is a wild conjecture, but perhaps with some driver trickery you could do so. Have you tried simply assigning the USB serial port to a low port number - COM1/COM2?
  • birger Feb 21, 2012 @ 6:27 pm | delete
    I have RIS 2.0 working with both the USB tower and the serial tower through a usb-to-serial cable on 32bit XP. I have tried on a new laptop with 64bit Win 7. For the USB tower I would have to go the VirtualBox route, since there is no driver for the USB tower on 64-bit windows. With the USB-to-serial cable I downloaded the 64-bit version of the same driver that I use on 32-bit XP. RIS 2.0 sees the tower when I use autodetect, but the green light doesn't come on when I transmit and the operation times out. I will try again with a different cable.
  • dannystaple Feb 22, 2012 @ 3:06 am | delete
    Hmm - having had a look around, the problem you've got is that the original system used the RTS/CTS pins on the serial port - which other systems (IE NQC) didn't. Most USB to Serial cables do not actually implement the CTS/RTS pins, and so will not work. Do take a look at NQC and other alternatives - they are free.
  • birger Mar 1, 2012 @ 2:50 pm | delete
    the cable works fine in 32bit windows, but not in 64bit. since the approach is rumored to work i must assume the problem somehow is with the 64bit chipset driver and this no-brand cable. i will try again with a different usb serial adapter.
  • dannystaple Feb 22, 2012 @ 3:07 am | delete
    This said - the USB tower + virtual box is your best bet here if you want to use the original software.
  • aprilandcaleb Dec 27, 2011 @ 9:48 pm | delete
    I have an Lego Mindstorm RCX that I dissembled. I got a new set and am selling the older set on ebay. Problem, I was asked if the RCX had corrosion so I opened it up and there is none. Now I am tried everyway possible to put it back together and I can't get it to work. It was working before I dissambled it. :-(

    Anyhow I even made sure the clips are in place and I still cannot get it to work. Please help. Do you have any photos of the assembling the inside of the RCX back together again?

    Thank you
  • dannystaple Dec 28, 2011 @ 5:24 am | delete
    Hi there. When you say it doesn't work - what happens on it?
  • aprilandcaleb Dec 28, 2011 @ 8:34 am | delete
    Nothing happens at all. It was working just fine until I opened it. Now I get nothing. Please help.
  • Tanya Dec 28, 2011 @ 11:17 am | delete
    I was afraid to try it. The ReadMe file states
    "Make sure that you ran the MindStorms or Cybermaster software
    at least once before installing RcxCC. (And don't uninstall them; they register a class spirit.ocx that RcxCC needs.) If you don't want to install the MindStorms software, look into the documentation of RcxCC on how to proceed."

    However, I could not find documentation re: how to proceed without installing the original software first.

    By the way, thank you very much for providing this info. My son can't wait to get started!
  • Tanya Feb 7, 2012 @ 8:09 pm | delete
    I'm wondering if someone who has the original software can copy and send me the file I need? The RcxCC software I was able to download will not recognize the IR Tower without the original driver. The manual says to "copy the spirit.ocx file from the Lego CD-ROM to hour hard disk..." Since the original software is no longer available or supported by Lego, I am unable to secure my own copy.
  • dannystaple Feb 8, 2012 @ 2:38 am | delete
    Have you come across Phantom.ocx (which may be able to replace spirit.ocx)? This thread on lugnet looks good- http://news.lugnet.com/robotics/rcx/?n=2264
    There is a version of phantom here - http://www.geocities.ws/pbrickdev/downloadphantom.html
  • Tanya Dec 27, 2011 @ 1:06 pm | delete
    I have a RCX 2.0 kit, but it doesn't have the software. I downloaded the RcxCC3 software, but it says I need to install the original version software first. Will it work without the original software? If I need the original, where can I find it? I'm trying to install on an older XP machine that can be dedicated just to the RCX.
  • Buchamar Dec 16, 2011 @ 4:20 pm | delete
    Great info! Thank you!
    I feature learning apps for kids on iPad :-)
    Come Visit!
  • Mary Ellen and Christian Murphy Dec 4, 2011 @ 11:42 am | delete
    I have Lego Mindstorm RCX the oldest version possible with the 9v dc power supply, but obviously doesn't run on Windows 7. The beginning part 'intro tour' runs and then the 'start up' will not run because it needs an 8bit 256 color palate display. I went to visual box and didn't understand what I was reading. Am I supposed to download something from there and then download windows 98 from microsoft? I read that while downloading windows 98 while running or using visual box support, windows will crash. My 9 year old son really wants to start programming. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
  • dannystaple Dec 4, 2011 @ 12:22 pm | delete
    In which case, you may be better off using NQC to program the device, which works in the recent versions of Windows. It doesn't come with the visual instructions and so on, but it allows you to program the device.
  • Mary Ellen and Christian Murphy Dec 4, 2011 @ 12:45 pm | delete
    What is NQC?
  • dannystaple Dec 4, 2011 @ 3:34 pm | delete
    It is in the article above - Programming the RCX with NQC. It is a programming language for the RCX developed by the community (not Lego). It is a more traditional text based language, and is free to download.
  • Mary Ellen and Christian Murphy Dec 4, 2011 @ 12:44 pm | delete
    Thank you!
  • fefe Dec 1, 2011 @ 12:31 am | delete
    I just got the Mindstorms NXT 2.0 and love it so far...thinking about making a lens about it. Gave your lens a SquidAngel blessing..
  • tridenteng Oct 27, 2011 @ 9:36 am | delete
    Very impressive stuff. It's great how popular Lego still is after all these years and extra things like this make it even better
  • blackspanielgallery Jul 25, 2011 @ 4:10 pm | delete
    good lens
  • Higgy Jul 20, 2011 @ 10:33 am | delete
    Danny,

    Could you tell me how to get the USB tower working on Windows Virtual XP please, I have downloaded all the patches and installed. I have the driver installed on the host machine as well as the virtual one. I cannot get the USB tower to be seen by the Virtual Machine at all under USB > attach Device.

    HELP!!!
  • jakeaust Aug 18, 2011 @ 12:40 pm | delete
    I'm having the same problem. I was able to make it work on an older WinXP laptop, but the laptop is on it's last legs. I couldn't get the USB to forward in Windows 7 (64-bit) to Virtual XP. I'm guessing it's because the driver isn't able to be installed on the Windows 7 side because it's not 64-bit compatible. I'm going to try a usb->serial keyspan adapter and using a serial tower. Will post my results here if it works.
  • JoshK47 Jul 12, 2011 @ 8:33 am | delete
    Very interesting! Never heard of this before!
  • GrammaLinda Jul 4, 2011 @ 3:18 pm | delete
    Great lens! Solid information for the aspiring Lego engineer.
  • LegoLegoLego May 16, 2011 @ 10:19 am | delete
    What a cool review WELL DONE MY MAN!
  • jp1978 Feb 19, 2011 @ 12:53 am | delete
    I want one!
  • JJNW Jan 25, 2011 @ 9:40 am | delete
    Hi - we do have the whole Lego Mindstorms kit and keep meaning to use it more for fun and homeschooling. I have bookmarked this page in case we need advice and information. We love it! Thanks for the great page!
  • yellow unicycle Jan 20, 2011 @ 10:13 pm | delete
    Here is a link with complete instructions to working rcx and ris 1.5 on windows 7 64 bit
  • dannystaple Jan 22, 2011 @ 8:26 am | delete
    Umm- the link didn't come through - can you post that again?
  • Ash Jul 7, 2011 @ 6:49 am | delete
    no link and this information would be extremely handy!!
  • yellow unicycle Jan 20, 2011 @ 10:11 pm | delete
    Instructions to get RCX and RIS 1.5 working on Windows 7 64bit
    http://www.mediafire.com/?y37y8gb9ynj27xm
  • gnsh Jan 3, 2011 @ 12:56 pm | delete
    RCX running on Windows 7

    I was able to get the RCX running on Windows 7 by:

    - Installing the original software (crashes when setting up the usb tower).
    - Installing the updated tower drivers and setting the exe to run in 95 compatibility mode.
    - Rerunning the install to connect to and update the RCX firmware to 2.0.

    I am then able to run the original software, all modes working as they did originally.
  • Shaun McCloud Dec 14, 2010 @ 2:48 pm | delete
    I still have my RIS kit that I bought in college, to bad I no longer have the CD for it. Anyone know where I can find said CD?
  • dannystaple Dec 14, 2010 @ 4:41 pm | delete
    Hmm - I had similar trouble sourcing a CD for the Cybermaster kit. Scouring eBay may get you a version but it won't be cheap. You might also be able to download it.
    If you are just looking to program the RCX, then you might consider NQC or similar, for which you do not need the original CD.
  • Shaun McCloud Dec 14, 2010 @ 4:43 pm | delete
    I want the original CD just to make sure everything works before I start using NQC. Its been packed with the rest of my Legos in a tote for a long time. I did find a copy of it online. Now to just find a copy of Windows 98 SE at my parents place.
  • emmalarkins Oct 13, 2010 @ 2:36 pm | delete
    Great lens! I used to work with these things. Blessed by a Squidoo Angel!
  • dannystaple Dec 5, 2010 @ 8:57 am | delete
    Work with them? I am intrigued now - I'll have to find out about this!! :) Thanks for the blessing too!
  • laurence Sep 19, 2010 @ 7:37 am | delete
    problem with virtual machimes (well the one i used anyway [vmware player with win 98]) is that it didnt recognise the virtual video card therefore limiting it to 16 colours (YES JUST 16) and the program requires 16 bit to run

    another problem is newer versions of quicktime (cant remember what versions) wont work. the program runs the first time but wont again untill you reinstall it and if i installed an old version of quick time itunes wouldn't work
  • dannystaple Sep 21, 2010 @ 1:19 am | delete
    Laurence, give Virtual Box a go - it is also free, and tends to be simpler to set up. It also comes with a driver ISO that it allows you to install in the guest OS so you can get the best experience of graphics and other aspects of the Virtual Machine. I also found networking under Virtual Box to be considerably easier to set up too.

    If you just want to code for the RCX, have you considered an alternative like NQC or others, that will easily run on modern PC's? They do not require the original Lego software to work.

by

dannystaple

I have two children - a girl and a baby boy, and we live in Richmond, Uk. I program computers for my day job. In my spare time I build stuff, grow stuff,... more »

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