Active RCX Forum/Users?

[panamamike]

Recently purchased an RCX set and wanted to find where I can find an active user community. I've done some searching on the web and have found some old and many times dead links associated to the RCX Mindstorm set. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Alasdair Ryan]

There are plenty here who use RCX, our technic moderator is a mindstorm nerd too (amongst other things ) .

We have a index were you may already find some answers to particular question, but feel free to ask a question and I am sure someone will help you.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Alasdair Ryan

[panamamike]

Thanks for the response. I'm interested in getting a better idea of where I should start. Looks like there's a lot of stuff out there in the way of Lego actual software and 3rd party software. I like the idea of using this as a way to introduce my son to programming. He's actually done some basic stuff on code.org, but thought it would be neat if he could couple that with robotics. I see there's a number of programming languages. I think starting him on the simple visual graphical stuff would be a good way to get him up to speed. Turns out there are apparently two versions, the original RCX code 2.0 and RoboLab 2.5.

Once that's determined. Trying to figure out where to find the software to download. For example: The pylnp "python remote" site link is gone.

In short I'm trying to determine the following.

1: Which basic tools to start with:

+ Software: OS/Language

- Thinking RCX 2.0 standard

+ Hardware parts

- Purchased a set with some missing parts.

- Which are the most useful and must have parts.

+ Builds

- Easy stuff to start

2: Recommended reading/books to start.

[Alasdair Ryan]

Well I am actually am doing a programming course myself at college (you may recognise my avater as the python logo), I do own some nxt stuff myself but have never tried to actually code anything .

[DrJB]

Just a note here that most Lego based programming tools use a GUI with graphical tools. As such they are meant for a younger audience. While this is a good introduction to build some 'logical thinking', it is way different from what I'd call 'classical' programming, such as in CPP or python. Learning to program in RCX or NXT is only useful for Lego projects, and not much else in life. If you want your son to learn programming, might start with 3rd party platforms such LeJos and the like.

[Andy D]

You might find some folks who use RCX over on the mind boards forum at http://mindboards.net

The forum has been active for several years, it is an offshoot of the defunct NXTasy forum which died a few years ago.

Some of the founders have been using Mindstorms since RCX, so you might find help and info there.

IHTH

Andy D

[panamamike]

Thanks to all for the ideas. I'll look into what's been shared. I get that the RCX GUI language isn't really classic programming, but it's a start :)

I'll have to look into the LeJos. I'm aware of more than one alternate OS for RCX, was wanting to know pros and cons.

[Jim]

RCX...wow, that's while ago.

Welcome to EB by the way. This forum is Technic and Mindstorms, where Mindstorms is not very popular, let alone RCX.