Okay, it's built and the LED is blinking. I have the FTDI USB-TTL Cable 5 V. I'm clueless. What would happen if I connected the Diavolino to my computer? Is there some sort of code I need to download or something? Would someone mind sharing with me exactly what I have here. I have read the information on this kit and still cannot make sense of it all. Please, someone fill me in. Yes. I've done "some" programming but I don't know enough programming to do anything fancy. I'm looking forward to receiving a response as I am very curious.

Thanks in advance.

Well, there's a question that we haven't heard before.

The Diavolino will not do anything different if you just plug it into the computer. However, once you plug it into the computer, you can reprogram it using the Arduino programming environment, which you can download here: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

The Diavolino is a low cost "Arduino clone" --a board with the same basic capabilities as an "Arduino Duemilanove" development board. There are tens of thousands of different successful Arduino-based projects, and this board can similarly be the basis for ten thousand more. It has digital input and output capability, and (more limited) analog I/O capability as well. It can act as an interface between your computer and controls and/or sensors. It can also, once programmed, stand independently and run its own program (acting upon inputs, controlling outputs) without a computer nearby. The capabilities of an Arduino board can be extended tremendously with the addition of hundreds of different types of sensors and add-on boards that provide additional capabilities all the way from measuring temperature to measuring temperature.

Additional information about what Arduino boards can do may be found at the following sites: http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Introduction
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage
http://www.freeduino.org/

I suspect that you haven't read it *all* yet.

Hey Thanks. I've been reading up on Ardruino and I must say it sounds fascinating. While I still have much to learn I'm so curious that I've manage to find the software for it. I downloaded it from the Ardruino website. I now have the Ardruino 1.0 IDE. It has some examples within it.

How can I use those examples with my Diavolino? I also have the FTDI USB-TTL Cable 5 V. If I plug it into my computer what do I do next concerning the examples that are already loaded in the IDE?

Thank you inadvance.

How can I use those examples with my Diavolino? I also have the FTDI USB-TTL Cable 5 V. If I plug it into my computer what do I do next concerning the examples that are already loaded in the IDE?

Yes, although many of them require specific external hardware or setups to see that they are working.

To use the Diavolino, hook it up to the computer, select "Duemilanove w/ '328" (or the similarly named option) from the Tools>Board menu, and select the correct serial port from the Tool>Serial Port menu.

See also the Arduino Getting Started guide:
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage