SainSmart Mega2560 R3 ATmega2560-16AU + Keypad Starter Kit with over 16 Basic Arduino Tutorial Projects for Arduino Beginners

I bought this Arduino experimentation kit for my college age son. He is debating studying robotics. The kit contains lots of small, poorly marked components and no documentation. However the product description page here on Amazon contains a link to the SainSmart web site and a rar file with a series of lessons.If you are unfamiliar with rar files, they are similar to a zip file. I would recommend you download and install 7-zip, if you are unable to open the file. Inside the file is a PDF with the instructions and a number of folders containing the code to run the lessons. Unfortunately some of the folders are empty.The 16 lessons introduce you to all of the components in the kit and how to use them. The SainSmart Mega2560 is a great little board. It is the third generation Uno board, and contains extra memory and control capability. You install the test components on the breadboard, wire the breadboard to the Mega2560 and run the sample code to control or read the component. You can either use the (mostly) provided code or type it in yourself from the instructions. You program the board in a straight forward language that is a subset of C+.Problems with the kit -Once you locate the instruction file and uncompress it, you realize that there is something missing. The instructions only hint at the fact that you need to go to the main Arduino web site and download the IDE.It is located: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/SoftwareInstall the IDE on your computer, connect your computer with the USB cable and you are ready to communicate with the board.Then you have to tediously wade through the poorly written instructions for the lessons. The instructions are written in what I can only call - Chinglish. It would be very nice if SainSmart would hire a native English speaking person to work with their technical people to re-write the instructions. As an example, in lesson 7 you are to hook up a buzzer. The instructions warn you that there is a passive buzzer and an active buzzer and you have to use the correct one. It never exactly tells you which is the correct one and you receive instructions such as, "As facing up to two buzzers' pin Country it can be seen that there are a green circuit board is passive buzzer, no circuit board using vinyl enclosed one is active buzzer... if you feel a click, cracking sound and resistance is only 8 ohms (or 16 ohms) which is a passive buzzer; continuing sound can issue, and the resistance is more than hundreds of Europe that is active buzzer." No kidding, that is a direct quote.So, if you are patient and are somewhat knowledgeable of basic electronics and have a grasp of the fundamentals of C+ programming, this is a great kit. If the preceding sentence has you scratching your head, look for something else.

Great kit with LOTS of fun projects. This kept my son and myself busy all summer long and we only got to project #9. We did build on the base projects to enhance them and learn more. HOWEVER, the instructions are TERRIBLE. I am an engineer so I could figure it out quickly, but without some kind of guidance, it would be somewhat tough. We used Youtube on occasion and filled in some gaps, especially the easy steps that are needed just to get you going. There was also some trial and error needed to figure out the particular of the electronic parts. My first suggestion to the company would be to provide data sheets for all the parts. THEN the average person would have a fighting chance. If you can find a similar set from another company with good instructions - save your self lots of head aches and go with that.

***BEWARE***The tutorials and projects are not included as advertised.There are no documents or software in this kit.There are no links or direction given by the seller to find these tutorials/projects/software online.It is just a collection of parts in a plastic box.Trying to locate these items on the Sain Smart website is an exercise in futility.***BEWARE***The included components seem of good quality and the board communicates with the Arduino IDE with no trouble on the first try.Just understand you are on your own.It is sad that a kit listed for beginners is more likely to discourage use of the excellent Arduino products than encourage their use.

Exited to start such experience , the product comes in box with alot of options ,we got used to it .

The components I received were in fine condition. However none of the components listed that are pictured between the resistors and the shield board were included. Keep that in mind if you were counting on those parts.

Such a fun kit! You will have to google all the documentation.Once done, you can do some rad things.Quality components that just work.

Great starter kit.

Contiene todo lo mencionado en las características, y el envió llego en tiempo.Lo único malo, es que no vienen etiquetados los componentes, lo cual para alguien con experiencia no es de mucha importancia, pero para principiantes seria difícil reconocer que es cada componente. Ademas el los display vinieron con sus entradas (patitas) un poco dobladas, pero se pudo arreglar fácilmente, esto pudo darse durante el transporte.En lo general me pareció bien.

Nicely packaged in its own carry case these items, along with the pdf manual you download from the net, this kits helps you develop a good understanding of how an Arduino functions. As mentioned by others, the manual isn't well written, but can be made sense of; hence only 4 stars.

Couple pins were bent on ardruino board. Using a piece of styrofoam would have eliminated this issue and any further ones. Use the green stuff like florist use.

Joli petit kit qui permet de faire des montages simples avec les enfants. La petite mallette de rangement est très pratique.

Muy bueno