but there are savings and then there are wrong paths.

I would never suggest to an amateur that he should acquire a fully licenced Keil and 17 various ICEs before setting out, but then, on the other hand I have my doubts that a chip moved from "the stick" to something with flying leads is going to make a working EC2 substitute. The single operation of moving a TSSOP chip from one place to another is, in my opinion, not likely to be succesful for an amateur, not to mention that TSSOP and 'flying leads' do not work. SO, make a PCB, buy some components and cables, buy a stick and move the chip. Is that much less than $35 - I doubt it.

So, what I am saying is: if you can only afford "the stick" restrict yourself to what the stick can do, if you want more spend $35.

it may indeed be that I am more concerned with the posters success than his pocketbook, but what is best spending $10.85 plus the rest and losing your money or spending $35 and having fun?

Erik