Microchip PIC intro (was Re: IR/555 Timer Que
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On 29 Jun 01 at 16:28, Kevin Olalde wrote:
> ...Peter Anderson at: http://www.phanderson.com will be back and
> can process an order for his PIC16F84 starter package:
> http://www.phanderson.com/PIC/picstart.html
That's a tried and proven way to go. OTOH, chances are you already
have all the hardware you need--a Stamp, PC and +5 volt power
supply--to roll your own "starter package" if you use the new, low
programming voltage PICs such as a PIC16F876.
You can build the PIC program on your PC using Microchip's free
MPASM assembler. A simple interface program between your PC and Stamp
can feed the .hex file generated by MPASM in small pieces to your
Stamp, which can then easily handle the PIC programming protocol and
logic.
You could fill up all that wasted free space on your hard drive with
the datasheets, application notes and other info available from the
Microchip web site.
This gets you in the PIC programming door for little more than the
price of a PIC. If there's interest I can put together more details
and some quick and dirty PC (DOS only, for now) and Stamp programs
that work.
Now if we can just persuade Prof. Anderson to carry the '876/'877...
Regards,
Steve
> ...Peter Anderson at: http://www.phanderson.com will be back and
> can process an order for his PIC16F84 starter package:
> http://www.phanderson.com/PIC/picstart.html
That's a tried and proven way to go. OTOH, chances are you already
have all the hardware you need--a Stamp, PC and +5 volt power
supply--to roll your own "starter package" if you use the new, low
programming voltage PICs such as a PIC16F876.
You can build the PIC program on your PC using Microchip's free
MPASM assembler. A simple interface program between your PC and Stamp
can feed the .hex file generated by MPASM in small pieces to your
Stamp, which can then easily handle the PIC programming protocol and
logic.
You could fill up all that wasted free space on your hard drive with
the datasheets, application notes and other info available from the
Microchip web site.
This gets you in the PIC programming door for little more than the
price of a PIC. If there's interest I can put together more details
and some quick and dirty PC (DOS only, for now) and Stamp programs
that work.
Now if we can just persuade Prof. Anderson to carry the '876/'877...
Regards,
Steve
Comments
S Parkis wrote:
>
> On 29 Jun 01 at 16:28, Kevin Olalde wrote:
>
> > ...Peter Anderson at: http://www.phanderson.com will be back and
> > can process an order for his PIC16F84 starter package:
> > http://www.phanderson.com/PIC/picstart.html
>
> That's a tried and proven way to go. OTOH, chances are you already
> have all the hardware you need--a Stamp, PC and +5 volt power
> supply--to roll your own "starter package" if you use the new, low
> programming voltage PICs such as a PIC16F876.
Yep agreed, and now that I've used the PIC16F84, it's easy to understand the
benfits of the 16F8xx line. But, IMHO, even though the PIC16F84 is showing its
age (and needs a higher voltage Vpp), there are still numerous 'getting started'
projects and books that target this chip. There's something to be said for
'tried and proven' when you're just starting out.
> You can build the PIC program on your PC using Microchip's free
> MPASM assembler. A simple interface program between your PC and Stamp
> can feed the .hex file generated by MPASM in small pieces to your
> Stamp, which can then easily handle the PIC programming protocol and
> logic.
Sounds interesting, but I wouldn't want to tie up my Stamp programming a PIC,
when other cheaper routes are available.
> You could fill up all that wasted free space on your hard drive with
> the datasheets, application notes and other info available from the
> Microchip web site.
Not sure I follow, how could I free up hard drive space?
> This gets you in the PIC programming door for little more than the
> price of a PIC. If there's interest I can put together more details
> and some quick and dirty PC (DOS only, for now) and Stamp programs
> that work.
Again, not sure I'm following you line of thinking.
> Now if we can just persuade Prof. Anderson to carry the '876/'877...
He does carry them. He also carries the PIC16F628 (also has LVP), but you'll
have to wait a few more weeks to check.
Have a good one,
Kevin
> MPASM assembler. A simple interface program between your PC and Stamp
> can feed the .hex file generated by MPASM in small pieces to your
> Stamp, which can then easily handle the PIC programming protocol and
> logic.
For the record, this is what the APP-I
(http://www.al-williams.com/awce/app1.htm) does. It has nice Windows
software that will drive a Stamp or the Ludipipo protocol (16C84/16F84
only). Actually, you should be able to coax it to program a 16F877 with a
boot loader, but I haven't tried it myself.
You can get the kit from us, or if you have Microcontroller Projects with
Basic Stamps (http://www.al-williams.com/awce/sbook.htm) you get the
schematic and the software for free (you have to provide a handful of
Radio-Shack parts).
From our point of view, we wanted a way to make the Stamp program the PIC
because we have breadboard adapters that connect to the Stamp so you can
wire up a breadboard with a Stamp and a PIC and program the PIC "in circuit"
so to speak. Also, since the cabling is the same as the Stamp, you don't
have all the long cable/bad serial port problems you have with Ludipipo and
other simple programmers.
Speaking of bad serial ports, if your serial port puts out enough voltage
(99% of them do, but some old laptops took shortcuts) you can drive the
programmer from the serial port voltage. We show you how, but we don't
promise it will work. I haven't tried it on a PC yet that didn't work.
Otherwise, you do need a 12 or 13V supply.
Have fun!
Al Williams
AWC
* Floating point math for the Stamp, PIC, SX, or any microcontroller
http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm