Post by thread:Beginner

Hello, I am a begginner with PIC and microcontrollers. I wanted to start simple and easy with the basic stamp 1, the Rev. D edition (it's cheaper) Money is a big issue.I easly have $40 american. For which I can buy one Stamp Rev. D (or the couple other copy's) However I would have to spend $80 for a beginners kit. Now, I can easilly make the programming cable (as long as it's just wires right? not fancy circuitry in the cable box) I know that all the extra info provided with the kit can easilly be downloaded. So what I wanted to know, was 1.) do you have a list of what I need to download, to compensate for the kit. 2.) do you have something that describes the cable schematics so I can make my own? 3.) anything else that I might have to worry about? keep in mind? I'm sorry to bother you but $80 dollars is signifigantly more than pleasent, easpecially when all the documentation is downloadable for free and the only other thing is the programing cable, and the stamp itself is $34.00. With the money I save I could buy TWO stamps or a fancy serial LCD (neato!) Thanks for your time. \ Dennison

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Hello to all, it�s my first message.

I �m a beginner in PIC devices (and microcontrollers in general, too), and I need help to understand some things:

1) Which is the difference in using language directives of MPASM (like conditional assembly : if, while loops; data directives; macro directives; etc.) in place of portion code that can be made with the instructions of the set ?. Is any efficience difference ?

2) In case of using the language directives, in Eg: wait macro; How much time takes each languaje directive? (In clock cycles, in order to calculate the total time of retard of the macro).

3)Which are all the data types availables?. I think they are: integer (hexa,bin,dec,octal) , char. But I�m not sure. (Are the data type 'vector' included ?; I �ve read a publication that works with 'vectors', but can�t understand it).

4) Which is the way to compile code to create macro libraries, and then refer to a librarie in the code of a program who use macros of the librarie ?.

5) Which is the net effect of the ORG directive ? .

Thank You, please excuse my bad english language, and have nice day.

Sebastian Garcia.
sgarcia@fi.uba.ar
Buenos Aires.
Republica Argentina.

I had not even heard about this book before but.... Read this: PIC: Your Personal Introductory Course "Is a beginners guide for the PIC microcontroller ,published by Butterworth-Heinnemman and released on May 4/98. Packed with examples it takes the NOVICE through step by step exploring all the complex aspects of the device. Also useful for experienced users it has appendices full of quick reference information , as well of plenty of projects PCBs (may be ordered )" http://members.aol.com/LearnPIC/PIC.html __________________ Beginners Guide to the Microchip PIC - Rev 3.0 Comprehensive introduction to the PIC, how it works and how to use it. The book follows a basic flowchart used in production development.... http://www.bluebird-electronics.co.uk/books.html Has someone had experience with those books ? Any Comments are welcome. At 12:23 PM 11/16/98 +1000, you wrote: {Quote hidden}>Hi all, >I'm a FAE in Melbourne Australia and I've had an inquiry from a little old >man who wants a book to help him program Pics. I'm aware there are a few >good books to help with this but are there any that help some one who has >never programmed anything before????? >Even the concept of a flow chart is beyond his experience. >Can anyone help me here with a suggestion????? >Thanks >Dale > >

part 0 518 bytes I would suggest he downloads the Stamp 1 manual from parallaxinc.com. If after reading it, if he decides to take this road, his options are to buy the preprogramed stamp's (16c54) or a compiler like PBC and program the PIC's of his choice Peter Cousens email: spam_OUTcousensTakeThisOuTher.forthnet.gr phone: + 3081 380534 snailmail: Folia, Agia Fotini, Karteros, Heraklion Crete, Greece. We cannot blame God for creating a World with so many problems, He had just upgraded from win3.11 to win95. No wonder Eve recommended Apple.

> I'm a FAE in Melbourne Australia and I've had an inquiry from a little old > man who wants a book to help him program Pics. I'm aware there are a few > good books to help with this but are there any that help some one who has > never programmed anything before????? > Even the concept of a flow chart is beyond his experience. > Can anyone help me here with a suggestion????? I'd suggest that he start with a BASIC Stamp. The manual is excellent, there are plenty of examples available and lots of support. BASIC is certainly easier to learn than assembler for someone who has *no* experience with a CPU or computer concepts. Once comfortable with that, then I'd start him off on Easy PIC'n and a good, simple programmer like the EPIC Plus. Mark Hillier President, HVW Technologies .....MarkKILLspam@spam@HVWTech.com Tel:(403)730-8603 Fax:(403)730-8903 Visit our web site: http://www.hvwtech.com

Bonnie Mohnsen wrote: > As a beginner which 8-bit microcontroller do you suggest I start with? > Bonnie Bonnie - - Deciding where to begin and how to proceed is dependent upon your starting point. Do you have any programming experience: in BASIC? in C? in assembler? Do you have any electronics experience: Ohm's Law? digital circuits? analog circuits? If you have little or no experience, then the BASIC Stamp is a good starting point. Here are a couple of links: http://www.phanderson.com/stamp/ http://www.parallaxinc.com/home.htm I recommend Prof. Anderson's BS2 Starter Kit and Scott Edwards' book, "Programming & Customizing the BASIC Stamp Computer". If you have more experience, then a PIC would be a good choice. The 16F84 is a good starter. http://www.phanderson.com/PIC/ http://www.microchip.com/ I recommend David Benson's books, "Easy PIC'n" and "PIC'n up the Pace" if you are short on experience, else if you have more experience then I recommend Myke Predko's "Programming & Customizing the PIC Microcontroller" and David Benson's "PIC'n Techniques, PIC Microcontroller Applications Guide". If you have a lot of experience, then the 68HC11 might be a good place to start. fleming0.flemingc.on.ca/~pspasov/mcu/mcu.htm http://www.hooked.net/~jfong/public/ www.rdrop.com/~marvin/botboard/botboard.htm el.http://www.media.mit.edu/projects/handy-board/ Peter Spasov's "Microcontroller Technology" is good and Joseph Greenfield's "The 68HC11 Microcontroller" is very good. The Motorola manuals (free) are indispensable. Good luck, and enjoy, - - - Nick - - -

If you start with the Stamps you can easily switch to the PICs using the PicBasic Compiler. Or just start with PicBasic. I also have beginners kit for the 16F84. Check it out at: http://www.elproducts.com ---Nick Taylor <ntaylorKILLspamINAME.COM> wrote: > > Bonnie Mohnsen wrote: > > As a beginner which 8-bit microcontroller do you suggest I start with? {Quote hidden}> > Bonnie > > Bonnie - - > Deciding where to begin and how to proceed is dependent upon your > starting point. Do you have any programming experience: in BASIC? > in C? in assembler? Do you have any electronics experience: Ohm's > Law? digital circuits? analog circuits? > > If you have little or no experience, then the BASIC Stamp is a good > starting point. Here are a couple of links: > http://www.phanderson.com/stamp/ > http://www.parallaxinc.com/home.htm > I recommend Prof. Anderson's BS2 Starter Kit and Scott Edwards' > book, "Programming & Customizing the BASIC Stamp Computer". > > If you have more experience, then a PIC would be a good choice. The > 16F84 is a good starter. > http://www.phanderson.com/PIC/ > http://www.microchip.com/ > I recommend David Benson's books, "Easy PIC'n" and "PIC'n up the > Pace" if you are short on experience, else if you have more experience > then I recommend Myke Predko's "Programming & Customizing the PIC > Microcontroller" and David Benson's "PIC'n Techniques, PIC > Microcontroller Applications Guide". > > If you have a lot of experience, then the 68HC11 might be a good place > to start. > fleming0.flemingc.on.ca/~pspasov/mcu/mcu.htm > http://www.hooked.net/~jfong/public/ > www.rdrop.com/~marvin/botboard/botboard.htm > el.http://www.media.mit.edu/projects/handy-board/ > Peter Spasov's "Microcontroller Technology" is good and Joseph > Greenfield's "The 68HC11 Microcontroller" is very good. The Motorola > manuals (free) are indispensable. > > Good luck, and enjoy, > - - - Nick - - - > == Chuck Hellebuyck Electronic Products .....chuckKILLspam.....elproducts.com *****Program PICs in BASIC Special!********* Complete 16F84 package for only $115.95 Includes: Compiler, EPIC Programmer, 16F84 PIC, Cable & Batteries http://www.elproducts.com _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

> Bonnie Mohnsen wrote: > > As a beginner which 8-bit microcontroller do you suggest I start with? > > Bonnie > If you have more experience, then a PIC would be a good choice. The > 16F84 is a good starter. > http://www.phanderson.com/PIC/ > http://www.microchip.com/ > I recommend David Benson's books, "Easy PIC'n" and "PIC'n up the > Pace" if you are short on experience, else if you have more experience > then I recommend Myke Predko's "Programming & Customizing the PIC > Microcontroller" and David Benson's "PIC'n Techniques, PIC > Microcontroller Applications Guide". To add one more option: consider one of the free 16f84 languages, for instance my JAL compiler. The documentation includes a few examples which can get you started. I also have a real beginners course but that is all in Dutch.... Wouter. http://www.xs4all.nl/~wf/wouter/pic/jal

In message <EraseME36F61A56.AF851D95spam_OUTTakeThisOuTearthlink.net>, Bonnie Mohnsen <bmohnsenspam_OUTEARTHLINK.NET> writes >As a beginner which 8-bit microcontroller do you suggest I start with? > PIC's are great..... As to which one, cost is important as well as complexity. If you were earning a living from this I would suggest you first have a problem, then find a chip to solve it. I had previous experience with OLD stuff but needed up to 10 inputs, 14 outputs and at least 2 A/D inputs for machine control with minimum board count. I went for 16C74 first. The real world is the best place to learn. Otherwise it becomes 'assume this or that - or it does not matter, I will change the spec' Failing a real problem, go for the cheapest chips and programming system but try to keep to your original specification. Keep pedalling -- Ron Dickinson Compusolve Business Systems 22 Crown Street, Clowne, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S43 4DN, England Tel & Fax : 01246 - 570281