Hi Everyone... I'm brand-new to the list, and have a few questions on
getting started with a a new idea.

A little background:
    My name is Aaron Martin, I'm a 28 yr old Software Engineer with a
passion for RC Helicopters.  My PIC
engineering will be mostly, if not completely, for the advancement of
the RC Helicopter field.  Currently I
am trying to make a real-time carb. adjustment device which needs to
control a servo based on the A/D of
a thermistat.  PICs seem to scream the solution for this one!

What do I need?
    I was wondering if someone could give me a list of things I'll need
to get started...  I've tried calling Microchip,
but I've been given the serious run-around, or end up talking to a sales
person who doesn't even know what a PIC is.

So, I guess for someone to tell me what I need, I'll tell you what my
specifications are:

    I need a few inputs and outputs (say around 5 each), 2 A/D's
(preferably 12 bit or better), I'm going to need a reasonable
amount of ram/rom (256 bytes would be nice, 8 bit chip is fine).  A
couple of programable timers which create an interrupt.
I'll also need a way to program the thing.  I'de like to be able to do
all of this for under $700 bucks.

    So, I was thinking:  A PICDEM-# demo board from Microchip (but I
don't know which one), and I don't know which PIC
I need.  Also, the pic should probably have an EEProm so I don't need a
UV eraser or fancy programmer (I assume I can
program it with a serial cable? True?).


    Any and all advice (including phone #s of recommend places to order
stuff) appreciated,
        Aaron Martin