Geoff Child wrote:
>
> I am a newby to PIC's,the last processor I used was the 6502. I have a
> project which I need a 10 bit A/D and some number crunching. I have
> tentatively picked the 16F873/4/6/7 as it has flash program memory.
> 1. Do I need a programmer or can I just program it in circuit?
>
> 2. I am tying on a ISD Voice Chip onto it and I notice some come with a
> SPI/Microwire interface. What is this and is it messy to program?
>
> 3. I have downloaded MPlab. What else do I need to program? I would prefer
> to program in Basic rather than assembler, is there a shareware or
> inexpensive compiler on the net.

Hi Geoff,
have a look at:
http://www.dontronics.com/pickaxe.html
http://www.dontronics.com/auto.html
http://www.dontronics.com/dt106.html
http://www.dontronics.com/p16pro.html
http://www.dontronics.com/piclinks.html
http://www.dontronics.com/picbasic.html

This will give you a bit of a run around with the 877 and several
basics.
There are some interesting basic compilers around.
I am just adding another freeware one that I was informed of today on
this list, to my piclinks page now.

Don McKenzie  mailto:don@dontronics.com http://www.dontronics.com

Don's Download Dungeon:   http://www.dontronics.com/download.html
Australian Electronics Ring http://www.dontronics.com/aering.html
Win $500USD Cash. Micro design contest:  http://www.simmstick.com