> 1. Does anyone know if PicStart Plus with 2.3 firmware
> and MPLAB 5.3 will program the 18F452?
> I'm just about to install the PicStart 2.3 firmware,
> but the help file that comes with it is sketchy on the
> 18F parts.

Dunno about 2.3, but I installed 3.00 (at least that is what I see
flashing on my screen when MPLAB contacts the PS+), and with that all
the 18F's are listed and I programmed at least one (then I switched to
my own programmer now that it is working for 18f's).

> 2. Is it worth learning the 18F instruction set? I know
> the main use of these chips is for larger projects which
> suit a higher level language, but i'm more interested
> in having the extra processing power especially once the
> 18 and 8 pin 18F chips are obtainable.

I guess you can achieve better code density and speed by using the
specific instructions, for instance conditional branch instead of
skip+goto. But even using them as 16f's (ignore the extra instructions)
I find the 18f's good value for money (more code, more data, more
peripherals, 10 MIPS from a 10 MHz xtal with the *4 PLL).

Wouter van Ooijen

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Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products

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