Get a Picstart+ first of all from Maplins they are around #160 inc vat. It will save you a lot of time and effort programming the Pics and is supported directly from MPLAB. Then buy a shedload of Pics from www.crownhill.co.uk - go for some 16F628's to start with as they have an internal oscillator and are very easy to use. Also look at 16F876 for A2D work and USART. Grab some low end 18F series (I've never used them but a lot of people on here will say to start with them instead of the 16F series). Some MAX232's are always useful and if you want a decent development board, try the Millenium board at Farnell http://uk1.farnell.com/Search/level_5.jhtml?PRODID=5547&SKUID=3532 - I use one myself and its a godsend for quick prototyping. Finally pick up some 3 lead resonators in 4mhz and 20mhz varieties - they are only 0.35ukp each and save a lot of hassle over using xtals ;-) Regards Dom ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mohammed Ibrahim" To: Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 10:59 AM Subject: Newbie Got to spend #250-#300 in 48 hours. > Hi, > I'm absolutely new to pics. I work as an electronics/IT tech. > Gotta spend some money before the end of the budget year. > I do not not have much time to do the research into what I should buy. > What I need basically I think is a starter kit, developement kit and the > chips. Preferably from from RS components CPC Farnell, Maplin > Any other UK based company. If it is the sole supplier. > I am in the UK. I just want to expand my workshop into working with pics. I > hope somebody can direct me . Otherwise, I'm gonna buy the wrong stuff. > > Mohammed > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.