Well let's start with real basics.  Don't be insulted if these questions
seem to simple, some of them trip me up all the time:

1.  Do you have 5VDC on 5V pins of the PIC?  (I can't remember if this PIC
has 1 or 2..)
2. Is the ground pin of the PIC connected to ground? (ditto..Seems like it
has 2 ground pins IIRC)
3. Is the oscillator running?  If you have a scope you should be able to
see a signal on the OSC pins. Using a crystal?
4. Is the PIC plugged in the right way (how many times have I done
this...)
5. I don't  see any code to set up the oscillator, watchdog, powerup
timer, and so on.  This may be the problem
6. Exactly which compiler are you using?  "a freeware version of PICC"
sounds like Hitech PICC, which doesn't use the syntax you are showing for
the include statement.  CCS also calls theirs PICC, generating much
confusion, but I didn't know they had a freeware version.  It makes a
difference what "FUSES" or "CONFIG" statement you need.
7. Is TRISC1 defined as the correct TRIS register location in the header
file?  Check it against the datasheet, I wasn't aware that CCS or Hitech
used this name.

>After days of work and frustration, I though I'd
just give in and ask.

You've only spent days?  Thats not too bad.  If this stuff were easy then
we'd all be doing something else.  Hang in there, but ask earlier it saves
stress.  I've spent days and days solving dumber problems than this.   I
find it pretty common to have "failure to thrive" when I first hook up a
PIC circuit, especially if I have been away from them for a while and
forget some of the simple details.

Electronics teaches patience and humility through hair-pulling.


-- Lawrence Lile





Dan O'Carroll <DocArroll03@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
12/20/2003 06:17 PM
Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list


        To:     PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
        cc:
        Subject:        [PIC]: Newbie - can't get output, using 16F873: Help?


Hi folks,
I'm brand spakin' new to PICs, and I'm hoping for a little help.
Moreover, I'm new to the list, so apologies in advance if I offend.
First, the background: I'm using an Oricom Technologies Sbot28
controller board, with a PIC16F873 chip. I'm writing code in C, compiled
with a free demo of PICC, and developed in MPLAB development
environment. I'm programming the chip with a Microchip PICStart
Programmer.

The problem? No matter what I do or try, I just can't seem to get any
output from my PIC. After days of work and frustration, I though I'd
just give in and ask. Included below is a quick test program I wrote
just to see if I understood what I'm doing (apparently not):

If anyone has any suggestions, tips, tricks, troubleshooting advice,
etc. I'd love to hear back.

Dan (a rank beginner)

#include <PIC1687X.H>   /*Included with PICC*/
#define OUTPUT 0
#define INPUT 1
#define WatchDogTimerClear() asm( "clrwdt")

void main()
{
        ADCON1 = 0x07;          /*switch ports to digital I/O*/
        TRISC1 = OUTPUT;

        RC1 = 1;                        /*PortC, RC1, Pin12 : output
high*/

        while(1)
        {
                WatchDogTimerClear(); /*Clear the Watchdog Timer*/
        }/*end while*/
}/*end main()*/

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