My original PICUART.ASM was the direct result of my own
experience (and initial frustration) in trying to get the
uart to work properly. Once I had figured out all the
nitty gritty details I thought to myself "How is the
average person using the uart for the first time supposed to
know all this stuff?" Much of it was counter-intuitive, and
the Microchip manuals left as much out as they explained.
So I decided to share the fruits of my experience with
others by accumulating all the information into a combination
program/tutorial that covered even such details as the
required pc connector pinouts and wiring.

The effort appears to have been useful to many people, and
that gives me great joy.

As to updating PICUART, that is a good idea. There should be
a version that specifically covers interrupt driven routines.
If there are additional issues that need to be faced with some
of the newer PICs, then there should be a version that directly
addresses that issue, not just a tack-on to the existing
PICUART.

However, as many of you may recall, two years ago the school that
I had taught electronics at for 25 years closed. With its
closure I lost access to all the tools and equipment and parts
that belonged to the school that allowed me to DO all my electronics.

I did try to put aside some basic equipment so I could later
continue my own personal journey in the world of electronics.
Bill Cuono was kind enough to allow me to store the boxes with
this stuff in his basement since then. (In Paterson, NJ)

The year after the school closed I took a year off from teaching
and spent time in Canada working in a parish. All I took with
me was a portable computer and a bag with some clothes. Just
what I could carry on the plane. For that year I did no electronics
at all (except for some simple repair jobs, nothing more than
a screwdriver and soldering iron for tools).

Then I was assigned to Archbishop Shaw High School, Marrero, Louisiana.
I now teach courses in Multimedia, Web Site Publishing, and Advanced
Placement Computer Science using the Java language, and am technology
coordinator for the school.

When I got here I arrived with my portable computer and by bag of
clothes. Since then I have managed to scrounge up a few simple
tools, about $50 worth, enough to repair and build computer systems.

I recently emailed Bill Cuono and have asked him to ship me
some of the "stuff" that he is storing in his basement for me.
I have done a few little odd jobs and managed to make $200 to
pay for shipping costs. Soon I should have a power supply,
my prototyping unit, my ICD and two or three PICs, along with
an assortment of resistors and other parts. Tools include my
Dremel MotoTool, nibbler and some handpunches so I can fabricate
enclosures.

Soon I should be able to get back into building
circuits (many using PICs, of course!). Right now I am limited
to only being able to design, but much of the enjoyment is in
the actual building, testing, and improving.

It will take me a bit longer to scrounge up enough money to get
my analog oscilloscope shipped, but that is just a matter of time.

Once I am set up I hope that I might have the time and resources
to check out some of these 18 series PICs and see if the uarts
are easy to use, or need their own PICUART tutorial.

I look forward to contributing again to the PICLIST.

Fr. Tom McGahee





>>
>>> Consider Fr. McGahee's PICUART tutorial/code. A brilliant
>>> example of how to leverage real code to show how the PIC
>>> serial interface works warts and all. Is there a similar 18F
>>> version?
>
>> Note that many newer PICs (such as the current 18F1220/1320
>> and the comming 16F688) uses the new EUSART, with a 16 bit
>> baud rate register. McGahee's code *may* work on those PICs, but
>> if so, not in an optimum way. So if someone doesn't update
>> that tutorial, it will soon be outdated anyway. Search for "EUSART"
>> in the Line Card to get all PICs with that peripherial. I've never
>> seen a specific 18-series version, but much of the tips (but maybe
>> not the code as such) might still be usuable.

>Well Fr. Thomas is back on the list. I'm not sure if he'll volunteer, but
>I certainly hope that he does (hint, hint! ;-)

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body