Hi Dom Thanks for the code - I'm sure it'll come in useful. I had a look on eBay - there's one going for =A369 at the moment - a bit = pricey for me at the moment, but I'll keep looking. Do you know about the K8048 that Maplin are selling? I'll have a look at the web site you give too. Thanks Mark > -----Original Message----- > From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu=20 > [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu]On Behalf > Of Dominic Stratten > Sent: 04 October 2004 11:37 > To: 'Microcontroller discussion list - Public.' > Subject: RE: [PIC] Newbie help getting started >=20 >=20 > For a beginner I'd recommend getting something like a=20 > secondhand Picstart > Plus off Ebay. Also consider the excellent WISP from Wouter=20 > (www.voti.nl off > the top of my head). >=20 > When I started off I used a homebuilt programmer and I spent more time > messing around getting the programmer working properly than I=20 > did actually > programming. >=20 > The RS232 can be a little hit and miss and don't forget to=20 > use a MAX232 to > convert the signals from TTL logic to "proper" RS232. >=20 > I've recently used the 18F1220/1320 for a couple of projects=20 > (including my > now infamous washing machine controller) without any=20 > problems. I'll send you > a zip file with all the code (including VB for talking to the=20 > PIC). It's a > bit messy but works fine (I wasn't planning on ever releasing=20 > the code). >=20 > For =A340-=A350 you'll get a decent secondhand Picstart if you=20 > bide your time on > Ebay. >=20 > Regards > Dom >=20 > -----Original Message----- > From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu=20 > [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of > Mcgee, Mark > Sent: 04 October 2004 10:38 > To: 'piclist@mit.edu' > Subject: [PIC] Newbie help getting started >=20 > I apologise for this noddy question, but I've searched the=20 > FAQ,and now I'm > more confused than ever - there just seems to be too many=20 > options available! >=20 > I've just discovered the PIC chip, and I want to use it to=20 > produce an RS232 > output from a temperature controller (Maplin, UK model number=20 > FE33L - fyi), > which outputs a 13-bit proprietary BCD sequence which lasts=20 > 18ms, every 15 > seconds. >=20 > I did find some RS-232 code snippets in the archive, which=20 > should be useful, > but I suspect I may need some help with the input side of things... >=20 > But first things first! >=20 > I've downloaded MPLAB, but I'm not sure how I should go about=20 > programming > the chip. This is a bit of a one-off project for now, so I=20 > don't really > want to start spending =A3100's on equipment. Is there an easy=20 > DIY serial > interface (to PC) circuit I can make? >=20 > I did see a "K8048 PIC Microcontroller Programmer Kit"=20 > available from Maplin > at =A324.99 - which seems pretty reasonable - is this any good?=20 > Is there > anything else I'd need to add to the kit or is it all=20 > inclusive? (I assume > a serial cable!) >=20 > Software wise, I've been reading the John McDonough tutorials, and he > mentions using an application called FPP which I can't seem to find > reference to on the FAQ. Or is there a better alternative? >=20 > A bit about my history - I'm a computer programmer (C++), I've also > programmed in 'C', and Z80, 6502, 68000 and 8086 assembler in=20 > the past, so > the programming doesn't cause me too much concern. >=20 > Many thanks > Mark McGee >=20 > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > =3D=3D > This message is for the sole use of the intended recipient.=20 > If you received > this message in error please delete it and notify us. If this=20 > message was > misdirected, CSFB does not waive any confidentiality or=20 > privilege. CSFB > retains and monitors electronic communications sent through=20 > its network. > Instructions transmitted over this system are not binding on=20 > CSFB until they > are confirmed by us. Message transmission is not guaranteed=20 > to be secure. > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > =3D=3D >=20 >=20 > _______________________________________________ > http://www.piclist.com > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >=20 >=20 > _______________________________________________ > http://www.piclist.com > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >=20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D This message is for the sole use of the intended recipient. If you receiv= ed this message in error please delete it and notify us. If this message = was misdirected, CSFB does not waive any confidentiality or privilege. CS= FB retains and monitors electronic communications sent through its networ= k. Instructions transmitted over this system are not binding on CSFB unti= l they are confirmed by us. Message transmission is not guaranteed to be = secure. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D _______________________________________________ http://www.piclist.com View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist