I'm afraid I don=92t know much about any of the programmers that Maplins = are selling. I know someone who bought one and after frying a few Pics manage= d to get it almost working then gave up altogether and concentrated on engi= nes rather than electronics ;) Regards Dom=20 -----Original Message----- From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf = Of Mcgee, Mark Sent: 04 October 2004 11:56 To: 'Microcontroller discussion list - Public.' Subject: RE: [PIC] Newbie help getting started 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 > [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. CSFB retains and monitors electronic communications sent through its network. Instructions transmitted over this system are not binding on CSFB until t= hey 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 _______________________________________________ http://www.piclist.com View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist