On Mon, Jun 27, 2005 at 08:35:40PM -0400, Maarten Hofman wrote:
> > Read the datasheet for the PIC16F84 or PIC16F628 (I'd suggest the F628)
> > or if you already have a breadboard/experimenter's kit, read the data
> > sheet for the part on that kit's protoboard.
> 
> I'd seriously recommend AGAINST the PIC16F84A.

Here's why: The 16F84A has virtually no hardware periperal support. So
while it's easy to get started it gets more difficult as you attempt to
do real work.

> I started my PIC
> adventure in May, and because of Myke Predko's book I started with the
> PIC16F84A, but it became clear that was a bad choice in many different
> ways.

Care to list?

> The PIC16F628A is indeed a much better choice (and I'm using it
> at the moment with great success), though if I would start all over, I
> would've chosen the PIC16F88.

Agreed on both choices. The 16F88 has virtually every hardware component
packed into a single 18 pin part. 

> Of course, if you are not afraid of
> 40-pin components, you might want to go for the 16F877A, though I
> haven't yet had any personal experience with that component (I did buy
> one, though).

You may even want to consider stepping up to 18F family too.

> As for coding in MPLAB: use the helpfiles, get a piece of sample code,
> try to get it to compile/assemble, and use the built in debugger to
> see what it does. Myke Predko's book is actually quite useful to learn
> PICmicros, although you need to be an intelligent reader and be aware
> of the various obvious bugs in it.

That must be frustrating for a newbie. I always recommend using the data
sheet and the Family reference manual for the particular part.

BAJ
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