> ground rail and kind of mimic the button being pressed on
> the pickit

I'm not familiar with how the PICKit is used. Presumably it
interfaces with MPLAB ?

> I was hoping this would then make the led on the kit jump just
> like when I press the button. This would then tell me it works.
> -So far I am happy with the led lighting up !!!!!!

Can't argue with happy. Do you have a breadboard ? Good idea
to get one if not. A small one will do. Radio Shack have a few that
look right (I've never bought from them, check suitability)

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=breadboard&origkw=bre
adboard&sr=1

Catalog #: 276-169
Catalog #: 276-175
Catalog #: 276-174

What's your power supply ?

> I am looking at a lcd display but cannot find a Hitachi one as
> recommended on some Pic sites. I was hoping My local Shack
> would carry them but they do not, so Digikey or Farnell I guess,
> but this may be down the line as the only thing I get quickly is
> confused

Ideally, and there's no reason why it shouldn't be, the code would
be "simple" enough to programme straight into a circuit. When/if the
LCD code is working then that can be your monitor as to what's
going on inside the PIC. Most LCDs are Hitachi compatible, so
getting an actual Hitachi brand isn't necessary. Whatever you find,
just check into it on the web, but I'd have thought anything out of
Mouser or Digikey would be OK

Looks like your Radio Shack has gone the way of my Dick Smith
Electronics. DSE stopped selling LCDs a few months back, much
to my annoyance

DSE's catch-phrase is "That's Where You Go". Well, not anymore
it isn't. Radio Shack's "Do Stuff" should be "Oh, Just Buy Stuff"

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