Hi, Thank you all for the help. Sorry I haven't been able to reply sooner as I have been quite busy the past week working 12 hour shifts and trying to meet coursework deadlines, which now seems like a bad idea. I have decided to use the PIC18F4620 and program it in C with the C18 compiler. It will connect to a Basic 20x4 Character LCD from SparkFun, order code LCD-00256. I will also get the Bluetooth module from SparkFun, order code WRL-08461. Actually just as I am writing this I noticed that SparkFun came out with a newer module, WRL-08474, which is cheaper and appears to do the same job. So I might order the newer one, unless anyone can suggest a reason not to. The PIC will be connected to the Bluetooth module using a UART link and the LCD using a parallel link. USART and UART should work together...right? I have chosen a character LCD to keep things simple as I have no experience using them, also there is plenty of information on using Hitachi LCDs in case I get into any trouble. If I have the time in the future I may update it to a graphic LCD. My advisor ok'd the project and I have just handed in a provisional proposal. I also asked him if I could use freely available code for the LCD and he says its fine, so long as I reference it. I am now trying to find a good book on programming the PIC18 in C, I came across a couple that look good: PIC Microcontroller: An Introduction to Software & Hardware Interfacing by Han-Way Huang (Author) and Applying Pic18 Microcontrollers: Architecture, Programming, and Interfacing Using C and Assembly by Barry B. Brey (Author) I will probably get the first one as it has some good reviews on Amazon. Thanks again for the advice, I will be placing the order with SparkFun in the next week and hopefully start the project as soon it arrives. Sami Randy Glenn wrote: > On 9/30/07, Sami Barakat wrote: > >> Now that you know what I am doing here is my question... >> Could anyone recommend which PIC would be appropriate for this project? >> Also would this project be simple enough to program is ASM or would it >> be better to do it in C? Has anyone attempted something like this >> before? If so what components did you use and what problems did you run >> into? Can anyone recommend any good books on this subject? I also want >> to try and use the latest devices to try and keep up with the modern >> day. I am not asking for someone to do this work for me, I am just >> trying to get an idea of where to start. >> > > Hi Sami, > > Having completed my final year project about a year ago, I hope you > can learn from some of my mistakes so that you can make newer, more > interesting ones. > > 1. Use the PIC18F series, the 16Fs are too much to mess with for a > limited-time project like this (unless your supervisor is INCREDIBLY > picky about parts cost) > > 2. Use the largest, most capable PIC that you're comfortable working > with. If you don't do Surface Mount, use the 18F4620. If you're very > handy with SMT, something like the 18F8722/23. It's far easier to have > plenty of space to spare and be able to point out cost savings that > could easily be realized in a future version, than to run out of code > / data space three days before the project is due. Ask me how I know > this :) > > 3. Though the PIC18 instruction set is a bit more extensive than the > 16Fxx, you might want to stick with C18 on this one. You're going to > have tons of other courses with profs who assume you have no other > work to do, so trying to debug and wondering what variable is in which > bank is probably not the best use of your time. > > 4. Character LCDs are rather easy to work with, especially if you use > code that's already available (depending on what your supervisor > allows). Microchip's C18 LCD code works fairly nicely, though I copied > the source files to my project and compiled it that way to more easily > change the I/O pins used. These displays can make bargraphs if you use > custom characters. As for Bluetooth, the SparkFun forums have proven > very helpful to me in the past. > > Good luck, and let us know how it turns out! > > >> Thanks for the help >> Sami >> > > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist