I usualy recomend the "PICkit 2 Starter Kit". The one with an demo board with a PIC16F690. At least in Sweden it has a very good price, aprox half the price of the PICkit3 without demo board. Someone mentioned the 16-bit PIC24 stuff. Well, if your project targets realy are on that level, fine. If not you'd better go with the "standard" PICs. Much more info "on the net" and on diferent forums. What is "SMS" in this context ? Mobile phone text messages? Jan-Erik jana1972@centrum.cz wrote 2011-10-18 15:46: > Thanks all for the replies. > I would like to start with very simple projects such > controlling home gate via SMS > power socket being controlled with SMS > checking movement with PIR > and similar > So, what equipment should I buy? > Thanks > >> On Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 03:12:13PM +0200, jana1972@centrum.cz wrote: >>> Thanks for the replies >>> I checked PickIt3.( assuming it must be better than PICkit2). >>> And it comes with development board( in PICkit 3 Debug Express) >>> >>> But also found out that there are more( different) development boards.W= Hat kind of the >>> development board should I buy ?Which would be the best? >> >> It depends on your needs. Try this. Tell us about the first real project >> you'd like to build. There's a vast array of chips, tools, and languages= , >> and the appropriateness of each really depends on the target. I'll give = you >> an example. One of my most successful projects was a basement light >> controller. It's dead dumb simple: wait for a switch to change indicatin= g >> that the basement door is open. Turn on the lights. Wait for the switch = to close. >> Delay about 90 seconds. Turn off the lights. >> >> Nothing more than a magnetic switch and a relay. I build it about 12 yea= rs >> ago using a 16F84. Programmed in assembly. >> >> However, if I needed something along the lines of reading WAV files for = a >> USB stick, doing some DSP processing on the those files, then playing th= em >> using a DAC, then that part (or language) isn't appropriate for that tas= k. >> >> The point is "best" depends on what you are trying to get done. So tell = us >> what you are trying to do. >> >> BAJ >> >>> >>> Thanks >>> >>> >>>>> Can anyone suggest the best way how to start with PIC programming ? >>>> >>>> Depends what chip you want to start with, and what you want to do with= it. >>>> >>>>> What must I buy and what software download? >>>> >>>> Software to download is MPLAB, which has the assembler, simulator, pro= grammer driving software, and C compilers for a couple of the families. See= http://www.microchip.com/MPLAB for the download link. It is a fair size, a= pproaching 100MB these days, so if on a slow link it will take a little whi= le. >>>> >>>> You will need to buy a programmer, but these are an acceptable price. = A Pickit 2 or Pickit 3 is a good starting point for a beginner. >>>> >>>>> Is there a good tutorial? >>>> >>>> There are tutorials around, I'll let others point you at suitable ones= .. >>>> >>>>> What kind of development kit will I need? >>>> >>>> Check out the Microchip offerings, there are some basic development bo= ards that come packaged with a Pickit2 or Pickit3 IIRC. These tend to be ve= ry good value for getting started. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for help >>>> >>>> You are welcome. >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Scanned by iCritical. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ& list archive >>>> View/change your membership options at >>>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >>> >>> >>> -- >>> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ& list archive >>> View/change your membership options at >>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> >> -- >> Byron A. Jeff >> Department Chair: IT/CS/CNET >> College of Information and Mathematical Sciences >> Clayton State University >> http://cims.clayton.edu/bjeff >> -- >> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ& list archive >> View/change your membership options at >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .