Hello Group,

I would like to learn how to program microcontrollers, but I don't
know which one to pick for starters. I am overwhelmed with the great
variety of manufacturers and technologies on the market. Could
someone, please, recommend something simple and cheap? Even a
microcontroller that would flash a few LED's in response to a button
pressed would be great for me. Thank you.

Stan

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The pic parts are a good choice.

There are also lots of discussion groups about this part and lots of
free shcematics for building programmers for it, books (I think one
is called Easy Pic'n), high level languages etc. Search for the pic
list archives or any discussion groups that cater to the PIC
microcontrollers. There is a Linux support community as well as
Windows support from Microchip. The Windows support includes a whole
integrated development environment with a software simulator and
programmer support all for free. Just download it from
www.microchip.com; I think it is called MPLab unless they have
changed the name of it. You can run your code on the simulator
before you even put it in the device. It works well and helps in
debugging.


--- In Electronics_101@y..., Mounir Shita <mshita@c...> wrote:

I would go for PIC16F84A from Microchip:

-Flash part
-Only 33 instructions to learn
-Small and very easy to program

Mounir

-----Original Message-----
From: Stan [mailto:stan888f@y...]
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 4:45 PM
To: Electronics_101@y...
Subject: [Electronics_101] programmable microcontrollers


Hello Group,

I would like to learn how to program microcontrollers, but I don't
know which one to pick for starters. I am overwhelmed with the

great

variety of manufacturers and technologies on the market. Could
someone, please, recommend something simple and cheap? Even a
microcontroller that would flash a few LED's in response to a

button

pressed would be great for me. Thank you.

Stan




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Start with the Microchip PIC16F84. It has EEPROM (flash memory) so you don't need a UV lamp to erase it. They're also about $5 each from Jameco or Digikey.

The book I recommended in a previous post is good for beginners. If you already know electronics and programming I would also recommend Myke Predko's "Programming and Customizing PICmicro Microcontrollers".

The programming hardware for this chip is simple to make with spare parts and the resources online detailing such programmers are numerous. There are also many inexpensive kits available.

-Mike


"Stan" <stan888f@...>:

I would like to learn how to program microcontrollers, but I don't
know which one to pick for starters. I am overwhelmed with the great
variety of manufacturers and technologies on the market. Could
someone, please, recommend something simple and cheap? Even a
microcontroller that would flash a few LED's in response to a button
pressed would be great for me. Thank you.

Stan

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at

I would recommend the PIC16F877. Because of it's LVP (Low
Voltage Programming) it can be programmed by using only a
parallel port, 1 resistor and 1 transistor. The programmer is
called the 2Bit. You can search the internet for "2bit AND 16F877"
to find more info.

Another great feature is the ability to modify program memory
through software on the PIC itself. This makes it possible to load
a memory resident boot loader, so that you can program the
entire mcu through a serial port in a few seconds.

The 16F877 has 33 I/O ports, which should be enough for about
any application, and 8k of flash memory. It also features an
8-channel 16-bit A/D converter, a USART module, I2C and SPI in
hardware and lots more.

Visit www.microchip.com and download the 16F877 datasheet
for more info.

(For info on the 2Bit programmer, go to
, and visit
. Enter the bulletin board on
microcontrollers and search for "2bit". You could also e-mail me
at etiennekruger@...)

Etienne Kruger

I would recommend the PIC16F877. Because of it's LVP (Low
Voltage Programming) it can be programmed by using only a
parallel port, 1 resistor and 1 transistor. The programmer is
called the 2Bit. You can search the internet for "2bit AND 16F877"
to find more info.

Another great feature is the ability to modify program memory
through software on the PIC itself. This makes it possible to load
a memory resident boot loader, so that you can program the
entire mcu through a serial port in a few seconds.

The 16F877 has 33 I/O ports, which should be enough for about
any application, and 8k of flash memory. It also features an
8-channel 16-bit A/D converter, a USART module, I2C and SPI in
hardware and lots more.

Visit www.microchip.com and download the 16F877 datasheet
for more info.

(For info on the 2Bit programmer, go to
, and visit
. Enter the bulletin board on
microcontrollers and search for "2bit". You could also e-mail me
at etiennekruger@...)

Etienne Kruger

Hello,

For the microcontroller, you can use the Intel 8052
programmable chip for this purpose.Its easy to program
the chip.

Salman
--- henrry <henrry@...> wrote:

Hi..

Usually I am using AT89C51/AT89C52 from Atmel Corp.
AT89c51 itself has :
- ROM 4kbytes
- RAM 128 bytes

AT89c52 itself has :
- ROM 8kbytes
- RAM 256 bytes

But first you must make the writer for the atmel to
program the chip. I dont know if there is any linux
program to support this chip (such as simulation and
atmel writer).
Any idea ?

Thx

henrry

----- Original Message -----
From: Stan
To: Electronics_101@...
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 6:44 AM
Subject: [Electronics_101] programmable
microcontrollers


Hello Group,

I would like to learn how to program
microcontrollers, but I don't
know which one to pick for starters. I am
overwhelmed with the great
variety of manufacturers and technologies on the
market. Could
someone, please, recommend something simple and
cheap? Even a
microcontroller that would flash a few LED's in
response to a button
pressed would be great for me. Thank you.

Stan



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d,

Start with the Microchip PIC16F84. It has EEPROM (flash memory) so you
don't need a UV lamp to erase it.

I'm trying to envision writing the software for this chip. I assume you need
some kind of development tool where the program is stored until it is running as
intended, this would have to include an interface with the chip so the program
can be dumped to it. As I said I have never used a PIC device. I couldn't
imagine anything that I might do with it that I couldn't write assembly for it.

Jim

Jim,

The software to program the PIC or the program itself?

Microchip has made available for free the development software that you write your assembly program in - it's great, you can do all the good debug/simulation stuff in it. It compiles to a common format hex file.

The programming software (you can use Microchip's, but it works almost exclusively with their programming hardware) takes the hex file and writes it to the chip's EEPROM (or EPROM).

The development software is free and programmers and programmer software can be had for cheap or free.

PICs are great, because they give you computer control in a circuit with just one chip...that doesn't require anything but a 5V source (some run on less).

So many applications.

-Mike

d,

Start with the Microchip PIC16F84. It has EEPROM (flash memory) so you
don't need a UV lamp to erase it.

I'm trying to envision writing the software for this chip. I assume you need
some kind of development tool where the program is stored until it is running as
intended, this would have to include an interface with the chip so the program
can be dumped to it. As I said I have never used a PIC device. I couldn't
imagine anything that I might do with it that I couldn't write assembly for it.

Jim

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at

Jim,

The software to program the PIC or the program itself?

Microchip has made available for free the development software that you
write your assembly program in - it's great, you can do all the good
debug/simulation stuff in it. It compiles to a common format hex file.

The programming software (you can use Microchip's, but it works almost
exclusively with their programming hardware) takes the hex file and writes
it to the chip's EEPROM (or EPROM).

The development software is free and programmers and programmer software can
be had for cheap or free.

PICs are great, because they give you computer control in a circuit with
just one chip...that doesn't require anything but a 5V source (some run on
less).

So many applications.

-Mike

d,

Start with the Microchip PIC16F84. It has EEPROM (flash memory) so you
don't need a UV lamp to erase it.

I'm trying to envision writing the software for this chip. I assume you need
some kind of development tool where the program is stored until it is running as
intended, this would have to include an interface with the chip so the program
can be dumped to it. As I said I have never used a PIC device. I couldn't
imagine anything that I might do with it that I couldn't write assembly for it.

Jim

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at

d,

The software to program the PIC or the program itself?

Oh, so the device is always a heartbeat away from it's father. :-)
Interesting idea. I should think then that most programs are far
smaller than the development system on the chip.

write your assembly program in - it's great, you can do all the good
debug/simulation stuff in it. It compiles to a common format hex file.

Assembly, OK, I think I keep getting the Stamp and the Pic confused.
I was thinking BASIC. And of course the final program has to be binary
rather than hex doesn't it. Does a HEX file have any meaning in this
case?

Jim

Jim,

The software to program the PIC or the program itself?

Oh, so the device is always a heartbeat away from it's father. :-)
Interesting idea. I should think then that most programs are far
smaller than the development system on the chip.

I'm not sure what you meant by this, but, once programmed, the PIC can be placed in its own circuit to perform its duties - its program stays in its EEPROM (or EPROM) and will start running once power is applied. Most PICs can even be programmed in-circuit.

Assembly, OK, I think I keep getting the Stamp and the Pic confused.
I was thinking BASIC. And of course the final program has to be binary
rather than hex doesn't it. Does a HEX file have any meaning in this
case?

Stamps actually use surface-mount PICs. They also have a BASIC interpreter on board. And they run slower and are more expensive than PICs.

PICs can indeed be programmed in BASIC (PICbasic) - if you want to pay for it - although most people I've run into who work with them just program in assembly (the software is free!).

The hex file is generated from the development software. I'm not sure if this is a standard, but it sure is the common practice. The programmer then takes it, converts it to op-code (binary), and writes it to the PIC.

It's pretty seemless, though. My setup works like this:

1) I write the program in MPLAB (Microchip's dev. software).
2) I compile it, which creates a hex file (after I've eliminated bugs).
3) I run the programming software, which takes the hex file, converts it to binary and writes it to the PIC, which is sitting in the programmer connected to the parallel port of my PC.
4) I take the PIC out of the programmer and put it on my breadboard for experimenting, or into the final circuit.

When power is applied to the PIC it does whatever the program is supposed to do.

If I wanted to I could even program the PIC without removing it from its circuit. This makes it very easy to update.

-Mike



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Tom,

BASIC Stamps have their purpose I suppose, but $34 per chip is expensive. Compared to $5 for a PIC with more features and greater speed.

Stamps actually contain PICs. Their expense is due to making the programming of them easy for beginners. I'd only recommend them for someone who has never programmed computers before.

-Mike

From: "yahoo" <yahoo@...>

Stan,
I don't know what kind of computer languages you know or what you consider cheap but the Basic Stamp modules by Parallax are what I started with recently. They are programmed in PBasic and are avalible at www.parallaxinc.com. The modules consist of an interpreter chip, a resonator, and an EEPROM chip. A basic stamp 1 module has 8 I/O's and is $34 and a basic stamp 2 module has 16 I/O's and start at $49. They have starter kits that cost more which include a stamp module, instruction manual, and a parallel or serial cable to contect the stamp to a PC, although I just bought the module since the software and documentation to program them is avalible for free download at their web site. They also sell individual parts to build your own basic stamp modules.

Tom

----- Original Message -----
From: Stan
To: Electronics_101@...
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 7:44 PM
Subject: [Electronics_101] programmable microcontrollers


Hello Group,

I would like to learn how to program microcontrollers, but I don't
know which one to pick for starters. I am overwhelmed with the great
variety of manufacturers and technologies on the market. Could
someone, please, recommend something simple and cheap? Even a
microcontroller that would flash a few LED's in response to a button
pressed would be great for me. Thank you.

Stan



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