[Lowfer] PIC PROGRAMMER QUESTION

[C. Turner]

For many of the PICs, simple serial-port programmers were easily done - 
but since "true" serial ports are becoming rarer these days, an 
inexpensive USB-based programmer is probably more convenient.

One of the more popular nearly-universal programmers is the venerable 
Picstart Plus (mine was made in '96 and it's still working, having 
upgraded it once and replaced the ZIF socket...) but at $200, you'll 
probably have to be pretty serious about this "Pic" stuff!  The Picstart 
Plus still uses a serial port, but I've had little trouble with 
USB<>Serial adapters.

If you Google "inexpensive pic usb programmer" you'll get a plethora of 
cheaper options ranging from a $40-ish on up:  I've not had experience 
with those other devices, but Google will quickly weed out those that 
have "problems."

What to program with?  Since the late 90's, I've used the CCS 
C-compiler, having originally cut my teeth on PIC assembly years 
earlier.  Now that I have been at it for a while, I can hash out a 
pic-based project quite quickly, taking advantage of many of the pic's 
built-in peripherals in some rather odd ways.

If you satisfied with assembly, Microchip itself offers free development 
tools and libraries and even some limited-capability free C compilers 
for some of their devices.

For very simple projects - such as the QRSS3 keyer used on my "CT" 
MedFER beacon - I use an 8-pin PIC to key it.  Just 3 pins (Gnd, +5V and 
Output) of the 8 are used and the code is simply a set of "delay" 
statements between "0" and "1" commands to form the cadence of the Morse 
ID:  The PIC's own internal oscillator is used (accurate to a couple of 
percent) so there's not even a crystal:  It's pretty cool to have a tiny 
computer sitting there doing its thing, using fewer external parts than 
it would take to use a 555!

More complex projects include generating PSK31, DF gear, some DSP audio 
filtering (some of it using an 8-pin PIC) as well as using a PIC itself 
as the DDS signal reference for the LO of a homebrew VHF Weather 
Satellite receiver - all done in C.

So, it depends all on what you are planning to do with it.  For 
starters, a favorite PIC chip of mine is the 18-pin PIC16F88, as it has 
quite a bit of memory (a relative term, of course) and lots of 
peripherals (I2C, PWM, UART, A/D converter, onboard CPU clock if you 
don't want to use a crystal, EEPROM, etc.) - and it's relatively cheap, 
especially if you buy them in bulk (25 at a time.)

73,

Clint
KA7OEI

Charlie , W5COV wrote:
> Hi All ,
>
> I am a total and complete newbie to the world of programming PIC's . 
>
> However it is now time for me to learn to program them , so I can move forward from my discrete and TTL circuits .
>
> What programmer and what software do you recommend ? I want something that I can start out doing the basics with and then keep using the same equipment as I advance in my skills . I don't want anything proprietary either . I am looking for something that is as universal as possible , without breaking the bank .
>
> Any other tips , hints and tricks you can pass along for either the software or hardware would be greatly appreciated .
>
> Also what chips should I order to keep on hand , just in case I manage to let the good smoke out of one of them . <grin>  
>
> CV is off of the air and will be for a few weeks , while I do some much needed receive system upgrades .
>
> Also Saturday morning at 3:30 a.m , with no warning  , my home took a direct hit of measured 100 MPH winds , equal according to the NWS , to an EF0 to EF1 Micro Burst Tornado . So we are busy with cleanup and repairs for a couple of weeks .
>
> THANKS IN ADVANCE !!
>
> Charlie , W5COV
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