12f675_fuse_about_to_blow!

[LEDave]

Thanks for that mackrackit. I thought I had the right one, easy to make a mistake though.

What do you think on the LCD front then, is this one any good?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20x4-LCD-Modul...#ht_2814wt_957

Or should I order this one from the USA with the free shipping?

http://cgi.ebay.com/HD44780-20X4-Cha...#ht_3109wt_802

Or neither.

Dave

[mackrackit]

From what I can see they look like they are the same?
I am using a phone at the moment so I may not be see everything.

[LEDave]

Well my program disks have arrived

One PICBASICPRO Compiler & a MicroCode Studio plus disk.

I'll install them this evening when I have some time.

Dave

[mackrackit]

Now the fun begins...

[LEDave]

Now the fun begins...

Indeed it does.

Are the two programs fairly straight forward to install?

I guess I need to uninstall the Demo version first.

Dave

[mackrackit]

They should install just like the demo versions did...

What Operating system are you using? 32 or 64 bit?

[LEDave]

XP 32bit.....

[mackrackit]

Should not be a problem then.

[LEDave]

When I get a minute, I'm going to leave the Demo in place and just install the full version over it.

Unless anyone can thing of a reason why I shouldn't do that of course.

Dave

[mackrackit]

Darrel has mentioned having multiple versions of PBP installed. So you may not have to install over but in another place.

[LEDave]

Well, I've now got two working programs installed:

1/ MicroCode Studio Plus - PICBASIC PRO

&

2/ MicroCode Studio - PICBASIC PRO

Tonights silly question: Which one do I use?

Dave

[mackrackit]

I will guess option #1.

You can tell the difference by the chip select drop down box. the full version will have many mor to choose from than the demo.

[LEDave]

Yes loads more chips and no more 31? lines of code exceeded

I've built a circuit today to spell my (and the wifes ) name on a seven segment display using a PIC16F684 PORTA and PORTC, works a treat.

We'll have to get to grips with those LCD's in the near future. In the meantime have a great Easter everyone.

Dave

[rmteo]

Since you are having so much fun with the 7-segment displays and you have a character LCD on the way, think about getting a graphic LCD next. Then you can combine both and do stuff like this.

[Byte_Butcher]

And if you find you have a fondness for the graphic displays, there's always lots of full color displays to choose from.
This one is serial QVGA . (240px x 320px, 65K color, 2.2" diagonal screen)

So many parts to choose from... so little time to read all the data sheets!




steve

[Archangel]

Well my program disks have arrived

One PICBASICPRO Compiler & a MicroCode Studio plus disk.

I'll install them this evening when I have some time.

Dave

Congratulations, you won't be dissapointed !

[LEDave]

think about getting a graphic LCD next. Then you can combine both and do stuff like this.

Very impressive rmteo, I like the look of that. How difficult is one of these to set up?

And if you find you have a fondness for the graphic displays, there's always lots of full color displays to choose from.

So many parts to choose from... so little time to read all the data sheets!

Absolutely, I don't think I've read anything to do with PIC's that hasn't had a 19 page (minimum) PDF attached. Nice display B_B, again must have took some setting up?

Congratulations, you won't be dissapointed !

Hi Joe, I'm not already and I've only just began my journey.

Dave

[Byte_Butcher]

Absolutely, I don't think I've read anything to do with PIC's that hasn't had a 19 page (minimum) PDF attached.

19 pgs sounds like a delight! The 18F46J50 I've been trying to "figure out" has a 554 pg data sheet.

Nice display B_B, again must have took some setting up?

No, actually they are pretty easy to use. They have onboard processor to do the "hard work", and you just send serial commands and data to it with SEROUT.
It also has a slot for a uSD card (up to 2GB) for photo or video storage.
It even has it's own programming language (4DGL) and can operate as a standalone device without an external processor.

The downside is that they are rather pricey. Mine is an "obsolete" model that I got a pretty good deal on or I probably wouldn't have bought it.
Newer models even have touchscreen capability!

If anyone is curious, here's the info for the display I have. The user manual is at the lower left corner of the page.
http://www.4dsystems.com.au/prod.php?id=2

Here's the code I used to display my avatar and greeting message. The Image is stored on the uSD card.
This is just a snippet from a much larger lump of code that displayed a slide show (about 50 items) with a text description for each.
You may still find a few odd variables and stuff left over from the original chunk of code, but it compiles and works on a 16F726.
Most of the code is just setting up registers and declaring variables and stuff. Once you get to the "main" section there's not much to actually sending data and displaying images already stored on the memory card...

'Test program for displaying photos and text  - 16F726 w/ uLCD-320-PM2

'****************************************************************

Include "MODEDEFS.BAS"   ' Include Shiftin/out modes
DEFINE OSC 16             ' 16 MHz Osc.
DEFINE HSER_BAUD 38400    ' Set baud rate
DEFINE HSER_RCSTA 90h
DEFINE HSER_TXSTA 24h
DEFINE HSER_SPBRG 25     ' 19200 Baud @ 8MHz, 38400 Baud @ 16MHz

@  __config _CONFIG1, _DEBUG_OFF & _PLL_EN & _BORV_2_5 & _BOR_ON & _CP_OFF & _MCLRE_OFF & _PWRT_EN & _WDT_OFF & _INTOSCIO
@  __config _CONFIG2, _VCAP_RA0

'----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'SETUP SOME PORTS AND REGISTERS-----------------???????????????????????????????????----------------
OSCCON=%00110000    'Set Osc to 16MHz.
TRISA=%00000000    'Set 'em all to outputs 
TRISB=%00000010	   'Set portB to all outputs except RB1 
TRISC=%10000000    'Set portC to all outputs except RC7   
ANSELA=%00000000   ' Set all pins to digital
ANSELB=%00000000   ' Set all pins to digital
ADCON0=%00000000   'ADC off
option_reg.7=0
WPUB=%00000010

'ALIAS PINS----------------------------------------------------
to_LCD          var     PORTC.6   '??????????????????????
from_LCD        var     PORTC.7   '?????????????????????
offbutton       var     PORTB.1   '????????????????????????

'---------------------------
'---ALLOCATE VARIABLES----------------------------
textstartX      var     word : textstartX=05                 'starting X position for text
textstart1YH    var     word : textstart1YH=01               'starting Y HIGH positon for text line 1
textstart1YL    var     word : textstart1YL=05               'starting Y LOW positon for text line 1
textstart2YH    var     word : textstart2YH=01               'starting Y HIGH positon for text line 2
textstart2YL    var     word : textstart2YL=35               'starting Y LOW positon for text line 2            
photostartX     var     byte : photostartx =22               'starting X position for photo
photostartY     var     BYTE : photostartY = 40              'starting Y position for photo
width           var     byte : width = 200                   'image width
height_H        var     byte : height_H = 0                  'image height high byte
height_L        var     byte : height_L = 200                'image height low byte
addr_H          var     byte : addr_H=$00                    'image address on card HIGH byte
addr_M          var     byte : addr_M=$10                    'image address on card MID byte
addr_L          var     byte : addr_L=$00                    'image address on card LOW byte

'---Font sizes---------------------------------------
fontsize1       var     word : fontsize1=01
fontsize2       var     word : fontsize2=02
fontsize3       var     word : fontsize3=03

'---Predefine a few common colors---------------------------
redH            var     byte  : redH=%11111000
redL            var     byte  : redL=%00000000
greenH          var     BYTE  : greenH=%00000111
greenL          var     byte  : greenL=%11100000
blueH           var     byte  : blueH=%00000000
bluel           var     byte  : bluel=%00011111
yellowH         var     byte  : yellowH=%11111111
yellowL         var     byte  : yellowL=%11100000
magentaH        var     byte  : magentaH=%11111000
magentaL        var     byte  : magentaL=%00011111
cyanH           var     byte  : cyanH=%00000111
cyanL           var     byte  : cyanL=%11111111
orangeH         var     byte  : orangeH=%11111010
orangeL         var     Byte  : orangeL=%11100000
BlackH          var     Byte  : BlackH=%00000000
BlackL          var     Byte  : BlackL=%00000000

'-----------------------------------

Goto main: 'skip the subroutines and JGIG\

'---SUBROUTINE TO SHUT DOWN THE LCD DISPLAY "SAFELY" and end the program. (needs power reset to restart)
shutdown:
    HSEROUT [$59,$03,$00]   'power down command
    pause 250
    end
'----------------------------------------------------------
'-----------------------------------------------------------

Main:

PAUSE 2000    'Make sure the LCD is awake
Hserout [$42, blackH,blackL] 'background color = black
pause 700
Hserout ["O", 01]  'Opaque text
pause 5
HSEROUT ["S",13,00,10,3,greenH,greenL,1,1,"   BYTE_BUTCHER",$00] 'Put user name at top of screen
pause 100
HSEROUT [$40,$49,photostartx,00,photostartY,width,height_H,height_L,16,addr_H,addr_M,addr_L]  'grab a photo from the uSD card and display it at the predefined coordinates    
pause 200
Hserout ["S",textstartX,textstart1YH,textstart1YL,fontsize2,yellowH,yellowL,2,2, "   Greetings",$00]   'text line 1
pause 20
Hserout ["S",textstartX,textstart2YH,textstart2YL,fontsize3,cyanH,cyanL,1,1, "     PBP users!",$00]   'text line 2
'----------
checkbutton:
     if offbutton = 0 then gosub shutdown
    Pause 100      
    goto checkbutton
 
 end

steve

[LEDave]

Very clever B_B I must say. Does seem like rather a steep learning curve, although that said I'm surprised at what pieces of code I can actually pick out and understand from your program. I've just got to keep at it I guess.

Whilst we're on LCD's, should I go ahead and order maybe a couple of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20x4-LCD-Modul...#ht_2814wt_957

What do we think, a good one to start off with?

Dave

[Byte_Butcher]

Whilst we're on LCD's, should I go ahead and order maybe a couple of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20x4-LCD-Modul...#ht_2814wt_957

What do we think, a good one to start off with?

Dave

Sure. Why not. Anything with that"s got a Hitachi HD44780 controller is your friend. (like that one)

The choice of color, and number of lines and characters is only determined by your personal preference and pocketbook...

Order it and give it a go!


steve

[Archangel]

Very clever B_B I must say. Does seem like rather a steep learning curve, although that said I'm surprised at what pieces of code I can actually pick out and understand from your program. I've just got to keep at it I guess.

Whilst we're on LCD's, should I go ahead and order maybe a couple of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20x4-LCD-Modul...#ht_2814wt_957

What do we think, a good one to start off with?

Dave

Hi Dave,
It's the ones I always buy, you can kill them, but you have to work at it be careful buying from them, as they offer the exact same units with different prices. Their service is good, shipping a little slow sometimes, friendly and helpful.

[LEDave]

It's the ones I always buy, you can kill them, but you have to work at it

Hi Joe, you almost make that sound like a challenge...

I'm going to order a couple of those and see how it goes, plus a solder-less breadboard.

I'm still not 100% on the cables I need though. On this PC (DELL) I've have USB only but on my old m/c I have USB and a serial port on the back.

So should I just buy a serial cable and fem & male db converter or do I buy a usb.

Here's the link to a website I've found which seems pretty good:

http://www.cabling4less.co.uk/Data_C...FdGX2AodE28VFQ

[mackrackit]

If it was me I would use the old computer with the serial port for the machine to send data to
while using the new machine for coding and programing.

If you do it that way then one of the Female to Female cables should be fine. Cut it in half, plug into the computer and the wires can go to the bread board.

You will have to use an ohm meter to ring out which wire is which and you will probably have to solder thicker wires to the cable to work with the bread board.

You will only need, in most cases, the wires coming from the DB9 connector, 2, 3, and 5.

[LEDave]

Hi mackrackit,

If it was me I would use the old computer with the serial port for the machine to send data to while using the new machine for coding and programing.

I'm happy with that.

Another LEDave silly question coming up. Are we saying I should buy the top cable from the link below and cut one end off then meter the cable / pins out?

http://www.cabling4less.co.uk/Data_C...FdGX2AodE28VFQ

If that's right, how about buying the top cable and the 'Cabling4Less DB9 Data Gender Changer (M-M)' (three quarters of the way down the page) and soldering the wires onto that?

Dave

[mackrackit]

Might be a bit difficult to solder to that.
You could buy some " ends " as if you were making a cable ans solder to that and not cut the cable.

My way you end up with two cables. Just buy one long enough to fit the way your bench is set up. End up with two one meter cables?

[LEDave]

My way you end up with two cables. Just buy one long enough to fit the way your bench is set up. End up with two one meter cables?

I like it

Any other kit or should that do it for now?

Dave

[mackrackit]

The serial and LCD stuff should keep you busy for awhile

So many things that can be done now.

[LEDave]

The serial and LCD stuff should keep you busy for awhile

I'm really looking forward to it

I'll order that kit up and the displays asap.

Dave

[LEDave]

Two LCD's and one DB9 (Female) to DB9 (Female) cable ordered up

[LEDave]

Well the cables have arrived

First job, cut it in half and meter the pins out?

[mackrackit]

Yup.
You are looking for wires connected to
pin 5 = common
pic 2 = data to PC
pin 3 = data from PC

The others you will not need for awhile, flow control type stuff.

[LEDave]

Hi mackrackit,

Just to make sure that I'm checking the right pins. Pins 5 - 2 - 3 correspond to this diagram:

http://hflink.com/interface/DB9_RS232_pinout.gif

Dave

[mackrackit]

No, that is the male connector.
The female connector starts with 1 on the right.

[LEDave]

I'm pleased I asked

The one on the left then.

LEDave, also known as 'Mr Windy'

Dave

[mackrackit]

At least you did not ask how to tell which one is female or male...

[LEDave]

At least you did not ask how to tell which one is female or male

I had that one explained to me many years ago when I was a young apprentice, funny that was one lesson I never forgot

Right then I've got:

5 - Yellow

3 - Red

2 - Brown

How does that sound / look?

Very fine wires, I was quite surprised by that.

Dave

[mackrackit]

There does not seem to be much of a standard for color coding. That is the reason to check with a meter.

Small wires. Yup. The reason I mentioned soldering heavier wires on for breadbording.

Sounds like you are about ready for some fun.

[LEDave]

Sounds like you are about ready for some fun.

Ready and waiting

Although I haven't got my breadboard yet.

[mackrackit]

If you use a 14 pin chip in your PicKit1 the empty header holes near the diodes can be used for external to the board stuff. Solder a serial cable there??? Be sure to look at the PBP manual, gives a little schematic for serial hick ups.

[LEDave]

Mmmm,

A little confused here mackrackit. I can see the header J3 (see attached word.docs) but can't see which of the three cables go where from looking at the diagrams.

Also, am I right in that: Pin5 = clear to send, Pin3 = receive data and Pin2 = transmit data.

Or (wild assumptions here) I can connect the three wires to anywhere on J3 as long as they correspond to three I/O pins on the socket which can be set-up to communicate with the pc COM-PORT.

Dave