PBP projects for R/C models

[mackrackit]

Ken,

Get a USB to serial converter. You do not want to mess with USB from the PIC at this time. Keep it simple.

The use the serial terminal in MCS.

[Kenjones1935]

I have discovered the Analyzer Tool in the PICkit Tool Logic Tool package.

It looks like this tool will provide me a picture of the output of my radio receiver if I can get Scalerobotics' program to work. I have both MPLAB IDE and PICbasic PRO packages. They have some duplications. I have a book "PIC PROJECTS" which pontificates the advantages of MPLAB. I have an impressive PICkit Tool HELP menu.

My impression is that the PICkit package is what I should focus upon. Does that make sense?

Ken

[Kenjones1935]

I succeeded in getting scalerobotics second code sample to compile.

This is the one that samples PWM incoming and puts it out the serial port. It created an .asm file that would not build. The list of errors is too large to publish here. (Besides that it does not word wrap well.)

I am completely missing something. I do not understand PICBASIC PRO.The multiple hundred page microchip DATA SHEETS blow my mind. I try to read a section (16F887 Page 74 on SOFTWARE PROGRAMMABLE PRESCALER) and I can not put it in context.

I am not sure where the basics are that I am meant to go back to. I have a couple of paperback books. Maybe I should read page by page.

Ken

[rmteo]

A good understanding of PIC's as well as a some idea of how BASIC works will be a great help to your success in getting this project going. Here are 2 free books that will give you a good start.

PIC Microcontrollers
Programming PIC MCUs in BASIC

[Kenjones1935]

Scalerobotics,

How did you know of the contents of:

http://darreltaylor.com/DT_INTS-14/asm_ints.html

and

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...39postcount=38

Is there a centralized resource?

Ken

[ScaleRobotics]

Scalerobotics,

How did you know of the contents of:
http://darreltaylor.com/DT_INTS-14/asm_ints.html
and
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...39postcount=38

Is there a centralized resource?
Ken

I learned about them from the great folks on this forum. Without it, I couldn't do any of the things I think are pretty slick. Really, everything that I think is pretty amazing, was learned from reading, searching, and asking on this forum. Aside from the 222 page PicBasicPro manual, the forum is the most centralized resource that you will find.

I would agree with Alain, after reading the PBP manual and it's examples, the next best resource of examples is www.parallax.com site will have the best examples of basic. I have a Pic Basic Pro book that I hate, and I have browsed a few others that I dislike equally. Most are using examples of PIC16C devices and such that are older than my dog, and don't talk much on timers, interrupts, etc. I say save your money, and get the free examples that Parallax has in their documentation, and use this forum. Also read your manual from cover to cover two or three times. It will start to sink in, as you use the commands.

You can learn more about the DT_INTS by searching the forum. Besides Darrel's page, this is the only other source for information on how to use his interrupts.

[Acetronics2]

Hi, Rmteo

If your first reference is useful to understand the Pics themselves, the second is TOTALLY unadapted to help a PbP Beginner for Basic, as the two " basics" are much, much, much differents one from the other ...

let's say ... Pbp looks like the old GWBasic - or very close to Parallax Basic ... But Mikroelektronika Basic ( did I say " Basiç " ??? ) looks very, very, very close to " C " ...

Do not tell me " false " ... as I use those 3 Compilers !!!

Sooooo, the best Basic course for PbP you can find is PARALLAX ... here:

http://www.parallax.com/tabid/535/Default.aspx

here ... you'll find a progressive and comprehensive learning curve, with level adapted examples, and OVERALL ...
What you've learnt is directly re-usable ...

last, but not least !

Alain

[Kenjones1935]

The computer architecture part of

http://www.mikroe.com/en/books/picmcubook/ch0/

reminded me of the lectures I received in 1957 when I was hired as a computer programmer by Lincoln Labs to work on the SAGE Air Defense computer. If you want to read what preceeded the picmcubook (above) look at:

http://history.sandiego.edu/GEN/20th/sage.html

I started my career coding for SAGE. I graduated from CISCO Systems as a Senior Software Engineer in 2003. Since that time my mind has not been focused on technology.

I feel that my problem with PBP and the 16F887 is lack of access to the 'common knowledge'. How did scalerobotics know about darreltaylor?

[mackrackit]

How did scalerobotics know about darreltaylor?

Darrel is one of the moderators of this forum and one of the largest contributors.
Hands down he is the one with all of the "interesting" stuff.

Hang around and you will meet him.

Ken,
You are doing fine for starting work on a new system. We talk about "basics". Just work on things one piece at a time, not the whole project. When all of the pieces work then put it all together.

I get a laugh from the "Object Oriented" folks from other languages. And I even hear about "extreme programming".

Us working with MCUs have been doing the above sort of thing for.... ever.
Write your code in pieces, make sure each piece works, then combine the pieces.

So in your case, reading the PWM is one part, get that working.
Move on to running a motor with PWM, a separate little project and code.
Work on the sensors, another separate project.
And so on...

Pretty soon you will have the whole thing finished and understand it all.

Architecture... Princeton or Harvard?

[rmteo]

You can get a lot of "common knowledge" here Microchip Technology User Forums as well as quite a few other places.

[Kenjones1935]

The PICBASIC PRO compiler book that comes (for $250) with MIcroEngineering Labs product does not mention built in routines. I found a chapter in a MikroElektrnonika "Programming PIC MCUs in BASIC"on line book devoted to these. I assume they work with my system. True? I don't think so.....sigh

http://www.mikroe.com/en/books/picbasicbook/05.htm


The above book says,

-------start snip---------------
Prototype sub procedure EEprom_Write(dim Address as byte, dim Data as byte)
Description

Function writes byte to [Address]. [Address] is of byte type, which means it can address only 256 locations. For PIC18 MCU models with more EEPROM data locations, it is programmer's responsibility to set SFR EEADRH register appropriately.

All interrupts will be disabled during execution of EEPROM_Write routine (GIE bit of INTCON register will be cleared). Routine will set this bit on exit

Ensure minimum 20ms delay between successive use of routines EEPROM_Write and EEPROM_Read. Although EEPROM will write the correct value, EEPROM_Read might return undefined result.
Example

for i = 0 to 20
EEPROM_Write(i, i + 6)
next i
-------------------end snip----------------

I tried the following bit in my PBP compiler.

i VAR BYTE
for i = 0 to 20
EEPROM_Write (i, i + 6)
next i

It complained that the EEPROM line has a syntax error.

What am I just not grasping.....??? I assume the two BASIC packages differ. The question is where do I find the built in routines that come with MY PBP?

Ken