Picbasic errors

[lerameur]

I read the small tutorial on this link:
http://www.imagesco.com/articles/lcd/05.html

THE book I am reading use terminology N24400 while the compiler I use uses: PortB.0,0, thus in the last I did not declare anything and it compiles

also I have a 16x2 lcd. I hooked up ground pin and vcc. The screen lights up, but I tried all the pins on the screen running from pin 6 of the Pic16f84 but I am not seeing anything
Is there a delay?
I am not sure is there is only one wire or more is needed
thanks

ken

[Archangel]

Hi Ken,
the code you are using is listed in his book, PIC Microcontroller Project Book, page 201, Yes?
It appears as though you are using PIC BASIC PRO.
The code you are using was written for PIC BASIC , not pro, look farther down the page, the code for your PBP compiler is listed and continues on the next page. This problem you are having centers upon the author is so deeply used to adding those things into a program that he forgets, a beginner doesn't already know this. You have to create variables in order to use them, and you need to INCLUDE some files sometimes to make things like serial communication and LCD modules work. Chuck Hellebuyck wrote a book, which is not perfect either (at least in my opinion) but it is a good one, called Programming PIC Microcontrollers With PIC Basic and it takes you by the hand here, and the code works, I have both books and one other plus "The Manual" and I still ask for help as I am only about a month farther down this road than you are. I really recommend you read as many posts in this forum as your eyes can tolerate. YOU WILL LEARN TONS, if skills can be weighed that way.
Hope this helps.
JS

[lerameur]

yes I found that out a couple of hours ago,
I even saw on a web site the exact program I was doing in both version:
http://www.imagesco.com/articles/lcd/05.html
The second book from John Iovine explains this.
But I still having trouble sending information to the LCD. It powers on. He says that I need only one wire to the LCD. I tried every pin out possible and it do not work., It should be pin 6 on the chip. Do i need to rewire the lcd ?

ken

[Archangel]

Ken,
Generaly serial data for 1 way communication requires a data wire and a ground.
2 way communication needs a second data wire. If you are using a serial Backpack on an LCD module then you need a power wire.

Regards
JS

[lerameur]

Yes I do have a wire goping to ground, Pin 1 on the LCD and Vcc, pin 2 on the lCD, There re 16 pin on the lcd and no idea which one is the incoming.. My pic16F84a is program to output on pin 6.
main:
pause 1000 ' wait for the LCD to startup
serout PortB.0,0,[$FE,$01] ' clear the screen
serout PortB.0,0,["Wherever you go"] ' send string “Wherever you go”
serout PortB.0,0,[$FE,$C0] ' move the cursor to the 2nd line
serout PortB.0,0,[" there you are "] ' send string “ there you are ”
pause 1000 ' pause for a second
goto main ' loop

[Archangel]

If you do not have a serial LCD, which is to say if it does not have an extra circuit board with a PIC or other controller you must use LCDOUT not serout.
Look at the diagram on page187 of Mr. Iovine's book and accompanying code.

Or page 96 of the MELABS p basic pro manual. The LCD unit with 16 pins or 14 pins on the non backlit units require extra circuitry, usually a PIC to work. The link I am providing is a source for one I have used to convert to serial use, however; this unit uses some Propriority commands which are available on his website, go and look at his links. http://www.wulfden.org/k107/index.shtml
Looking is free.

[lerameur]

well on page it is a test circuit for toxic gaz. but RB3 of the 16F84A is directly into the lcd screen. I guess his board is different. BUt I tried changing SEROUT to LCDOUT but it do not work either.

There must be a way to print out without using another circuit.

ken