Need some experienced advice

[bill12780]

Hello all,
This is my first post on this fine forum. I have been registered for some time and have been reading when I could in preperation of a up comming project.

A little about me...I am an Electroincs Technician by training but I work as a engineer because of my 20+ years of experience.

Its been MANY years ago that I first purchased PBP. I have played with it but never did any real development. I am also a Basic freak! I am VERY familar with writing programs for the PC in Basic.

My question is simple. There are literally HUNDREDS of different PIC chips out now. The project I have been asigned is a Keypad that controls a simple Motor controller circuit. So I don't need any fancy ADC or PWM features. What is a good solid chip that is cheap (comparable to the atmel chips) that will work for me.

Now I know this is a tall order. I am just hoping that someone off the top of their head has some advise on were to start on this.

Also, has anyone taken the course on Pbasic offered by RCG Research Inc? (I don't know if I can put a link here with out getting in trouble. So just google it you will find it.)

I would intrested to hear of anyone experience with them.

Thanks for any and all help....

Once I get my feet wet I will help as around here as much as I can.

Bill12780

[skimask]

Hello all,
This is my first post on this fine forum. I have been registered for some time and have been reading when I could in preperation of a up comming project.
A little about me...I am an Electroincs Technician by traning but I work as a engineer because of my 20+ years of experience.
Its been MANY years ago that I first purchased PBP. I have played with it but never did any real development. I am also a Basic freak! I am VERY familar with writing programs for the PC in Basic.
My question is simple. There are literally HUNDREDS of different PIC chips out now. The project I have been asigned is a Keypad that controls a simple Motor controller circuit. So I don't need any fancy ADC or PWM features. What is a good solid chip that is cheap (comparable to the atmel chips) that will work for me.
Now I know this is a tall order. I am just hoping that someone off the top of their head has some advise on were to start on this.
Also, has anyone taken the course on Pbasic offered by RCG Research Inc? (I don't know if I can put a link here with out getting in trouble. So just google it you will find it.)
I would intrested to hear of anyone experience with them.
Thanks for any and all help....
Once I get my feet wet I will help as around here as much as I can.
Bill12780

HOLY CRAP!
I hope you didn't pay for that!
PBP - $250
PIC Experimenter's board - <$200 for a good one
A bit of time and playing = Priceless..
That class = $2000+
That's the problem with classes and a schedule...when you get done with them, pretty much all you REALLY know how to do is to build the projects they want you to build. You don't get a chance to play and build something of your own and REALLY learn from your own mistakes.

[bill12780]

HOLY CRAP!
I hope you didn't pay for that!
PBP - $250
PIC Experimenter's board - <$200 for a good one
A bit of time and playing = Priceless..
That class = $2000+
That's the problem with classes and a schedule...when you get done with them, pretty much all you REALLY know how to do is to build the projects they want you to build. You don't get a chance to play and build something of your own and REALLY learn from your own mistakes.

Yea its expensive, But if you look you end up with about 900 bucks worth of stuff dev boards, the pro compiler etc...so I figured it was really only about 1000 bucks. I have NOT taken the class but was considering it. Hence my question....

And I agree that I have learned more blowing things up then I ever learned in school.

Thanks for the reply
Bill12780

[skimask]

Yea its expensive, But if you look you end up with about 900 bucks worth of stuff dev boards, the pro compiler etc...so I figured it was really only about 1000 bucks. I have NOT taken the class but was considering it. Hence my question....

And I agree that I have learned more blowing things up then I ever learned in school.

Thanks for the reply
Bill12780

Glad to see you didn't waste your time.
I can tell you that there's probably at least a dozen people or so around here that could probably do an equal if not better job at the same type of thing you were talking about...just change the initials and you're in there...in my case it would be something like jdgresearch. I should do that and charge half the cost.
(Incidentally, I don't see $1,000 worth of stuff there...)

[bill12780]

Glad to see you didn't waste your time.
I can tell you that there's probably at least a dozen people or so around here that could probably do an equal if not better job at the same type of thing you were talking about...just change the initials and you're in there...in my case it would be something like jdgresearch. I should do that and charge half the cost.
(Incidentally, I don't see $1,000 worth of stuff there...)

If you have the expertise to do it...I would talk about a cherry gig! I got the 900 figure from them. They said it includes a dev board, compiler, editor a hand full of PIC's adapters, programers, sensors, motors, LED's all kinds of stuff basically a "everything you need to start" kinda thing.

I did not really need it cause I can order a dev board from MEL and then upgrade my old version of PBP for 25 bucks. I already have a epic programer. But was looking at the USB one they have now.

I also have the book by chuck helbuck(sp?). So I think I just need to lock myself in the basment and go to town!

I know its not "approriate" but what do you guys think of the atmel stuff? I have heard its cheaper (cost per unit) and they are more "universal" in architecture (8051 or arm cant remember)

Again, thanks for the input and the information...I love a good forum.

Once I get up and running I will try and give my advise on the electronics side of stuff that is my forte.

Bill12780

[skimask]

Take a look at the compiler/dev board packages available at www.melabs.com and/or www.mikroe.com/en (not neccessarily mikro's compiler but the dev boards).

Everything you need - you could probably get a 'grab bag' from Jameco for about $25

Programmer - can't beat the USB PICKit2 direct from Microchip for $50-ish

ATMEL vs. PIC - to each their own. I've messed with both. It seems to me that the architecture of the PIC is superior, but that's just me, and I started out with Z-80/8085/Intel types and then switched over.