Need some experienced advice

[SteveB]

3) What do you all think of the MEL lab-x1 dev board? I feel when making purchases its always best to ask the man(or woman) that owns one. Also, is my epic programer still gonna be ok with the new chips. Or should I invest in a USB programmer.

I do own one, and I can not complain. Solid product. That said, I think the EasyPic4 is much more for the money. Lots of good feedback from those who own one as well. (I'm sure Steve, a.k.a. MisterE, will chime in here eventually).

SteveB

[mackrackit]

Hi Bill,

My 2.5 cents worth.

Dev board = Box of $4.00 breadboards from allelectronics.
Programer = PICKit2
Chip = 16F877A no USB though

[mister_e]

I do own one, and I can not complain. Solid product. That said, I think the EasyPic4 is much more for the money. Lots of good feedback from those who own one as well. (I'm sure Steve, a.k.a. MisterE, will chime in here eventually).

SteveB

YES indeed EasyPIC 4 all the way! And buy a couple of their EasyProto board adapter as well...

6 bucks it's nothing... it just don't worth to build your own now...

But yeah, assuming a tighter budget, PICKIt2, one breadboard and few parts it's a smart choice as long as the bill of material is at least under EasyPIC4 which should come with a 16F877A.

[bill12780]

OK everyone here is what I did.

I ordered my upgrade and manual for PBP (Should be here anyday)

I went with the Microe EasyPic4 with a few of the proto board adapters.

I have pretty much decided that I am going to use a PIC16f876 going to order some of those today.

I can not tell you how much I help you all have been. I would have been totally screwed if you guys had not spoken up and gave me some good info to work with.

I am sure once the coding begins I will be back. I will try and get in here every couple of days to see if I can help with any Electronics issues.

Thanks again! Its more appreciated they you know!

Best Regards,
Bill McFarland

[muddy0409]

I can not tell you how much I help you all have been. I would have been totally screwed if you guys had not spoken up and gave me some good info to work with.

I am sure once the coding begins I will be back

Hi Bill,
Yeah the folks in here are sure to be happy to help in any way.
Also, don't be at all afraid to ask some stupid question (that comes from experience, believe me!)

I've been a basic freak for yonks too, started with the VIC-20, remember them? Did some assembler with the 6502 but long since forgotten.

Anyway, enjoy the forum and the camaraderie(? spelling?) in here.

[mister_e]

I've been a basic freak for yonks too, started with the VIC-20, remember them? Did some assembler with the 6502 but long since forgotten.

WOOHOO, those where the days

I can't imagine there's a lot of people here reminding that we used regular audio cassette to store/read our programs. This sure make me feel an old guy

I begun with TI-99/4A, then VIC-20, TRS-80, COCO-2, Commodore 64, 128, then 8080, 8088, etc etc ...

Anyway, enjoy the forum and the camaraderie(? spelling?) in here.

That's french and seems to be almost same in English..
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/camaraderie
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/comradery

[malc-c]

Steve, you and me must be of the same generation

I started with the Sinclair ZX81 (I think it was called the Texas 81 in the US ?) - was amazed that you could get a full "traditional" startrek game with an 8 x 8 galaxy, black holes, bases etc all in 1K of memory !

As for the audio tapes, I remember playing them on a hi-fi and you could hear the actual pitch changes representing the 1's and 0's - baud rate of about 10 I guess

[mister_e]

LMAO... I had the Zx80... just forgot to mention

I still have the VIC-20 schematic and programming book

[skimask]

I ordered my upgrade and manual for PBP (Should be here anyday)
I went with the Microe EasyPic4 with a few of the proto board adapters.
I have pretty much decided that I am going to use a PIC16f876 going to order some of those today.
I can not tell you how much I help you all have been. I would have been totally screwed if you guys had not spoken up and gave me some good info to work with.
I am sure once the coding begins I will be back. I will try and get in here every couple of days to see if I can help with any Electronics issues.
Thanks again! Its more appreciated they you know!
Best Regards,
Bill McFarland

All good, solid choices... Just remember to start off simple (stupidlike? ) and work your way up. Play with everything, not only code, but config settings, learn how to manipulate them, mess with interrupts, get a button or two to work, move LEDs around (not the leds themselves, but the lighting thereof), talk back and forth with a PC thru the serial port...and so on and so on. Before you know it, we'll be asking you for answers...