HELP! Serial input between Pic and PC (urgent)

[Ioannis]

May be the ADCON1=6 must be =7 ?

I am not familiar with the A version of the 877. Steve?

Ioannis

[Melanie]

For five years I've been shouting DATASHEET at people. In the end it all falls on deaf ears...

How the hell can you program for ANY device if you don't know and don't understand what's in the box? There are MAJOR differences between the A and non-A of this particular PIC. Oh and look... they just happen to affect PortA.3 as well...

If you can't be bothered to do that, take a different class in school, get another hobby, change your job etc...

[T.Jackson]

For five years I've been shouting DATASHEET at people. In the end it all falls on deaf ears...

How the hell can you program for ANY device if you don't know and don't understand what's in the box? There are MAJOR differences between the A and non-A of this particular PIC. Oh and look... they just happen to affect PortA.3 as well...

If you can't be bothered to do that, take a different class in school, get another hobby, change your job etc...

That's considerably way too harsh! There's four ways we learn.

1. Kinetic (doing / practical hands-on)
2. Visually (charts, diagrams, mental problem solving)
3. Verbally (Usually a person speaking)
4. Reading & writing

You're one very special creature if you're good at all four! Most mortals (including myself) - generally have strength in only about two of the aforementioned list. If you can solve all your problems by skimming over data sheets, then you have a nice strength with reading & writing and possibly also with visual. Most highly introverted people (like myself) tend to have a strength with visual & kinetic. So, to write someone off just because they haven't, or rather can't!!! - follow a data sheet terribly well is absurd!

[cmyew]

Hi Ioannis,
I will try to check about it..

Hi mister e,
as u mentioned on the previous post about the hardware and configuration fuse problem, can u tell me more about that? I really want to learn about it...

Thanks in advance

Hi Melanie,
First of all, thanks for your reply.

I not sure what u answer me is related to the question that i asked about. But i can confirm that not every person come here and ask question without reading "DATASHEET". Maybe they are not understanding on some of the topic (include me) and try to looking for someone to help.

[T.Jackson]

Not all 877s are clock able @ 10MHz (some only go up to 4) - something to keep in mind.

[T.Jackson]

But i can confirm that not every person come here and ask question without reading "DATASHEET". Maybe they are not understanding on some of the topic (include me) and try to looking for someone to help.

The data sheet for the novice is generally out of the question. Much like a modern-day engine for a car that is entirely pre-assembled prior to fitting (they don't care about how awkward it is for the novice to change the starter motor) - data sheets are written primarily for an audience of individuals that have experience! If a data sheet was more like an "instruction manual" - I'd reserve little hesitation in telling you to go and read it.

[Ioannis]

Not all 877s are clock able @ 10MHz (some only go up to 4) - something to keep in mind.

I can confirm that every chip marked -4 was running perfectly doyble that, at 8 that is. Did not test more though...

For five years I've been shouting DATASHEET at people. In the end it all falls on deaf ears...

Melanie, I can understand your response, but this forum is not restricted to pro's that know what to search for. Unless there is a restriction about the people that ask questions here, I think we have to tolerate also the absolute newbies. Even the lazy ones...

Many times I did not reply just because the answer was so obvious, almost shouting from within the pages of the DS. Anyways...

Ioannis

[T.Jackson]

Melanie, I can understand your response, but this forum is not restricted to pro's that know what to search for. Unless there is a restriction about the people that ask questions here, I think we have to tolerate also the absolute newbies. Even the lazy ones...

Many times I did not reply just because the answer was so obvious, almost shouting from within the pages of the DS. Anyways...

Ioannis

I think Melanie has had one of those "days" to be honest. Surely she must realize what sort of people she's dealing with here. Half have INTJ personalities and live in their "own world".

[mister_e]

Hi mister e,
as u mentioned on the previous post about the hardware and configuration fuse problem, can u tell me more about that? I really want to learn about it...

When possible, i suggest all forum member to post their schematic to see if it's done correctly. Psu filtering (0.1 uF + 10uF tantalum as close as possible of all Vdd/Vss jucntions), MLCR tied to Vcc directly or via resistor. etc etc

Configuration fuses. Those need to be set before you program your PIC. Some feature might need to be disable, and some might need to be set properly depending of your OSC speed. Hence if there's any LVP, usually we set it to OFF, if the OSC/Crystal speed is >4 Mhz, OSC mode have to be set to HS.

Look at the FAQ, there's whole thread about how to set the configuration fuses into your code. At least read post 1-5

Presetting Configuration Fuses (PIC Defines) into your Program
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=543

HTH

[Melanie]

I'm sorry I have to disagree...

You can look at an internal combustion engine and figure which end turns and which end doesn't. You can figure where to bolt it down and couple it up. You can figure where to plumb the volts (if any), and fuel (and what kind) and where to plumb the water. But if you want to adjust timing, set spacing and clearances or other critical functions - guess what? You READ the manufacturers DATASHEET.

But a PIC is just a plain black box with a heap of legs sticking out of it...

Until you consult the Datasheet, you don't even know which legs need volts on them or even how much...

Until you consult the Datasheet, you don't know where to plug-in your Xtal, or Resonator, or what kind will work or how to enable the internal oscillator...

Until you consult your Datasheet, you don't know where the MCLR pin is, or what to do with it or how to disable it...

Until you consult the Datasheet, you don't know what pins have bi-directional I/O and what pins haven't, what pins have other functions multiplexed with them, and how to enable or disable those functions, or how to use them.

Until you consult the Datasheet, you don't realise that the 877A (keeping the thread in-topic) has COMPARATORS and a VOLTAGE-REFERENCE MODULE stuffed inside whilst the plain 877 hasn't - and how to recognise if the PIC on your desk can actually perform to do the task you're giving it, or if you should have bought a different variant.

So tell me - how are you going to discover those features UNLESS you READ the Datasheet? Crystal Ball? Telepathy? Oh... I forgot, of course - go the Datasheet substitute route and ask the forum!

C'mon, are you seriously suggesting that all the amateurs and hobbyists and students are excused from Datasheets because the experts and professionals - and those that can read - can provide all the answers?

[Ioannis]

...
C'mon, are you seriously suggesting that all the amateurs and hobbyists and students are excused from Datasheets because the experts and professionals - and those that can read - can provide all the answers?

I meant that may be many read or "read", but few understand. Yes I know, it is very annoying though. New people arrive daily and the story repeats.

And usually you can see if one that is asking has read the DS before.

Ioannis

[T.Jackson]

I'm sorry I have to disagree...

You can look at an internal combustion engine and figure which end turns and which end doesn't. You can figure where to bolt it down and couple it up. You can figure where to plumb the volts (if any), and fuel (and what kind) and where to plumb the water. But if you want to adjust timing, set spacing and clearances or other critical functions - guess what? You READ the manufacturers DATASHEET.

Learning how to read a data sheet (or similar / vehicle service manual) - is like learning a new language in my humble opinion. Applying what you've just read is a different story again. Why spend time pulling your hair out when there's plenty of people around willing to lend a hand! I personally feel that you take too much for granted, you've been a design engineer for what; 20 years? To appreciate what I'm saying, you need to fully recap yourself to a time & place when you just started out. But on top of that, you need to consider that not everyone is as smart or technical minded as yourself. You really need to learn how to bring yourself down to another person's level is probably what I'm trying to say.

[Ioannis]

... you've been a design engineer for what; 20 years?
...

Exactly that. 20 years ago I did not had any internet to help out. So what I did? Read and practice a lot.

... You really need to learn how to bring yourself down to another person's level is probably what I'm trying to say.

I think not she or me or anyone else, "really" need to do that. Others have to work and get up to a proper level. For example I have seen your work on VB6, how good you are and I am trying hard to understand that lanquage with the programs you have posted. I could say that I am areally newbie but will not annoy you to teach me how to write a simple command line...

Of course we will help, but they have their share too.

Ioannis