 SKThe member formerly known as CowPremium
join:2001-05-18
Toronto | Suggest microcontroller system to learn I've always wanted to learn programming microcontrollers, but haven't yet done so for one reason or the other. I've decided to learn in a top-down way, meaning that I have an aim (to program a controller for a camera remote (multiple exposure, intervals etc.)) and I will learn what's needed to make it happen. What's a good system to learn (in terms of elegance of platform, availability, online community & resources, cost etc.)? e.g. PIC, Motorola (HC08), Zilog, Atmel.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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| PIC is probably the most commonly used, followed by Rabbit (descendant of Zilog Z80/Z180), unless it's for a big company like GM who uses Motorola. PIC tends to be like 8080, Z80/180/Rabbit is pretty much an extension of 8080 and Motorola isn't too much different. So if you learn one, any of the others won't be too hard to adapt to. |
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Any good books to read or resources? |
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 drjimPremium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Long Beach, CA
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»books.google.com/books?q=pic+mic···ct=title
»www.microchip.com/stellent/idcpl···odeId=64
»www.rentron.com/pic.htm
»www.mstracey.btinternet.co.uk/pi···main.htm
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 tschmidtPremium,MVM
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Milford, NH
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1 edit | reply to SK
I'm a big fan of MicroChip PIC controllers. There are lots of versions and they're cheap. Most development tools are downloadable free from the Mchip site. Lots of Flash parts and low cost engineering burner mean low development cost.
The "biggest" problem doing one off hobbyist stuff is finding thruhole parts rather then surface mount. Surface mount parts are fantastic if you are stuffing them on a PCB, but are a real pain if you are hardwiring a kludge board. Especially at my age with limited depth perception.
Microchip offers local one day classes, I assume other companies do so also to encourage developers.
/Tom |
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SKThe member formerly known as CowPremium
join:2001-05-18
Toronto
1 edit | Thanks everyone.
I'll start with PIC for my first project. I'm currently making a JDM programmer (parts $5)
The following is a great resource for getting started: »www.voti.nl/swp/index.html
Edit: forgot to mention, most PICstuff is not Mac compatible. Are others chips better in this regard? |
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| It seems to me that it's easier to find Mac tools for the Motorola processors. But Wintel software is far more common for any of them. |
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