Learning About Microcontrollers - Advice

[John]

Hi there,

I wanting to start learning about programming microcontrollers and have done
some preliminary research have discovered I need some advice.

I seem to have a lot of abbreviations, but am not sure which is the best
path to choose, ie should I start with PIC, dsPIC, FPGA etc. The trouble is
that there seem to a lot of "starter kits" but what or the general pro's and
cons. Can anyone point me towards a good high-level article for beginners
that would explain this stuff? I've had a good look at Microchip.com's site
but even within that can't really decide what better for what and why?

All help greatly appreciated!

Best regards

John (UK)

 

[petrus bitbyter]

Hi there,

I wanting to start learning about programming microcontrollers and have
done some preliminary research have discovered I need some advice.

I seem to have a lot of abbreviations, but am not sure which is the best
path to choose, ie should I start with PIC, dsPIC, FPGA etc. The trouble
is that there seem to a lot of "starter kits" but what or the general
pro's and cons. Can anyone point me towards a good high-level article for
beginners that would explain this stuff? I've had a good look at
Microchip.com's site but even within that can't really decide what better
for what and why?

All help greatly appreciated!

Best regards

John (UK)

John,

Main question: What do you want to achieve? Micros can be used to serve a
lot of purposes but they are devices, seldom a cause in itself. Some are
used in toys, some in satellites and a lot of them in the world between.

As for micros, I consider http://www.voti.nl/swp/
a good intro in the world of micros.

BTW FPGAs are not micros but other programmable devices. IMHO you need to
have quite some understanding of digital design to use them.

petrus bitbyter

 

[John]

Hi Petrus,

Sorry, objective is really basic "home control" (ie lights switching, maybe
some environmental control such as temperature sensing etc. and perhaps some
remote control over the Internet), but also for general interest. I think
I'll leave launching satellites for week two!

Thanks very much for the link, which I've had a very quick scan through,
particularly the "are you sure" part. In many ways I would prefer to go
down the plug together modules (such as www.phidgets.com) although this
appears to increase the cost and you end up with a solution that's either
over spec'd or doesn't quite achieve what you want. I am reasonably useful
in VB.NET and so thought that a bit of C programming wouldn't be that much
of a leap, although as your article points out, the post flicking LEDs on
and off becomes more intensive.

So what do you think are there other modular systems you'd recommend or
something like "PICkit 2 Development Programmer"
(http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en023805)
be a better option?

Thanks again.

Best regards

John

 

[petrus bitbyter]

Hi Petrus,

Sorry, objective is really basic "home control" (ie lights switching,
maybe some environmental control such as temperature sensing etc. and
perhaps some remote control over the Internet), but also for general
interest. I think I'll leave launching satellites for week two!

Thanks very much for the link, which I've had a very quick scan through,
particularly the "are you sure" part. In many ways I would prefer to go
down the plug together modules (such as www.phidgets.com) although this
appears to increase the cost and you end up with a solution that's either
over spec'd or doesn't quite achieve what you want. I am reasonably
useful in VB.NET and so thought that a bit of C programming wouldn't be
that much of a leap, although as your article points out, the post
flicking LEDs on and off becomes more intensive.

So what do you think are there other modular systems you'd recommend or
something like "PICkit 2 Development Programmer"
(http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en023805)
be a better option?

Thanks again.

Best regards

John

John,

I fully agree about these phidgets.

As for the PICkit 2, I consider it a nice starter kit. But you need to
realise it's only one third of your needs. You'll need at least some basic
knowledge of electronics and you'll have to learn C- or assembly programming
combined with an understanding of the architecture of the device you want to
use. Part of these knowlege will be included in the lessons Microchip
provides with the kit. I heard about a BASIC compiler but never saw it. Be
aware that interfacing with the mains comes with is own challenges and
risks.

petrus bitbyter

 

[BobG]

Read the beginner info at avrfreaks.net. Those guys think atmel avrs
are better than pics

 

[John]

Thanks for your reply Petrus, and to Bob for the AVR link. You make some
useful points (and aware of the risks involved with mains).

I think I'll probably start off with the micochip kit to begin with as it
appears to be a well established area and so has a greater array of books,
forums and support, but maybe I'll try lighting a few LEDs and then see how
I get on from there.

Thanks very much for your help.

Best regards

John

 

[David L. Jones]

Hi there,

I wanting to start learning about programming microcontrollers and have done
some preliminary research have discovered I need some advice.

I seem to have a lot of abbreviations, but am not sure which is the best
path to choose, ie should I start with PIC, dsPIC, FPGA etc. The trouble is
that there seem to a lot of "starter kits" but what or the general pro's and
cons. Can anyone point me towards a good high-level article for beginners
that would explain this stuff? I've had a good look at Microchip.com's site
but even within that can't really decide what better for what and why?

All help greatly appreciated!

Best regards

John (UK)

By far the easiest introduction to microcontrollers would be the
PIC-AXE:
http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/

It's a PIC micro with a BASIC interpreter. *very* easy to program and
use. Learn this first and then you can progress to "real" PICs, AVR's
etc if you need to.
Normal micro's like the PIC and AVR are more difficult to understand
for the beginners, especially assembly language.

Dave

 

[John]

Thanks Dave. I'll take a look.

Best regards

John