clueless

First, you're going to need a programmer. I built Michael Covington's No Parts Pic Programmer

You'll need software to operate the programmer. You can get the software that works iwth NoPPP from the website.

You'll need a test circuit to use your chip in. This one looks good:

If you're interested, here's the program I wrote for my test circuit:

- Owen -

Thanks for the info - can I use the MPLAB from microchip?

Hi again - in fact can I simply use C++ compiler (with Asm) and simply use the port i/o address this way?

I don't know how much money you want to spend. But I think my setup is great for easily learning and implementing a serial port connection.

As mentioned before, a PIC programmer - I use the USB programmer from Olimex

Both the programmer and C compiler integrate with Microchip's free MPLAB development environment

I was amazed at how simple it was to implement a serial port app with the CCS C compiler after having used assembly for awhile.

BRW

James,

If you are comfortable with C, get the book "Programming Robot Controllers" by Myke Predko. He shows how to make a simple programmer that costs about $17. He then shows how to do many simple and not so simple things with a PIC such as flashing an LED, creating a PWM signal and using an LCD. Al the software used is free, however you will need to get either a PIC 16F84 (not A) or a 16F627. BTW Microchip will give you up to three sample chips per quarter just for asking.

Tamar Soluti> Hi - I now have a PIC16F84A microchip and wish to get started using serial

I used MPLAB to develop my program. It produced the output I needed for the input to the NoPPP programmer software.

the port i/o address this way?

The asm has to be the same language as your PIC can understand, and your C++ compiler has to be able to produce the machine code your PIC can understand. You can't just use any old C++ compiler and expect it to work. Sorry, I haven't done this myself, so I'll step aside and let the others with the pertinent facts fill in the blanks. As another poster says, a C compiler like CCS can work.

- Owen -