Learning About Microcontrollers - Advice
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Posted by John on April 3, 2006, 8:33 am
Please log in for more thread options 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) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by petrus bitbyter on April 3, 2006, 9:18 am
Please log in for more thread options 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 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by John on April 3, 2006, 10:09 am
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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 >
>> 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 > | |||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by petrus bitbyter on April 3, 2006, 3:41 pm
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>>
>>> 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 >> >
(http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en023805)
> 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" > > 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 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by BobG on April 3, 2006, 4:20 pm
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Read the beginner info at avrfreaks.net. Those guys think atmel avrs are better than pics | |||||||||||||||||||
>
> 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)