Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit?

[Hammy]

I'm thinking of buying a PICkit 2 Starter Kit.

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en023805

Is there anything else I need to start using it for basic tutorial
stuff or is there anything else someone could recommend?

I have some experience with assembly, C, and C++ but it's been awhile.
So I'm looking for something simple and cheap to get caught up then
maybe move on to something better.

Thanks

 

[Randy Day]

In article <7alie4dr1eheceqpgtlvll80l9letkg15d@4ax.com>,
spamme@hotmail.com says...

I'm thinking of buying a PICkit 2 Starter Kit.

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en023805

I give it a thumbs up. I love being able to code-compile-
load-test-repeat. It programs PICs faster than anything I
use at work, and has withstood stupid wiring mistakes that
should have fried it.

The two times I thought I fried it, all I had to do was
reload the PK2 firmware; problem solved.

If you choose your pin functions right, you can wire it up
to program in-circuit on a breadboard or PCB.

I haven't used ICD at all, so I can't comment on that
aspect.

HTH

 

[Mike Wahler]

"Hammy" <spamme@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7alie4dr1eheceqpgtlvll80l9letkg15d@4ax.com...

I'm thinking of buying a PICkit 2 Starter Kit.

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en023805

My first foray into embedded programming was with this kit.
I had lots of fun and success.

Is there anything else I need to start using it for basic tutorial
stuff or is there anything else someone could recommend?

I was fortunate enough to have an instructor as well.
But imo it could be learned without one, but perhaps with
more effort.

I have some experience with assembly, C, and C++ but it's been awhile.

With that and some fundamental electronics knowledge, you
should be fine. I haven't yet found a C compiler for this chip
that I like, so I did/do everything in assembly. (It's a RISC,
so only a couple dozen instructions to learn -- and imo assembly
will better help you understand how the chip really works).

The provided IDE has a decent simulator, so you can watch the
code and its effects on memory, either step by step, or 'animated'.

So I'm looking for something simple and cheap to get caught up then
maybe move on to something better.

'Cheap' is a relative term. I did find the product simple to use.
Be sure to look at the provided code examples which target the kit
itself.

Also, in addition to the examples provided at Microchip's site,
you can find a large amount of code at www.piclist.org

HTH&
Have fun,
-Mike

 

[Robert Monsen]

On Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:03:12 -0400, Hammy <spamme@hotmail.com> wrote:

I'm thinking of buying a PICkit 2 Starter Kit.

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en023805

Is there anything else I need to start using it for basic tutorial
stuff or is there anything else someone could recommend?

I have some experience with assembly, C, and C++ but it's been awhile.
So I'm looking for something simple and cheap to get caught up then
maybe move on to something better.

Thanks

You may want to look at the MPS430 kits too (from TI). They support
jtag for debug, which is pretty useful. The PIC can do simulation, but
that doesn't help much in some situations.

One cool kit TI has is a wireless system, where a usb dongle connects
to the uC card remotely. Unfortunately, you can't use it to program
new devices, but you can buy device cards pretty cheaply.

I like the architecture of the MPS430 chips.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/4woc2r

However, the PIC is pretty easy to work with, and you can program new
chips with the pickit. I have one, and it was great fun getting to
know uCs with it.

Regards,
Bob Monsen

 

[Hammy]

On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:54:58 -0700, Robert Monsen <rcmonsen@gmail.com>
wrote:

You may want to look at the MPS430 kits too (from TI). They support
jtag for debug, which is pretty useful. The PIC can do simulation, but
that doesn't help much in some situations.

One cool kit TI has is a wireless system, where a usb dongle connects
to the uC card remotely. Unfortunately, you can't use it to program
new devices, but you can buy device cards pretty cheaply.

I like the architecture of the MPS430 chips.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/4woc2r

However, the PIC is pretty easy to work with, and you can program new
chips with the pickit. I have one, and it was great fun getting to
know uCs with it.

Regards,
Bob Monsen

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I purchased the PICkit 2 starter kit.

I'll blow the dust off my computer books from school which included
the MC68HC11, and see how things go. Hopefully it comes back quickly.

I'll keep the MPS430 in mind for future refrence.