PIC Programming & PICKIT2 Anyone used one- Vista ?

[Adam Reed]

Hi Mooly,

If you go to the "development tools" page on Microchip.com and look at the PICKit2 Release notes, they clearly state that the PICKit2 runs under Vista. It also shows a huge list of processors that can be used with the PICKit2.

cheers
Adam

[Mooly]

Hi Adam, brilliant -- thank you

[Mooly]

Went with the PICKIT2. I knew it would be a monumental learning curve.
Had a lot of "issues" getting the software to install correctly with Vista. Probably just me, my knowledge of computing in general is fairly basic I would guess.
MPLAB I think was causing the problems rather than PK2. It kept triggering "updates to windows core services" amongst other things. Drivers would not install, Vista objected. In red- not happy, turned UAC off, still not happy. However, several attempts later ( I did run a full image backup first, so I could have a good play and then do it for real) ,
Got the PK2 demo to run. Exported the files, cleared the PIC, re imported, so I suppose that proves the drivers are all OK and working.
And I have got a LED to light up on it's own
Written with MPLAB and sent to PK2
Do you know how long that's taken me. Well I am not telling

[BWRX]

The important part is that you got it up and running! That's often the hard part. Now you can mess around with code all you want

What language will you be using - assembly or C?

[Mooly]

You would ask that Like this probably.
First thing that stumped me was the confiuration bits. __BOD_OFF in the tutorials. Error every time I tried to "build" it. Noticed the template for the 16f690 ( which I ended up using ) says __BOR_OFF which worked.
I know I have a long way to go.

[BWRX]

So you're using assembly then Not as friendly as C but definitely good to know!

This stuff can be very confusing if it's the first time you've encountered it because most of the documentation is written as if you have a solid understanding of microprocessor/programming basics. The datasheet for the micro is the best place to look for programming info. In there you can find what each of the configuration bits is for along with just about everything else you do or don't want to know about the micro.

[Mooly]

Confusing Your not wrong there !!

[BWRX]

Originally posted by Mooly
First thing that stumped me was the confiuration bits. __BOD_OFF in the tutorials. Error every time I tried to "build" it. Noticed the template for the 16f690 ( which I ended up using ) says __BOR_OFF which worked.

The "_BOD_OFF" and "_BOR_OFF" text strings are called equates which are text expressions that get replaced by whatever you want. These equates are defined somewhere in a header file. Instead of that string of equates you used to set the config you could just as easily set the config with a number (binary or hex) that matches the config settings you want. Here are two equivalent ways of doing that:

__CONFIG 0b0000000011010100
or
__CONFIG 0x00D4

Page 199 of the pic16f690 datasheet shows the config register and what each bit means.

[tryonziess]

While we are on this subject could someone recommend a good starter setup for me to begin to program the PIC chips. I know almost nothing about this and would need to start from scratch. I have a computer of course and do not mind assembling a kit.

Tad

[Mooly]

Thanks Brian. I will have a look at that later. It really is one step at a time. Probably trying to run before I can walk
The first thing I did was read the code of the demo program as in the picture. That runs four LED's left to right. A preset is used to vary the rate presumably using the A/D function. A tact switch changes the direction.
So very bravely I cleared the PIC memory and retyped the HEX code in. And it all works except for the tact switch. That does nothing, and my config bits are now 0FFF and the checksum shows CC7B so I have missed something somewhere.
So I am working through the lessons. To rebuild the demo program and that is where this _BOD_OFF arises. That is how it appears in the tutorial and it don't work !!! For me anyway. Change to BOR OFF and it accepts and builds with no error.
As I say, a long way to go