Pic/Stamp basic info?

[James]

Up till now, I have made a couple of projects for a kit car such as a shift
light and a speed-dependant switch, but these have all used the freq-voltage
convertor > comparator method with some trial and error. While I've had some
success, I am wondering if I would be better placed to "go digital" and use
some of the pic/basic chips I have seen.
For instance, if there is a programming language that is basic-esque (I'm ok
at vb, not c though) I assume it would be (for a 4 mark shift light):

if pulse/sec > 83 then output1 = on
if pulse/sec > 91 then output2 = on
if pulse/sec > 100 then output3 = on
if pulse/sec > 108 then output4 = on

obviously thats VERY over simplistic but you get the drift!

Anyway, any good sites I should be looking at? How would I interface a
pulsed signal into the chip, and are there "counter" type options so I could
bung the current count into a variable for comparison? Also, there seem to
be hundreds of different chips available...

I am in the UK and I see Maplins do a couple of Basic "student" kits, would
these be any good?
Cheers,
James.

 

[CWatters]

The chances are someone else has already done something similar to what you
are trying to do. I'm sure BASIC is available. Repost your question to the
Microchip Discussion Forum at http://forum.microchip.com/

I got started programming PIC's some years ago using:

a) the free assembler from Microchip http://www.microchip.com/1010/index.htm

b) a good quality programmer. I got the Warp 13 from
http://www.newfoundelectronics.com/ but these days you can very easily
make your own if you plan to stick to versions of the PIC that have in
circuit programming (eg 16Fxxx series for example) Try a web search for a
PIC programmer design.

c) a "PIC Project board" from Farnell (part 120-054) but perhaps you already
have a small breadboard system?

d) The book "A Beginners Guide to the Microchip PIC" by Nigel Gardner which
came with free S/W and examples (Caution: If you buy this book make you get
a recent edition as the original was written in 1994!)

I just purchased a C compiler which comes with a large number of example
programs for everything from "measure pulse widths" to an "example web
server".

 

[CWatters]

Ty this page for BASIC....

http://www.elektroda.pl/eboard/searchtopic3560-.html

 

[James]

Ty this page for BASIC....

http://www.elektroda.pl/eboard/searchtopic3560-.html

Thanks for the pointers!