Looking for Microcontroller Recommendations
in [Design]
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From: RogerN on 13 Jan 2010 21:22 Years back I played some with PIC microcontrollers but I've heard that manufacturers are making better microcontrollers for less money. Not looking for professional ICE or anything but maybe something competitive with Microchips in circuit programmer/debugger. I was considering buying Microchips ICD3 with PICDEM 2 board for $230, but thought maybe something would be a better choice. I'm considering Atmels line but wanted some input on others worth checking into. Any recommendations on favorite microcontrollers that I can get up an running with for a reasonable amount of dollars? Thanks! RogerN
From: MooseFET on 13 Jan 2010 21:32 On Jan 13, 6:22 pm, "RogerN" <re...(a)midwest.net> wrote: > Years back I played some with PIC microcontrollers but I've heard that > manufacturers are making better microcontrollers for less money. > > Not looking for professional ICE or anything but maybe something competitive > with Microchips in circuit programmer/debugger. I was considering buying > Microchips ICD3 with PICDEM 2 board for $230, but thought maybe something > would be a better choice. I'm considering Atmels line but wanted some input > on others worth checking into. > > Any recommendations on favorite microcontrollers that I can get up an > running with for a reasonable amount of dollars? About $100 will get you going on the silabs devices. You get: 8 input MUX to a ADC 2 DACs A collection of counters 128K of code space a few K of RAM A couple of UARTs A SPI port A couple of comparators > > Thanks! > > RogerN
From: David L. Jones on 13 Jan 2010 22:53 RogerN wrote: > Years back I played some with PIC microcontrollers but I've heard that > manufacturers are making better microcontrollers for less money. Yes, PIC included. They have everything from 8bit 6pin chips that cost cents, to 32bit processors that cost about $5. > Not looking for professional ICE or anything but maybe something > competitive with Microchips in circuit programmer/debugger. I was > considering buying Microchips ICD3 with PICDEM 2 board for $230, Forget the ICD3, the PICkit3 is all you need for program and debug, it's essentially the same as the ICD3 but much cheaper. The PICkit 3 on it's own is only $45, or a bit more with a demo board included. See my review: http://www.eevblog.com/2009/10/21/eevblog-39-pickit-3-programmerdebugger-review/ Don't take in all the negative stuff, that's only in comparison to the older PICkit2, it's actually a good programmer/debugger and is all you will need. Atmel have a similar priced ISP programmer, but it doesn't do debug. Don't touch third party or kit programmers, really, they are not worth the hassle. > but > thought maybe something would be a better choice. I'm considering > Atmels line but wanted some input on others worth checking into. Atmel and PIC are essentially the "big two" (argue away...), you'd probably only go with something else unless you have a specific need. > Any recommendations on favorite microcontrollers that I can get up an > running with for a reasonable amount of dollars? The Arduino is arguably the easiest system to get up and running, and it's all the rage, see my review: http://www.eevblog.com/2009/11/21/eevblog-45-arduino-picaxe-and-idiot-assembler-programmers/ It uses an Atmel. There is the PICAXE too, but you probably want something more than that. All other raw micros (PIC, AVR, MSP430 etc) and their associated development systems are about as equally annoying to get running for the beginner. Dave. -- ================================================ Check out my Electronics Engineering Video Blog & Podcast: http://www.eevblog.com
From: IanM on 14 Jan 2010 06:28 "RogerN" <regor(a)midwest.net> wrote in message news:xsmdnTA5VsCDHdPWnZ2dnUVZ_jednZ2d(a)earthlink.com... > > Years back I played some with PIC microcontrollers but I've heard that > manufacturers are making better microcontrollers for less money. > > Not looking for professional ICE or anything but maybe something > competitive with Microchips in circuit programmer/debugger. I was > considering buying Microchips ICD3 with PICDEM 2 board for $230, but > thought maybe something would be a better choice. I'm considering > Atmels line but wanted some input on others worth checking into. > > Any recommendations on favorite microcontrollers that I can get up an > running with for a reasonable amount of dollars? > If I get to choose, I use Z8XP http://www.zilog.com/index.php?option=com_product&Itemid=26&mode=showFamilyDetails&familyId=6&parent_id=2 with this dev kit (~$50) http://www.zilog.com/index.php?option=com_product&Itemid=26&mode=showProdDet&productId=Z8F04A08100KIT&businessLine=1&familyId=6
From: Jan Panteltje on 14 Jan 2010 10:05
On a sunny day (Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:22:56 -0600) it happened "RogerN" <regor(a)midwest.net> wrote in <xsmdnTA5VsCDHdPWnZ2dnUVZ_jednZ2d(a)earthlink.com>: > >Years back I played some with PIC microcontrollers but I've heard that >manufacturers are making better microcontrollers for less money. > >Not looking for professional ICE or anything but maybe something competitive >with Microchips in circuit programmer/debugger. I was considering buying >Microchips ICD3 with PICDEM 2 board for $230, but thought maybe something >would be a better choice. I'm considering Atmels line but wanted some input >on others worth checking into. > >Any recommendations on favorite microcontrollers that I can get up an >running with for a reasonable amount of dollars? > >Thanks! > >RogerN There are no better micro controllers then PICs. Next step up is a x86 :-) |