electronics on-line
PICs on the Internet
Microchip’s family of PIC
devices comprises a small
galaxy of single-chip microcom-
puters, which achieved tremen-
dous popularity mainly because
they are so easy to program.
We rummaged around on the
Internet for a bit and stumbled
on an overwhelming amount of
information relating to PICs.
Some of the more essential
sites are discussed here.
The number of sites (on the Internet)
covering PIC-related subject reflects
the widespread interest in these con-
trollers. The contents of these sites
ranges from simple exchanges of infor-
mation to commercial pages offering
ready-built circuits for sale. Many do-
it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts, including
many readers of this magazine, will be
interested mainly in construction pro-
jects and free PIC software.
As a matter of course we should
start by mentioning the site run by the
manufacturer, Microchip:
www.microchip.com
Here, all elementary information may
be found. Then there’s Parallax Inc.,
who supply the famous BASIC Stamp,
a miniature board containing a PIC
running a BASIC interpreter. Parallax
can be found at
www.parallaxinc. com/home/htm
There are many more companies
supplying hardware and/or software
employing PIC devices. For example,
ITU Technologies from Cincinnati:
www.itutech.com
The PIP02 software for the Mini PIC
Programmer described our June 1997
issue is available from Silicon Studio at
www.sistudio.com
PROGRAMMERS
Designs for PIC programmers and the
associated software may usually be
obtained from sites run by enthusiasts
publishing their ‘thinkware’ via the
Internet. A PIC programmer for the
PC parallel port (P16PRO), complete
with printed circuit board design and
24
Windows soft-
ware may be
found on the
Maribor Uni-
versity server
(in Slovenia) at
www.uni-mb.si/
~uel205e7b/
(our thanks are
due to Mr. E.
Dekker for
supplying this
URL).
Another programmer for the Cen-
tronics port goes by the name of
TOPIC. It may be found at
www.man.ac.uk/~mbhstdj/topic.html
However, if you want to keep things
as simple as possible, you are well
advised to look for a PIC programmer
for the serial port. One definitely KISS
(Keep It Simple Stupid) and yet well-
tried design is, for example, COM84.
All details on this ultra-simple design
are available on
warthog.eece.maine.edu/segee/prog84.html
Finally, we should mention the Pro-
grammer 2 design at
www.gbar.dtu.dk/~c888600/newpic.htm
The above mentioned programmers
are just a few of dozens of designs that
may be found on the Internet.
LINKS
Because of the sheer volume of infor-
mation available on PICs via the Inter-
net, it’s a good idea to have a look at
pages maintained by people who have
done research work.
Eric’s PIC page is very extensive an
offers, among others, PIC projects, tips
and tricks, FAQs and a plethora of
links to other PIC sources and suppli-
ers. Go to
www.brouhaha.com/~eric/pic/
Dave Tait, who is also responsible
for the TOPIC programmer, runs a
page called ‘Links to Internet
Resources’, which contains hundreds
of links to books, commercial products,
application areas, and other people
experimenting with PICs:
www.man.ac.uk/mbhstdj/piclinks.html
The South African PIC Microcon-
troller Zone at
www.ip.co.za/people/kalle/pic/default.htm
has a nice collection of assorted PIC
information, like ftp sites, web pages
and mail lists.
Finally, if you think you need even
more information, visit the PIClist
Archive Website at
www.iversoft.com/piclist/
which can be browsed by subject, date
or author.
(985045-1)
Elektor Electronics 6/98