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> Microchip pic 18F kit - no programmer reqd
Microchip pic 18F kit - no programmer reqd
Have you tried to learn PIC programming and been put off by banking and the minimalist instruction set? Are you an experienced PIC programmer looking for a more powerful PIC? Then the APP-III is for you! Although the PIC 16F-series is very popular, it has many limitations that make it hard to learn and even harder to use. Microchip's 18F series has many powerful features including:
16K words of instructions (32K bytes) with no banking
1.5K of RAM (banking is required if you need more than 384 bytes)
Special function registers are non-banked
A 32-level stack that is user-accessible
Support for automatic context save/restore for interrupt handlers
An advanced instruction set that includes hardware multiply, and register to register transfers
Three indirect registers with sophisticated indexing features
An efficient way to read data from program storage
The usual compliment of PIC I/O (UARTs, A/D, etc.) – many are improved (for example, timer 0 has an optional 16-bit mode)
Now with the APP-III you can quickly and easily develop programs for this powerful processor. You don't need a Programmer! Look at these great features:
Supports MPLAB the free assembler/development environment from Microchip (or any tool that generates 8-bit hex files)
Up to 22 digital I/O ports (19 unrestricted)
Full serial port available to your program
15.8K of program words (32Kbytes - 512 bytes)
Can connect directly to a solderless breadboard
Self-contained 7805 regulator on PC board (picture shows kits assembled without power supply, but the power supply components are included)
Downloads: Tutorials, Manual, Resources online
Please note that this is a kit and does require soldering and basic electronic tools. This allows you to customize the board to fit your needs. All the parts are through hole, and the solder masked board is very easy to assemble.
Frequently Asked Questions (APP-III)
Q: What are the differences between the APP-III and an ordinary PIC18F252?
A: The APP-III doesn't require a programmer. However, this also means that there are a few differences. In particular, your program starts at location 0x200 (with interrupt vectors at 0x208 and 0x218). Port B pin 7 is not generally available for your use. You must use a HS-mode clock. Your program is free to use the serial port, but you should refrain from using the two serial port pins as general-purpose I/O unless you disconnect them before programming.
Q: Can I program a regular PIC with my APP-III code?
A: Yes. An APP-III program will run on any PIC18F252 (or similar processor). You simply include a stub to replace the bootloader or rebase your code from location 0 instead of 0x200.
