Microcontrollers

[iLL_LeaT]

I want to learn to program and augment microcontrollers.  I found the PICkit 2 Starter Kit.

http://www.microchipdirect.com/productsearch.aspx?Keywords=DV164120

Has anyone heard anything good or bad about this?

Is this a good start?

[Admin]

Im not familiar with that kit . . .

I recommend getting into AVR's. I strongly feel it will be the dominant microcontroller for the next 5-10 years, so its best to just start with them now. Ill only be supporting PIC16F877 and all AVR microcontrollers on this site, so thats another reason to just go with the flow

This is one way to go about it:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/step_by_step_robot.shtml

Another suggestion is to go to www.sparkfun.com and click the link titled 'development tools'

[iLL_LeaT]

How about the STK500 Starter Kit

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=2735

The thing I liked about the PIC starter kit was the simple circuitry.  The bad thing about it is that I become dependent on the little USB thing.

And The AVR circuit board looks so confusing my head starts to hurt when I look at the picture of it.

[dunk]

ive hered good things about this:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=3146
http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Microcontrollers-Featuring-Butterfly-Compiler/dp/0976682206/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9169292-0437642?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179499785&sr=8-1

i haven't used it myself though.

dunk.

[Admin]

I want to learn to program and augment microcontrollers.

The thing I liked about the PIC starter kit was the simple circuitry.

If you want to learn about augmenting, the best way is to make the circuit yourself. If you just want to program, then there are dozens and dozens of AVR based boards out there with the circuit already done for you:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_parts_list_microcontrollers.shtml

As for augmenting, my $50 robot circuit is about as simple as it gets . . .

For the AVR Butterfly, I havent used it either, but it looks like a good deal for the price. I think you can learn a lot about augmenting from it.

[Hal9000]

Dont forget the arduino. That looks pretty damn good.

However, AVR also sounds like a good bet. Especially that butterfly one. Everything you need seems to be there!

[iLL_LeaT]

Thanks for the advice.  I think I’m going get the AVR butterfly and build the microcontroller from the $50 robot and try and figure out exactly what is going on there.

I figure that if I do this, I won’t spend too much money and I’m bound to learn something about microcontrollers.