Microcontrollers

[Chuckt]

Has anyone in here programmed microcontrollers?

Like Atmel, Timex, Arduino, AVR, Propeller Chip, etc.

If you don't know what this is, nevermind. It isn't for everyone.

[DeaconDan]

Has anyone in here programmed microcontrollers?

Like Atmel, Timex, Arduino, AVR, Propeller Chip, etc.

If you don't know what this is, nevermind. It isn't for everyone.

Yes, a couple of now-ancient 8-bit gadgets. One I assembled around a z80 for a home security system before going with a PC-based solution. Another one with built-in C, which I used as a greenhouse controller (to monitor and control the environment).

[Chuckt]

I like the Z80 and I wish Commodore went with it instead of the 6510.

I found out that Microchip gives out free samples of their chips so I ordered a couple. They came directly from Thailand via Federal Express and DHL. I think you can order up to six a month. The only expensive part is that you have to buy a Pikit 2 Programmer and they started to sell the Pikit3 which is more expensive so I have delayed my purchase to think about this.

I found free tutorials at Bradsprojects.com and their message board is still up but I can't log on at the moment because their log file is corrupted.

[DeaconDan]

I like the Z80 and I wish Commodore went with it instead of the 6510.

For my controller, my decision was based on the fact you can easily get a z80 for under $10, but I do not think anyone has sold 65xx in years. It seems the z80 was at one time the less popular of the two, but I have no opinion on what anyone used. I am not a hobbiest. I just had some needs that a simple controller was ideal for.

[Chuckt]

The Z80 was better than the 6502 but the issue is if you are making 10,000 computers and if you charge $100 each then you would have to put up one million dollars. By today's standards, the 6502 is probably a $2 chip and the Z80 is probably a $6 dollar chip. The reason the Commodore 64 was the best selling computer was because they were undercutting competitors on price and if you are building 10,000 computers you are spending $20,000 with the 6502 instead of $60,000 with the Z80. Sometimes the best doesn't always win.

You can still get a W65C02S from www.westerndesigncenter.com and a 6502 computer kit from apatco.com but there are still computer users on 6502.org and they are still building computers because they understand it and some of them are using FPGA's. Other people in the field consider it obsolete compared to the new stuff but there is still a lot of good ways of doing things in the old stuff and it still has a lot of life.