Q: Best Microcontroller for this job

Hello i was looking at using a atmel 8515 or a pic (not sure which variant
yet) for a project.

The microcontroller will be connected to a max186 for analog aquisitions
which will be stored in an eeprom, also looking at a keypad ,lcd,x10  and
serial pc interface to configure the unit and download data from the
eeprom..

one of my concerns on the 8515 is the price @10$ but i can use gcc, i don't
want to get into assembly so i'd be looking at c / basic options for the pic
(lowest cost possible <g>)

Any suggestions?

On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 18:33:33 -0500, the renowned "--|--"
<chrispol@videotron.ca> wrote:

>Hello i was looking at using a atmel 8515 or a pic (not sure which variant
>yet) for a project.
>
>The microcontroller will be connected to a max186 for analog aquisitions
>which will be stored in an eeprom, also looking at a keypad ,lcd,x10  and
>serial pc interface to configure the unit and download data from the
>eeprom..
>
>one of my concerns on the 8515 is the price @10$ but i can use gcc, i don't
>want to get into assembly so i'd be looking at c / basic options for the pic
>(lowest cost possible <g>)
>
>Any suggestions?

TI MSP430? Can have the 12-bit ADC on-chip. 

Best regards, 
Spehro Pefhany
-- 
"it's the network..."                          "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

>Hello i was looking at using a atmel 8515 or a pic (not sure which variant
>yet) for a project.

Unless you are aiming at high-volume production (in which case you
should look wider than just 8515 and PIC): why bother about a few $?
My first advice for a PIC/uC newbie is to choose a chip for which you
can get help, that is far more valuable than the few $ price
difference between het varous uC's.

PS don't take me wrong, I am a convinced PIC user. But I am not
convinecd other people are wrong when they use AVR, 8051 or whatever.




Wouter van Ooijen

-- ------------------------------------
http://www.voti.nl
PICmicro chips, programmers, consulting

Hi Chris,
I think you can use Z8 encore microcontroller from zilog.
It has 8 channel ADC , uart, 64Kb flash, price from 4$ to 12$,
evaluation kit(C compiler & debug included) 30$.
Check www.zilog.com site for further info.
You can find price info at www.digikey.com and www.mouser.com

Regards.
Viron Papadopoulos.

"--|--" <chrispol@videotron.ca> wrote in message news:<kthRb.92999$yF.1171393@wagner.videotron.net>...
> Hello i was looking at using a atmel 8515 or a pic (not sure which variant
> yet) for a project.
> 
> The microcontroller will be connected to a max186 for analog aquisitions
> which will be stored in an eeprom, also looking at a keypad ,lcd,x10  and
> serial pc interface to configure the unit and download data from the
> eeprom..
> 
> one of my concerns on the 8515 is the price @10$ but i can use gcc, i don't
> want to get into assembly so i'd be looking at c / basic options for the pic
> (lowest cost possible <g>)
> 
> Any suggestions?

"--|--" <chrispol@videotron.ca> wrote in message news:<kthRb.92999$yF.1171393@wagner.videotron.net>...
> Hello i was looking at using a atmel 8515 or a pic (not sure which variant
> yet) for a project.
> 
> The microcontroller will be connected to a max186 for analog aquisitions
> which will be stored in an eeprom, also looking at a keypad ,lcd,x10  and
> serial pc interface to configure the unit and download data from the
> eeprom..

The PICDEM Plus (or is that the PICDEM-2 Plus?) development kit has
the following:
* serial eeprom
* LCD
* MAX232 serial interface 

Then connect the Max186 to the SPI of the PIC.

Then again, pretty much any microcontroller family you mentioned can
do what you want. I don't know how much more powerful is the MAX186,
but haven't you considered using internal eeproms and a/d channels
that these microcontrollers have?
> 
> one of my concerns on the 8515 is the price @10$ but i can use gcc, i don't
> want to get into assembly so i'd be looking at c / basic options for the pic
> (lowest cost possible <g>)
> 
> Any suggestions?

"--|--" <chrispol@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:kthRb.92999$yF.1171393@wagner.videotron.net...
> Hello i was looking at using a atmel 8515 or a pic (not sure which variant
> yet) for a project.
>
> The microcontroller will be connected to a max186 for analog aquisitions
> which will be stored in an eeprom, also looking at a keypad ,lcd,x10  and
> serial pc interface to configure the unit and download data from the
> eeprom..
>
> one of my concerns on the 8515 is the price @10$ but i can use gcc, i
don't
> want to get into assembly so i'd be looking at c / basic options for the
pic
> (lowest cost possible <g>)
>
> Any suggestions?
>

Looks like single unit pricing.
Try to get a free sample ?
You should also look at the ATmega8515....

-- 
Best Regards
Ulf at atmel dot com
These comments are intended to be my own opinion and they
may, or may not be shared by my employer, Atmel Sweden.