Newbie seeks help with 'data capture'

Created Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:27:53 +0000 by poriet

poriet

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:27:53 +0000

Hi, I am thinking of getting a ChipKit. I bought an Amicus18 in preference to the Arduino because I prefer the PIC chips ( probably something to do with potty training ), but now I realise that 'C' is the way to go. And I have only today learned about the ChipKit, which certainly seems to have the best of both Worlds: 'C' and the PIC chip. I have been trying to get stuff to communicate with the pc. The intention is to gather data and import it into, say Excel, so I can manipulate it: bog-standard data recording. Previously, this was done via the serial port and RS232. The PIC would talk to the port by I2C, so you had to write code in assembler or learn 'C'.

Now, I assume the ChipKit can accept data through an A/D and store it in the chip. Can you then transfer this data to a software package, like Hyperterminal, via the USB port on the ChipKit? This would save all the hassle of building an RS232 serial port device.

I hope that's clear.

Thanks, Bruce

Ryan K

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:03:12 +0000

Hello Bruce,

When the chipkit boards are connected to the PC it opens a COM port that you can access through a Hyperterminal type application. I just tested a simple Serial.println() statement uploaded it and opened the COM port using X-CTU afterwards and it printed successfully.

Best Regards, Ryan K

poriet

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:33:59 +0000

Thanks Ryan, This all looks good to me: now I'm off to buy a ChipKit.

Bruce