PICPRO 1

Ramsey Electronics Model No. PIC1

Youve seen all the super neat projects using the
popular PIC series of microcontrollers. Heres a really
easy to use programmer to get you up and running fast!

Featured as the cover story in Electronics Now magazine.

Programs PIC F83, F84 microcontrollers.

Easy hookup connects to computer parallel port.

Even includes a simple first project to use your PICPRO
programmer on.

Clear, concise instructions guide you step by step.



PICPRO

PIC CHIP PROGRAMMER
PICPRO 2



PARTIAL LIST OF AVAILABLE KITS
RAMSEY TRANSMITTER KITS
FM25, MP3FM FM Stereo Transmitters
AM1 AM Transmitter
TV6 Television Transmitter
FM100 Professional FM Stereo Transmitter

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FR1 FM Broadcast Receiver
AR1 Aircraft Band Receiver
SR2 Shortwave Receiver
AA7 Active Antenna
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RAMSEY HOBBY KITS
SG7 Personal Speed Radar
SS70A Speech Scrambler
MX5, MX10 Mixers
MD3 Microwave Motion Detector
PH10 Peak hold Meter
STC1 Stereo Transmitter Companion

RAMSEY AMATEUR RADIO KITS
FX 146 VHF Transceiver
HR Series HF All Mode Receivers
QRP Series HF CW Transmitters
CW7 CW Keyer
CPO3 Code Practice Oscillator
QRP Power Amplifiers

RAMSEY MINI-KITS
Many other kits are available for hobby, school, scouts and just plain FUN. New
kits are always under development. Write or call for our free Ramsey catalog.

Ramsey Electronics publication No. MPICPRO Revision 1.2
First printing: April 1999

COPYRIGHT 1999 by Ramsey Electronics, Inc. 793 Canning Parkway, Victor, New York
14564. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be copied or duplicated without the
written permission of Ramsey Electronics, Inc. Printed in the United States of America.
PICPRO 3
PICPRO
PIC-CHIP
MICROCONTROLLER
PROGRAMMER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview and Specifications ........ 4
Parts List ...................................... 5
Construction ................................. 6
Installing Software ....................... 9
Connecting PICPRO ....................10
Testing PICPRO ..........................10
Schematic diagram ......................14
Frequently Asked Questions ........15
Troubleshooting ...........................18
Parts Layout Diagram ..................22
KIT ASSEMBLY AND
INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR
RAMSEY ELECTRONICS, INC.
793 Canning Parkway
Victor, New York 14564
Phone (716) 924-4560
Fax (716) 924-4555
Ramsey Publication No. MPIC1
Price $5.00
PICPRO 4
Overview and Specifications

PICPRO is Ramsey Electronics' programmer for the PIC16C84, PIC16F84,
and PIC16F83 microcontrollers made by Microchip, Inc. These are a few of a
large line of PIC microcontrollers; their special feature is that they use flash
memory (so no UV eraser is needed) and are programmed by a serial data
protocol (making the programmer circuit simple).

PICPRO requires a PC-compatible computer with one parallel port available.
It runs under DOS 3.0 or higher, and in a DOS box under Windows 95,
Windows 98 (not NT) or OS/2.

Required software for the Ramsey PICPRO programmer is available in the
download section of the Ramsey Electronics web site at http://www.
ramseyelectronics.com. This software includes the PICPRO run software,
editor software, programming software, and assembler software. In addition,
an enhanced Win95/98 based program development system called MPLAB,
is available free of charge from the manufacturer of PIC microcontrollers at
http://www.microchip.com.

PICPRO is based on NOPPP, a PIC programmer designed by Michael
Covington and featured in Electronics Now, September 1998. For current
information on NOPPP and related projects, see the NOPPP web page at
http://www.mindspring.com/~covington/noppp. The NOPPP software is
100% compatible with PICPRO.





PICPRO 5
RAMSEY Parts List

CAPACITORS:
1 .001 uf disc capacitor (marked .001 or 102 or 1 nf) [C8]
3 .1 uf disc capacitor (marked .1 or 104) [C5,6,7]
3 10 uf electrolytic capacitor [C2,3,4]
1 100 uf electrolytic capacitor [C1]

RESISTORS:
10 330 ohm (orange-orange-brown) [R6,7,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17]
3 1K ohm (brown-black-red) [R3,4,5]
1 2.2K ohm (red-red-red) [R1]
3 4.7K ohm (yellow-violet-red) [R2,8,9]
1 10K ohm (brown-black-orange) [R18]

SEMICONDUCTORS:
1 2N3904 NPN transistor (marked 2N3904) [Q1]
2 1N270 diode [D1,2]
1 1N4148 diode (marked 4148) [D4]
1 Jumbo red LED [D3]
8 Mini red LED [D5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]
1 78L12 voltage regulator, TO-92 package [VR1]
1 78L05 voltage regulator, TO-92 package [VR2]

MISCELLANEOUS:
1 2.1mm power jack [J1]
1 DB25 connector [J2]
1 18 pin IC socket [U2]
1 18 pin IC socket [U3]
1 DPDT pushbutton switch [S1]
17 inches insulated wire
2 1 inch standoffs
4 #4 screws
PICPRO 6
Construction:

In all the following steps the word install means to:

1) Correctly locate and identify the part called for in the instruction step.
2) Carefully insert the part into the proper holes on the PC board.
3) Gently bend the components leads slightly to secure it to the PC
board.
4) Turn the PC board over and solder the component leads to the board.
5) Trim or nip off the excess lead length after soldering.
6) Check off the step when completed.

Tips on soldering:

Correct soldering is not difficult and is fun to do. Projects such as this one
are easily assembled using a soldering pencil iron of 25 - 50 watts. The most
important thing to remember in making good joints is to use enough heat to
allow the solder to flow smoothly around the entire connection area. The
component lead wire and the PC board trace area should be in contact with
the iron and then the solder added. This will cause the solder to flow
completely between the PC trace and lead wire. A proper solder connection
should look shiny and smooth.

Now that the lessons are out of the way, lets get building!

Please pay close attention to the instruction steps and the layout diagram.
The printed parts outline on the PC board is the component side, while the
unprinted side is the solder side. More simply, if you are unsure of what side
to put a component on, the component always goes on the side with the
printed outline, and the leads are soldered on the other. Well begin with the
larger of the 3 PC boards.

1. Install S1, the DPDT pushbutton switch . It fits correctly only one
way. Ensure that the white plastic switch extends out over the edge of
the printed circuit board and the switch is placed flat against the PC
board.
2. Install J1, the 2.1mm power jack . Solder all three points of the jack
securely.
3. Install VR1, the 78L12 voltage regulator. Make sure the flat side of
the component is placed as shown on the layout diagram.
PICPRO 7
4. Install D4, the 1N4148 diode (marked 4148). The diode must be
placed with the black band in the position shown on the PC board layout.
Be careful to orient this diode correctly.
5. Install C1, a 100 uf electrolytic capacitor. Electrolytic capacitors have
a right and a wrong way to be installed. Usually capacitors have a wide
black stripe which indicates their negative lead and the PC board or
parts layout diagram will show the positive side. Observe correct polarity
when installing C1.
6. Install R6, one of the 330 ohm resistors (orange-orange-brown).
7. Install VR2, the 78L05 5 volt regulator. Be sure to orient the flat side
as shown on the PC board layout.
8. Install C2, one of the 10 uf electrolytic capacitors. Pay close attention
to the proper position of the positive lead of the capacitor.
9. In the same manner, install C3 and C4, the remaining 10 uf
electrolytic capacitors. Be sure to orient these electrolytic capacitors as
shown on the parts layout diagram.
10. Install D3, the jumbo red LED. The long lead of the diode should be
placed in the hole marked with a + symbol.
11. Install C5, .1 uf disc capacitor (marked .1 or 104).
12. Install Q1, the 2N3904 NPN transistor (marked 2N3904).Be sure you
have properly positioned the flat side of the transistor.
13. Install R1, a 2.2K ohm resistor (red-red-red).
14. It is now time to install JMP 1. Using a scrap component lead, form
this jumper and install as you would a resistor. Jumpers act like small
bridges to route traces over obstacles (other traces).
15. Install C6, a .1 uf capacitor (marked .1 or 104).
16. Install R8, 4.7K ohms (yellow-violet-red).
17. Install R9, another 4.7K ohm resistor (yellow-violet-red).
18. Install R4, 1K ohm (brown-black-red).
19. Install R3, another 1K ohm resistor (brown-black-red).
20. Install R5, the last 1K ohm resistor (brown-black-red).
21. Install D2, a 1N270 diode (marked 1N270). Be sure to orient the
black band as shown on the PC board silkscreen and parts layout
diagram.
22. Install R2, 4.7K ohm resistor (yellow-violet-red).
23. Install D1, a 1N270 diode (marked 1N270). Again, be sure to orient
the black band as shown on the PC board silkscreen and parts layout
diagram.
24. Install R7, 330 ohms (orange-orange-brown).
PICPRO 8
25. Install J2, the DB25 connector. Be sure the connector is seated flush
to the PC board and all 25 pins are soldered.

The only things left to install on this board are the wires, labeled TP1A
through TP3A.

26. Prepare the wire by cutting it into 5 pieces 2 inches long. Strip each
end of each piece and tin the wire by applying solder to the stripped
ends. Install one of the stripped and tinned wires in the TP1A, position.
27. In the same way, install the remaining four wires (TP2A through
TP5A) and solder them in.

We will now move on to the next PC board and install the components. This
board is labeled PICDEMO-1 on the topside silkscreen.

28. Install C7, .1 uf disc capacitor (marked .1 or 104).
29. Install R18, 10K ohms (brown-black-orange).
30. Install C8, .001 uf disc capacitor, marked .001, 102 or 1 nf.
31. Install U2, the 18 pin IC socket. While the socket can be installed
either way, if there is a dot or a notch on the socket you will want to line
that up with the notch on the PC board silkscreen. This will make it
easier to orient your ICs when installing them in the socket. Be sure all
18 pins are fully through the PC board before soldering in the part.
32. It is now time to install R10 through R17, all 330 ohm (orange-
orange-brown). Insert and bend the leads on each resistor then solder
them all in.
33. Heres another group of identical parts to install; D5 through D12,
mini red LEDs. Mark each of the LEDs so that they will sit about 1/4 inch
above the PC board. This will make it easier to get them all installed
evenly when you solder them in. The long leads are the positive and
should be placed in the holes closest to the resistors R10 R17. Insert
them through the PC board and bend the leads so that the LEDs are all
approximately the same height (1/4 inch) and solder them in.

We can now move on to the last PC board. This is marked PICEXTN-1 and
contains the fewest parts.

43. Install U3, the 18 pin socket. Install the socket so that the notch is to
the right when the text [RAMSEY ELECTRONICS] is right side up. Be
sure to solder all 18 pins.
44. We will now connect the board weve been working on to the main
PICPRO 9
PC board. Start by resting the small board [PICEXTN-1] on the main
[PICPRO-1] PC board so that the pads labeled TP1A TP5A are lined
up with the pads labeled TP1B TP5B. The wires will have to be
soldered on the bottom of the small board so once the wires have been
matched up to their respective holes (TP1A to TP1B and so forth), the
board will need to be flipped over so that the solder pads can be
reached. The wires can be installed one at a time if that seems simpler.
Solder each wire into its proper position then trim off the excess wire on
the top side of the board.
45. Install the 1 inch standoffs on the main board using the #4 screws.
46. Flip the small PC board over and screw it to the standoffs using the
remaining #4 screws.

You have completed the assembly of your PICPRO programmer! We
assume that you are acquainted with PIC assembly language. If not, don't
panic you will be able to do the demonstrations here even if you don't know
any assembly language yet, provided you know how to edit text files.

Installing software on your PC

You will need to download the most current PICPRO operating software from
the download section of the Ramsey Electronics web site, http://www.
ramseyelectronics.com.

Minimum Operating File

pic1.zip PICPRO run software

Additional Feature Software Files

noppp.zip NOPPP No Parts PIC Programmer Software
asmb213.zip PIC Microcontroller Assembler
topic.zip David Taits freeware software package compatible
with NOPPP and PICPRO

To download the file(s) go to the download page of the Ramsey web site
(http://www.ramseyelectronics.com) and select the desired file, and save it to
your hard drive.

Throughout this manual, we will assume you have downloaded the run files
contained in pic1.zip, and have unzipped them into a directory on your PC
called c:\PICPRO
PICPRO 10

The PICPRO run software is DOS executable file picpro-1.exe which would
be located in your directory c:\PICPRO (or wherever you saved it). (Note: If
youre using OS/2, be sure to enable access to hardware timers
[HW_TIMER] in the properties of the DOS box.)

Connecting PICPRO to your PC

Static electricity hazard: PIC microcontrollers are sensitive to static electricity
that can accumulate on your body without your knowing it. So is the parallel
port of your PC. Before coming into contact with these items, ground yourself
by briefly touching your desk or your PC. If humidity is low, spray anti-static
compound (or, in a pinch, a fine mist of water) on the carpet and furniture
where you are working.

Connect PICPRO to the parallel port of your computer using the cable
supplied or any other cable that has all the appropriate pins connected.
Preferably, the cable should be short (about 2 feet); some parallel ports will
drive a longer cable reliably and some won't.

Serial port cables are not suitable; even if they fit the connectors, they are
missing some of the necessary wires.

Make sure you know which parallel port you are using (LPT1, LPT2, or
LPT3). If you don't, you can find out by trial and error when you run the
software. Also, if you use a networked printer, make sure that this parallel
port has not been redirected to the network by the operating system.

Testing PICPRO

Although electronic problems are uncommon when PICPRO is built from a
kit, you can test the circuit with a voltmeter to verify correct wiring. To do this,
start the PICPRO software:

C:\PICPRO> picpro-1

Then select T (test) on the device menu and follow the instructions. Do not
panic if some voltages are slightly out of specification; be on the lookout for
large errors, such as 0 volts where you expect 5 volts.

Programming your first PIC

The software contains two already-assembled programs, DEMOF84 (for the
PICPRO 11
PIC16F84) and DEMOC84 (for the PIC16C84). Choose the one that cor-
responds to the PIC you're using, and you're ready to program your first PIC.
Start the PICPRO software on your PC. Select the appropriate parallel port
and turn on the programmer when the software tells you to do so. When
asked which type of PIC you are programming, type F for PIC16F84 (or C if
you are using a PIC16C84). Then insert the PIC into the socket.
Be sure to insert the PIC the right way around as shown in Figure 1. It will be
ruined if you insert it backward. Note that pin 1 of the PIC is marked with a
notch and/or a circle. Pin 1 must always be positioned toward the handle of
the socket.








At this point you will see the main menu of PICPRO, which looks like this:

PICPRO-1 by Ramsey Electronics
Michael A. Covington
Version of Jan 2 1999 15:45:18
............................
Using LPT1 on 378H
............................
PIC16F84
............................
L Load HEX file
S Select type of PIC
E Erase PIC
P Program PIC
V Verify PIC

X Exit program

Your choice (L,S,E,P,V,X):

Press L to load a file and type the filename demof84.hex and press Enter
(If you're using a PIC16C84, type democ84.hex instead.) Then press E to
erase the PIC, P to program it, and V to verify that it is programmed correctly.

You can now exit PICPRO (following instructions on the screen about
removing power and removing the PIC), then insert the programmed PIC in
PICPRO 12
the LED chaser demo board. Apply power (4 to 6 volts), and the LEDs will
light, one after another, in endless succession. Note that the power
connections to the demo board are two large pads on the foil side of the
board; you can use alligator clips to make connections to them.

; File DEMOF84.ASM
; Assembly code for PIC16F84 microcontroller

; Blinks LEDs on outputs in a rotating pattern.
; with 75 kHz osc, each LED stays on 1/2 second.

; CPU configuration
; (It's a 16F84, RC oscillator,
; watchdog timer off, power-up timer on)

processor 16f84
include <p16f84.inc>
_ _config _RC_0SC & _WDT_OFF & _PWRTE_ON

; Declare variables at 2 memory locations

J equ H1F ; J = address hex 1F
K equ H1E ; K = address hex 1E

; Program

org 0 ; start at address 0

; Set port B as output and initialize it

movlw B00000000 ; w := 00000000 binary
tris PORTB ; port B ctrl register := w
movlw B00000001 ; w := 00000001 binary
movwf PORTB ; port B itself := w

; Clear the carry bit

bcf STATUS,C

; Rotate the bits of port B leftward through the carry bit

mloop: rlf PORTB,f

; Waste some time by executing nested loops

movlw D50 ; w := 50 decimal
movwf J ; J := w
jloop: movwf K ; K := w
kloop: decfsz K,f ; K = K-1, skip next if zero
goto kloop
decfsz J,f ; J = J-1, skip next if zero
goto jloop

; Do it all again

goto mloop

PICPRO 13
end

Figure 2: Listing of DEMOF84.ASM. DEMOC84.ASM is almost identical.


Assembling a new program

Now you're ready to create a program of your own. Rather than try to teach
you PIC assembly language right here, we'll guide you through making a
simple modification to the LED chaser program.

File DEMOF84.ASM is shown in Figure 2. Make a copy of it (or DEMOC84.
ASM if you're using the 'C84) and call the copy MYDEMO.ASM:

C:\PICPRO1> copy demof84.asm mydemo.asm

Now open mydemo.asm with your favorite editor. You can use Windows
Notepad, the EDIT command in newer versions of DOS, or the editor
PRED.EXE that is supplied on the diskette.

C:\PICPRO1> edit mydemo.asm or C:\PICPRO1> pred mydemo.asm

Find the line in the program that reads

movlw D50 ; w := 50 decimal
and change it to
movlw D30 ; w := 30 decimal

taking care to leave some blanks to the left of movlw.

Now you must assemble MYDEMO.ASM to create MYDEMO.HEX. This is
done with the program MPASM. Type the command:

C: \PICPRO1> mpasm mydemo.asm

to do this. If you prefer, you can type mpasm without the filename and you will
be prompted to enter the name of the file and other information.

The assembly process will create several files: MYDEMO.HEX (which con-
tains the new data to be programmed into the PIC), MYDEMO.LST (a listing
that contains error messages, if any), and a couple of files you can delete
PICPRO 14
called MYDEMO.COD and MYDEMO.ERR.

If there are fatal errors, MYDEMO.HEX is not created and you have to look
at MYDEMO.LST to find out what went wrong.

Although your program should assemble without any errors, take a look at
MYDEMO.LST anyhow (using EDIT, PRED, or Windows Notepad). If you
programmed computers before 1980 or so, you've seen a lot of files like
this - it's a traditional compiler listing, designed to be printed, containing
every line of the program together with error messages and other
commentary from the compiler.

Don't get mixed up and edit the wrong file - remember that although the .LST
file contains the error messages, the .ASM file is the one you need to edit in
order to correct them!

You'll note that the TRIS PORTB instruction in the program provoked a
warning. The reason is that some higher-end PICs do not have this in-
struction, and although it works fine on the PIC16F84, Microchip is dis-
couraging people from using it. Pay no attention to the warnings; TRISB
(along with TRISA) is a perfectly legitimate instruction on the chips that
PICPRO uses.

Now start the PICPRO1 program and erase the PIC, then program MY-
DEMO.HEX into it. The procedure is the same as before. This time, when
you put the PIC into the LED chaser demonstration circuit, the action will be
significantly faster because you've reduced the value of a loop counter.

Frequently-asked questions

Does PICPRO work with all PCs?

It works with all the PCs we have tried, ranging from a 4.77-MHz 8088 to a
300-MHz Pentium II. There is a very small chance that your parallel port will
not drive PICPRO properly. In that case, try a different parallel port or a
different PC.

What kind of power supply is needed?

The power supply that comes with PICPRO may be labeled "12 volts," but
under light load it delivers more than 14 volts, and the circuit relies on this.
Input to PICPRO should always be at least 14 volts DC.

PICPRO 15
Where do I get the PIC assembler and simulator?

An assembler for DOS is included in the downloadable PICPRO run files; a
much better development system called MPLAB is available free of charge
from Microchip, Inc., at http://www.microchip.com. You can download it from
the web site or request a copy on CD-ROM.
The complete MPLAB package for Windows, including assembler and
simulator/debugger, is about 7 megabytes in size. That's less than an hour of
downloading at 28.8 kbaud.

It doesn't matter which version of MPLAB you get; all reasonably recent
versions work fine. Recent revisions fix bugs affecting other PICs, not the
16C84/F84/F83.

Which kind of PIC should I buy, and where can I get it?

PICPRO will program any PIC16C84, PIC16F84, or PIC16F83 chip that you
can plug into it. The cheapest and most readily available of these is the
PIC16F84-04P. Here 04 means the maximum clock speed is 4 MHz (as op-
posed to 10) and P means it's in a plastic DIP package (not surface mount).

PICPRO is probably also suitable for the Iow-voltage PICs, PIC16LC84 and
PIC16LF84, although it has not been tested extensively with them.

You can buy PICs and PIC-related items from:

Digi-Key (1-800-DIGIKEY, http://www.digikey.com)
Jameco (http://www.jameco.com)
Dontronics (http://www.dontronics.com)

The last of these has a particularly interesting selection of resources for
experimenters and hobbyists.

Where can I learn more about PICs?

You can download PIC manuals in PDF form, or request printed manuals,
from Microchip, Inc. (http://www.microchip.com).

Beyond that, I particularly recommend the book Easy PIC'n, by David Ben-
son, published by Square One (squareone@zapcom.net). Advanced PIC
programming is covered in Design with PIC Microcontrollers, by John B.
Peatman, published by Prentice-Hall. Intermediate between these is Myke
Predko's Programming and Customizing the PIC Microcontroller, published
PICPRO 16
by TAB.

You can special-order these through any good bookstore or buy them online
at http://www.amazon.com.
Why do you use the TRIS instruction when Microchip says not to?

TRIS is a fully supported instruction in the PIC16C84 and related chips.
Microchip discourages people from using it for only one reason: some of the
higher-end PICs lack it, and they want you to be able to move up.

I find the TRIS instruction much more convenient than the alternative, and I
see no reason not to use it. If I ever port my programs to a higher-end PIC,
I'll be able to remove the TRIS instruction, or change it to a macro, at the
same time that I make other changes.

Isn't it dangerous to insert the PIC into the socket with power already
applied?

After careful thought, I decided it wasn't. Here's why: The usual hazard from
inserting an IC into a socket with power already on is that CMOS chips will
go into "SCR latchup." This happens when an input is high but the V+ pin is
not yet powered up.

In PICPRO, that doesn't happen. When you're told to insert the chip, V+ is
powered up (+5V) but all the other pins are near 0 volts.

What do the error messages mean?

Caution: programmer hardware not found

This means the PICPRO software is unable to detect the PICPRO hardware.
Most likely, you've chosen the wrong parallel port or you have not yet applied
power to PICPRO.

Caution: Configuration word appears to contain invalid bits.

Your .HEX file was assembled for a different PIC (such as 16F84 rather than
16C84). It may not work if programmed into the PIC that you have currently
selected.

Failed at 0000: Expecting (something), found 3FFF.

PICPRO 17
You are trying to verify a blank PIC without having programmed it, or . . .

You have a defective PIC, or . . .

You have some kind of data communication problem; the PIC is not
receiving commands correctly. Try a shorter cable; check the circuit
carefully; run the voltage checks.

Troubleshooting

My PICPRO doesn't work. What should I check?

1. Are all connections correct and properly soldered? (Check with an
ohmmeter, or better yet, run the voltage checks in the test mode of
the software.)
2. Are you using a fresh or tested PIC and protecting it from static elec-
tricity?
3. Have you tried different BIOS settings for the parallel port that you
are using? PICPRO should work with any settings, but in difficult
cases it's good to try alternatives.
4. Does the cable from your computer to PICPRO actually connect all
the lines that are used? Serial-port cables do not! Also, my own
experience is that cables that make bad connections are extremely
common. A cable can test out fine with an ohmmeter and still fail to
make good connections to some sockets due to slight variation in
the length of the pins.
5. Is your cable too long? Try using the shortest cable possible (under
2 feet). Some parallel ports work fine driving PICPRO through much
longer cables; some don't.
6. Finally, does your parallel port work? Can you use it to connect your
computer to a printer? Some people have had trouble with PICPRO
only to discover they were using a dead parallel port (parallel output
had been redirected to a network).

MPLAB: Notes for the perplexed

MPLAB is the full-featured PIC development environment that you can
download from http://www.microchip.com or obtain on CD from Microchip,
Inc., the maker of PIC microcontrollers.

If you are not familiar with advanced software development tools, you may
find MPLAB a bit perplexing. These are some brief notes to help you get
started. Please note that MPLAB is not a product of Ramsey Electronics or
PICPRO 18
Covington Innovations and any further questions about it should be
addressed to its manufacturer.

PICPRO 19
How to create a project in MPLAB

Everything in MPLAB revolves around the notion of a "project," which is a set
of files that need to be processed to assemble (compile) your program.

Note that you must use the __config statement (with two _ marks) to specify
whether you are using the RC or crystal oscillator and whether you want the
watchdog timer on (usually you dont). There are menus in MPLAB for
specifying this configuration information when you are using one of
Microchips programmers that interface directly with MPLAB; they dont apply
when youre assembling a .HEX file and then programming the PIC through
the PICPRO-1 software.

We'll assume you have just one file, MYPROG.ASM, and from it you want to
generate MYPROG.HEX.

Start MPLAB.

Choose Project, New Project.

Go to the directory where MYPROG.ASM resides, and create MYPROG.PJT
there. The dialog box will say *.pjt and you type "myprog" in place of *.

A diagram of the structure of the project will appear. It contains only one
item, myprog[.hex]. This is a "node," i.e., a file to be created by MPLAB.

Click once on myprog[.hex] and add the node myprog.asm under it.
Then click OK a couple of times to get back to the main menu.

Choose Project, Save Project.

Then go to File, Open, and open the file MYPROG.ASM.

How to assemble (compile) your program

Now it's time to tell MPLAB a bit more about what you're doing.

Go to Options, Development Mode, and choose MPSIM Simulator and tell it
what kind of PIC you're using. Also go to Options, Processor Setup, and
make sure everything is right.

PICPRO 20
Edit your file ad libitum, save it, and then go to Project, Build All. That means
"do all the assembling and other things needed to get the .hex file into final
form."

The assembler will run and some messages will appear on the screen:
"Use of this instruction is not recommended" is normal for TRIS in-
structions.
"Label found..." is serious: it means you misspelled an instruction.
(The assembler may not think it's serious, but it is.)
"MPLAB is unable to find the output file MYPROG.HEX" means the
assembly failed due to errors. Correct the errors and try again.

You can double-click on any error message to go to the line it corresponds to.

You can also view the entire source listing (LST file), with messages in
context, by choosing Window, Absolute Listing. Get into the habit of doing this.
Close the "Build Results" window when you are through with it.

How to step through your code

Once you have the project successfully assembled, you can simulate exe-
cution of it. Be sure you're in MPSIM simulator mode (see previous page).
You will be using the Debug menu to run the program. But you must also set
up some memory locations to be displayed, or you won't see anything.
Here is one of many things you can do in the simulator:

Choose Window, File Registers, to display a map of RAM.
Choose Window, Special Function Registers, to display the registers.
Go to any assembly instruction in the absolute listing window, right-
click on it, and choose Run To Here.

The program will execute to the line you chose and then stop, displaying the
state of memory.

From there, you can do another Run To Here, or step through the code, or
reset the program, using the Debug, Run menu.

PICPRO 21
PICPRO PARTS LAYOUT DIAGRAM
PICPRO 22
How to program your code into a PIC

For PICPRO users, that's the easy part, at least in a backhanded sense of
"easy."

If you had a Microchip programmer such as a PICstart Plus, you could turn it
on from within MPLAB and do your programming. But PICPRO doesn't work
that way. Exit MPLAB, find your .HEX file, and use the PICPRO software (at a
DOS prompt) to do the programming.

Common errors in assembly language

Assembly-language programming is not easy, and careful attention to the
CPU architecture is required. Sometimes, though, a program looks perfectly
correct and yet doesn't work. Here are some common errors:

Starting a statement at the beginning of the line. The only things that
can appear in the very first column are a label (on a statement or EQU)
or a comment. The actual instruction always starts in column 2 or
later.
Failing to mark numbers as decimal (D199), hex (HC7), or binary
(B11000111 ). Unmarked numbers are usually taken as hex, but
it's best to mark the base (radix) of all numbers in programs.
Trying to count higher than 255 in a 1-byte counter. (If you're accus-
tomed to 80386 assembly language, it's easy to forget that the PIC is
an 8-bit processor.)
Failing to look at the LST file to see your error messages - or mixing
up the LST and ASM files and trying to make corrections in the LST.
Writing only one underscore mark in __config. It requires two.
Leaving out the __config command. PICPRO-1 does not give you
any other way to specify the configuration, and the default values may
not be what you want.

Michael A. Covington
Microcontroller consultant
Covington Innovations
285 Saint George Drive
Athens, Georgia 30606
http://www. mindspring.com/~covington

Notes:
PICPRO 23
PICPRO 24
Notes:
PICPRO 25
Notes:
PICPRO 26
The Ramsey Kit Warranty

Please read carefully BEFORE calling or writing in about your kit. Most problems can be
solved without contacting the factory.

Notice that this is not a "fine print" warranty. We want you to understand your rights and ours too! All
Ramsey kits will work if assembled properly. The very fact that your kit includes this new manual is
your assurance that a team of knowledgeable people have field-tested several "copies" of this kit
straight from the Ramsey Inventory. If you need help, please read through your manual carefully, all
information required to properly build and test your kit is contained within the pages!

1. DEFECTIVE PARTS: It's always easy to blame a part for a problem in your kit, Before you conclude
that a part may be bad, thoroughly check your work. Today's semiconductors and passive components
have reached incredibly high reliability levels, and its sad to say that our human construction skills
have not! But on rare occasions a sour component can slip through. All our kit parts carry the Ramsey
Electronics Warranty that they are free from defects for a full ninety (90) days from the date of
purchase. Defective parts will be replaced promptly at our expense. If you suspect any part to be
defective, please mail it to our factory for testing and replacement. Please send only the defective part
(s), not the entire kit. The part(s) MUST be returned to us in suitable condition for testing. Please be
aware that testing can usually determine if the part was truly defective or damaged by assembly or
usage. Don't be afraid of telling us that you 'blew-it', we're all human and in most cases, replacement
parts are very reasonably priced.

2. MISSING PARTS: Before assuming a part value is incorrect, check the parts listing carefully to see
if it is a critical value such as a specific coil or IC, or whether a RANGE of values is suitable (such as
"100 to 500 uF"). Often times, common sense will solve a mysterious missing part problem. If you're
missing five 10K ohm resistors and received five extra 1K resistors, you can pretty much be assured
that the '1K ohm' resistors are actually the 'missing' 10 K parts ("Hum-m-m, I guess the 'red' band
really does look orange!") Ramsey Electronics project kits are packed with pride in the USA. If you
believe we packed an incorrect part or omitted a part clearly indicated in your assembly manual as
supplied with the basic kit by Ramsey, please write or call us with information on the part you need and
proof of kit purchase

3. FACTORY REPAIR OF ASSEMBLED KITS:
To qualify for Ramsey Electronics factory repair, kits MUST:
1. NOT be assembled with acid core solder or flux.
2. NOT be modified in any manner.
3. BE returned in fully-assembled form, not partially assembled.
4. BE accompanied by the proper repair fee. No repair will be undertaken until we have received the
MINIMUM repair fee (1/2 hour labor) of $18.00, or authorization to charge it to your credit
card account.
5. INCLUDE a description of the problem and legible return address. DO NOT send a separate letter;
include all correspondence with the unit. Please do not include your own hardware such as
non-Ramsey cabinets, knobs, cables, external battery packs and the like. Ramsey
Electronics, Inc., reserves the right to refuse repair on ANY item in which we find excessive
problems or damage due to construction methods. To assist customers in such situations,
Ramsey Electronics, Inc., reserves the right to solve their needs on a case-by-case basis.

The repair is $36.00 per hour, regardless of the cost of the kit. Please understand that our technicians
are not volunteers and that set-up, testing, diagnosis, repair and repacking and paperwork can take
nearly an hour of paid employee time on even a simple kit. Of course, if we find that a part was
defective in manufacture, there will be no charge to repair your kit (But please realize that our
technicians know the difference between a defective part and parts burned out or damaged through
improper use or assembly).

PICPRO 27
PICPRO PIC Chip Programmer
Quick Reference Page Guide

Overview and Specifications ........ 4
Parts List ...................................... 5
Construction ................................. 6
Installing Software ....................... 9
Connecting PICPRO ....................10
Testing PICPRO ..........................10
Schematic diagram ......................14
Frequently Asked Questions ........15
Troubleshooting ...........................18
Parts Layout diagram ...................22
Price: $5.00
Ramsey Publication No. MPIC-1
Assembly and Instruction manual for:
RAMSEY MODEL NO. PIC1
RAMSEY ELECTRONICS, INC.
793 Canning Parkway
Victor, New York 14564
Phone (716) 924-4560
Fax (716) 924-4555
www.ramseykits.com
REQUIRED TOOLS
Soldering Iron (Radio Shack #RS64-2072)
Thin Rosin Core Solder (RS64-025)
Needle Nose Pliers (RS64-1844)
Small Diagonal Cutters (RS64-1845)
<OR> Complete Soldering Tool Set
(RS64-2801)

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED ITEMS
Soldering Iron Holder/Cleaner (RS-64-
2078)
Holder for PC Board/Parts (RS64-2094)
Desoldering Braid (RS-2090)
TOTAL SOLDER POINTS
70
ESTIMATED ASSEMBLY
TIME
Beginner .............. 3 hrs
Intermediate ......... 2 hrs
Advanced ............. 1 hrs