Micro Choices

I have a Velleman PIC Programming and Evaluation Board K8048, with which I can program my chosen microcontroller.

Speaking of chosen micro, after viewing the specifications of my board, I had only one option: PIC16F870.

Micro characteristics:

• 28-pin DIP package
• 3 I/O ports (25mA sink/source)
• 5 MIPS performance @ 20MHz
• 2K word Flash Program memory (14-bit words)
• 128 bytes EEPROM data memory
• 64 bytes RAM
• 8-level hardware stack, 3 addressing modes
• Selectable oscillator options
• Two 8-bit timer/counters with programmable prescalers
• 16-bit timer with prescaler
• Five channel 10-bit ADC module
• UART
• PWM Module 10-bit
• Brown-out detection circuitry
• Power-On Reset (POR),Power and Oscillator start up timers and Brown-out reset
• Sleep mode for power reduction
• Watchdog Timer with separate on-board oscillator
• Programmable code protection
• 2 to 5.5V operation
• Low power consumption <>

Fortunately my local hardware store had them in stock, or else this project would have crawled to a standstill even before it started.