Upgrade from 16F, Which PIC to use next?

[ZS1BFE]

I have been using 16F series with CCS C for some time , but then one of my projects involved BMP085.
The 16F877A could not accommodate this.

My question.
Which PIC series do I use next. 18F >> 32.....

I use PIC kit 2, and if possible, I do not want to upgrade all my hardware.

Please advise.
Thx
Lourens
ZS1BFE
Cape Town,SA

 

[bigdogguru]

The PIC24F and PIC24H/E could be sensible logical steps, they are 16 bit and offer a myriad of new features while still retaining a PIC architecture. The PIC32 is actually a licensed MIPS architecture and can a considerable jump in the learning curve in some areas.

There are plenty of reasonably price development boards available for the PIC24F and PIC24H/E devices as well as some DIP packages for your breadboard.

 

[ZS1BFE]

Thx
Will follow your advise.

 

[paulfjujo]

hello

if you want to remain with 8 bits MCU :
you can use more powerfull PIC as 18F26K22 (dip28) or 18F46K22 (dip40) without USB,
but with a lot a ROM space and RAM space
or 18F4550 with USB
18F family is more dedicatedd for using C langage , even with MPLAB or MikroC or other compiler

or the New 16F1xxxx ehanced family ..

Microchip deliver new type of MCU every month ... too much models , more an more powerfull
but it is hard to follow this fashion ( needs money and TIME ...)

The choice is not the same for Hobbyst as for professional use..
when we are talking about software and tools developments..

 

[Aussie Susan]

In order to really provide advice we need to know where you want to end up.
If you really are wanting to stay with the PicKit2 then you are also limiting yourself to the older devices as Microchip is not updating the PicKit2 firmware to support the newer devices it is bringing out.
Regardless of the MCU that you move to I would suggest that you move up to the PicKit3 as Microchip is keeping it up to date with the newer devices.
In my opinion I would skip the PIC18 family if only because, like the PIC16 devices, they used banked memory whereas the PIC24/dsPIC33 families use linear data and program memory schemes. The XC8 compiler does hide this to some extent but if you want to dabble in assembler then this will be a major factor in your coding.
I also prefer the multi-vector interrupt system of the PIC24/dsPIC33 devices over the 2 level interrupts for the PIC18 devices. I think that it simplifies the writing of ISRs (where there is one ISR per interrupt source rather than up to 2 ISRs which need to work out what called them each time).
If you want to end up writing some significant code (for example I'm developing a board that links into the DStar reflector system and uses an AMBE2020 to decode the audio, plus providing me with a 'sand pit' to investigate audio processing and software decoding schemes using the DSP capabilities of the dsPIC33 devices) then I would go to the PIC24 devices (which can simply extend to the dsPIC33 if you want to), possibly by getting something like the Explorer 16 board which uses PIMs to let you change the MCU as your experience grows (and provides a far more stable platform than a breadboard!).
Susan VK3ANZ