Looking for controller build hints..

[Byron G. Jacquot]

>> You can get an off-the-shelf microcontroller board with all of those 
>> features and more, plus enough parallel I/O already built-in (I can 
>> send you some links). You're going to need an HC11 or an HC12, or 

>I too would be interested in links to some places that sell pre-made
>boards that include MCU, ram, eeprom (or something else that I can program
>without having an UV oven) & io pins.

The HC11 is being phased out, with a supposed direct replacement in the
HC12.  However, the better development tools are still fairly expensive for
either of them.

Unless you're certain that you need some capability of the HC11 (like the
ability for the ADC to run free across 4 inputs automatically), there are
several other controllers worth a look, including the Atmel AVR, Microchip
PIC and BasicStamp.

I've hopped off the 8-bit Motorola platform (32-bit is another story) in
favor of the Atmel AVR.  They offer a wide range on onboard resources,
similar to the 11/12 families, but the startup cost is somewhat lower.

For a in-system FLASH programmable starter system, look at the $50 US STK200
board.  It will accept most of the DIP AVP parts.  One end connects to your
PC for programming, the other is broken out into 32 IO lines on little
headers.  Parts with fewer IO lines use a subset of those headers.  The kit
includes a CDrom with datasheets, an assembler and a software simulator.  A
very nice way to get into uP programming.  Find it
at:http://www.atmel.com/ad/mcu_order.html

There is also a $200 in-circuit emulator unit, but the price is the only
spec I really know.

Byron Jacquot