Looking for controller build hints..

[Byron G. Jacquot]

>If you have a pre-assembled board (well under $100) and you're 
>willing to work in assembler, there are NO development tools to buy. 
>All you need is a serial cable and a freeware assembler (and a text 
>editor). From the variety available I'd say that the HC11 is very 
>much alive, although HC12 prices are dropping into the DIY range.

I think some of the earliest variants are starting to phase out, maybe the
'A8.  There was discussion on comp.arch.embedded on this a while back.  Mot
are recommending the equivalent HC12 now, I think.  I would assume other
HC11's are on the chopping block as well.

>For this application (160 pots) I suspect the AVR is the best choice 
>out of this group, as I mentioned earlier. The PIC16F8x is very 
>attractive (<$6) but I'm not sure I tackle this one with it. Fewer 
>pots, yeah.

Actually, I think the HC11 would be a better choise, mainy since the ADC
will do 4 parallel conversions without software interventions.  It'll also
to the batch analog conversion, so the values in those 4 registers will lag
the actual inputs by 4*conversion time in the worst case.  All you need to
do is setup the scan lines, and read the values.

Similar features are in store for future AVRs, as I understand (the Mega
parts may already do this...).

Byron