As my first project with PIC microcontrollers, I chose for me DCF clock. The main reason for this was, that it was very complicated to get LED clock ( visible at the night ) with DCF synchronising possibility. The second reason, which appeared, was unavailability of alarm clock, where alarm is active in certain (working) days only. So arose the basic idea.

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Some years ago I took the decision to begin with RC models. Therefore there was a need to use computer based simulator for learning of control. And because I tried to have similar conditions as in the field, I wanted to use my RC transmitter at home too. One of the most famous free simulator was FMS and for this great software there was possibility to connect RC transmitter with computer with help of PIC from Microchip. But there was only PIC12C508 chip in the design and this type of chip was OTP version only (not nowadays, but in the past). So I modified code and used PIC12F629 / PIC12F675 instead of original one. I simplified scheme too, as You can see at the following picture:

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In the past, I needed to read content of EEPROM, which was signed 25160. All of programmers for me available, even declared as compatible with 25160 chip, were unable correctly read this device, so I did my own one. Because it was in time of windows ME, nowadays the function of utility could be complicated due to issues with LPT driving, but there are many possibilities for old software to communicate with LPT port in newer operating systems. Scheme of connection to EEPROM is at following picture:

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Once upon a time I lose data on my HDD. It was the situation, when I had formatted harddisc and missed letter of drive. Reason was very stupid. I didn’t reset computer after fdisc action. What’s a pitty. Because I try to save my data periodically, not too much new information stayed unsaved, but one of them was assembler code of actual design (it was MIDI controller, which I’m going to publicate soon).

In past, there wasn’t available MPASM, as complex tool with dissasembling feature and therefore I got the idea to programm disassembler. (more…)

During producing of printed circuit boards, I met need of my PCB manufacturer to supply it with drilling files. These files should be in metric units with fixed length and must not have supressed zeros (both, leeding and trailing).

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