Anyone experienced with PIC chips/PC communication

[AJW256]

Plz move if I posted in wrong section. I wasn't sure.

I have planned a project where I would need a few PIC chips to communicate with each other. B4 anyone asks, no this is not a school project. I am wondering what the best way for them to communicate is. I will have one master PIC that will send commands to say 3 slaves. The slaves will control LEDs/Motors, etc. What I need rly is some kind of ready made protocol. Any suggestions?

Also, would it be better to program the PICs in BASIC or assembly. I know BASIC is alot easier but will assembly have any benefits?

Oh yeah, I most likely be using a PIC16F819 for the master & PIC12F675s for the slaves.

[AJW256]

Actually I've had another idea. I could just use a few buffers on the parallel (LPT) port of a computer a run LEDs off it. I think I'll do this to start. I already know how to program the LPT port. And I already wrote a program for getting values of diff frequencies from diff sources.

I am planning on putting LEDs inside my case that will be able to be controlled in other ways to run preset 'patterns'. Hmmm, I have a really nice idea now. I will try something out to night & post up the results. I guess just wrighting it all out (my first post) gave me a good idea, thx me .

[kinnsy]

do you have usenet access? if so ask in sci.electronics.design

If you have no direct usenet access you can use google groups to post.

Discussions - sci.electronics.design | Google Groups

Still a very active newsgroup at around 200 to 400 posts a day.

Afraid I'm only an old fart linear/analogue electronics tech.

[AJW256]

Thx 4 ur reply, I'll check that out. Tink I've got a solution now though.

[Kelainefes]

If you want that to control leds and neons, you can buy the mCubed T-Balancer bigNG. It controls fans, pumps, neons, LEDS, it can also read temps with digital or analog probes.

[AJW256]

I've seen that nice piece of hardware b4. Looks nice but I think I'll stick to my LPT. That reminds me, I'll have to buy a PCI LPT controller now coz I don't think my new mobo has it. Or does it (See sig). I can already control LCDs & LEDs from my LPT port & thats all I need.