Programming an AT89C2051

PC interface is RS232 I think. Hyper Terminal will be ok if it is.

here's something that might help steer your research. Internet is jam packed with other info.

Good luck with the 8051-based MCU's. They were invented for this purpose. I just popped into the Atmel site to check on available support. They have a developer package, now a little long in the tooth, which should fill the bill for compiling your source code into a hex file. They also had (but maybe not any more) a programmer which plugged into a PC printer port (now nearly extinct). I can program the device if you get the part to me. Contact me through the usual channels here at CR4.

The AVR MCU's from Atmel were designed for C applications. There is one of the family which is pin-for-pin interchangeable with the AT89C2051. The AVR is a RISC MCU and uses a totally different instruction set from the 51. This product, and its support, are current at Atmel.

No, I don't work for Atmel. Yes, their documentation stinks. Their MCU's seem to do the job. Again, good luck.

If you are sort of new in this area, you want as few problems as possible with implementing software, so may I suggest that you cast an eye on these chips, which can be easily programmed in basic from a USB or com port and can run up to 40MHz:-

http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/

all software, all manuals are free to download and use, plus the chips are REALLY cheap to buy as well. There is nothing cheaper around except maybe the KICCHIP which is a copy of the Rev-Ed chips....

I would suggest a breadboard to help you get into it, the free software from here:-

http://fritzing.org/

will allow you to turn your final breadboard layout into both a schematic and a PCB, which are even Eagle CAD compatible. They also have a company which makes your PCBs for very little money as well.

Free versions of Eagle CAD can be downloaded which are complete except for restrictions on the size of the PCB, here is a site which talks about it:-

http://www.piclist.com/images/www/hobby_elec/e_eagle.htm

and also has all the links you may need.....

Best of luck.