more powerful PIC18F on the control unit
yup, also, if you do not have a temp sensor in the control unit, you can go with backlit 16x1 or 16x2 char display, saving pins and ... and ... and ...
ah soooo many ideas
... it is easy for you, sparkfun, digikey .. a phonecall / email away .. I'm trying to find a drill press for my dremel / ainhell / proxxon drill for last 4 weeks but was unable to find a company that want to ship here
(and of course, was unable to find one locally
) ...
All in all, I agree that control unit do not have to have any sensors, it is even better not to have any in the control unit and to have a sensor as a separate "device" and of course, way to connect many of them to the control station ...
What bug's me dough is that
- zigbee is expensive but it is kinda standard for sensor network
- IR is easy & cheap but it really is no "standard"
- wires are easy, they are standard, but they are UGLY, I want to be able to put the sensor where it is "best place to measure temperature" and not to hide it because it is ugly, wires sticking from it etc etc ...
Regarding the uC for the control station, as you do not need lcd driver imho there (better to use standard 16x1 or 16x2) some "fast" 24F or even 30F 40pin dip would be my preference
... dual serial port, dual pwm, maybe CAN support (donno how CAN is conforming to the standards I mentioned) .. anyhow .. 40pin is what I'd go with