My next PIC programmer - A decision

I am currently developing with a 16F877, suffering the Picstart plus programmer, with almost 5 minutes for every time I want to change whether 2000 lines or just a byte in the program. The worst of it: I paid for that thing!

I started to read: ICSP, bootloader, parallel, series, USB, no-parts, HVP, LVP and after few days I am confused due to so much new info and by no means clear on what would be the replacement thinking that the next micro could be, most probably a 18F452 and the like.

I use also, the PIC replicator by Fred Eady but he seems having stop caring about his creation. No more updates available after F877, 628 and 629. Any change, even the biggest ones, take just 31 seconds! He says that source code is open but I couldn't see where to start to modify it, if such a thing is possible. SW I mean, not HW.

Can anyone give his view in all these, based in hands on experience on at least two (I need comparison of different types, please). Theoretical especulations, to a certain point, I could do by myself

I am a hobbyist so, I think I should privilege something going fast and able to run in may bench's desktop under WIN98SE where MPLAB performs OK. Or eventually in my laptop with WINME without serial ports. (In doubt if I would really like this last option).

Sorry for the lengthy posting. I will appreciate opinions

Agustín Tomás

PD Or could I do something else with the Picstart Plus other than throwing it overboard?

Hi ,
i'm a big fan of EPIC,a simple project for a hobbist,which works really fast,and under xp,connected to the parallel port...do a search,everything you need is in this board...you'll be glad you did ...

When talking about programmer, there exist one question. Which area you're going to use it? In development or mass production? The answer to this question would affect the decision as well.

The best investment I made was to buy a Microchip Mplab ICD2. Then you get a programmer and a debugger in one. More and more PIC chips support the ICD2 for in circuit debugging, good bit of kit.
You could use it with your laptop as it supports USB.
If I were you, I would get rid of WINME and get Windows 2000.

Salam,

I advise you to use In Circuit Debugger, It can program all Flash devices and debug PIC16F87X

The schematics are available on EDABOARD.

If you want to debug 12F, 16F and 18F devices too you have two choice

1- Build ICD2 (The The schematics are available too)

2- Use CCS Debugger with ICD1 (you will change the firmware only)

Bye

Try this simple circuit given in the following link :



Regards,

bimbla.