Post by thread:[PIC]:Old PICSTART PLUS

I have a Picstart Plus I bought in 1996. Does anyone know if it can still be updated with new firmware, or have they changed the Picstart Plus in the last few years? TIA Wynn Rostek -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

> I have a Picstart Plus I bought in 1996 Me too, R8 > Does anyone know if it can still be updated with new firmware Mine's had 17C44s to 3.11, and now Flash (UK003010) -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

According to the MC website any REV above 5 that is the -RXX after the serial number on the back of the plastic enclosure can be upgraded to the latest flash firmware. It a great pity the kit is out of stock from MC till the 12th of July. This is holding up my project as I am having a problem with the 'A' part (pic16F628A). My MPLAB is not showing the 'A' part for the pic16F628. Could this be the problem? It will program fine for the first time then fail after that. I cannot erase also. This was tested across 12 different parts. z {Original Message removed}

> can be upgraded to the latest flash firmware. > It a great pity the kit is out of stock from MC > till the 12th of July. My price is probably higher than directly from MC, but I have a few in stock. Wouter van Ooijen -- ------------------------------------------- Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: http://www.voti.nl consultancy, development, PICmicro products -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> My MPLAB is not showing the 'A' part for the pic16F628. Could > this be the problem ? Even if MPLAB shows the part as supported, TTBOMK you must have the upgrade to program it, which was why I got Flash so as to move on to the 628A (they are the preferred part and cheaper) -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

I have a revision 8 Picstart Plus upgraded to firmware 3.11 (the last that it can have without the flash upgrade kit). It will not support the 16F628A or 16F648A. It works fine with the parts without the A. Jason {Original Message removed}

zantos wrote: >According to the MC website any REV above 5 that is the -RXX after the serial >number on the back of the plastic enclosure can be upgraded to the latest flash >firmware. It a great pity the kit is out of stock from MC till the 12th of July. >This is holding up my project as I am having a problem with the 'A' part >(pic16F628A). My MPLAB is not showing the 'A' part for the pic16F628. Could this >be the problem? It will program fine for the first time then fail after that. I >cannot erase also. This was tested across 12 different parts. > > Zantos, I upgraded my Rev3 and Rev5 PicStart+ units with no problems. David... -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

(Sorry now going slightly off topic now...) Found a source in the UK for the PicStart+ firmware which is Future UK @ #15.95 each. They have 46 in stock but have a minimum order of #500.00. Which seem ridicules as I only want 1. Also I cannot believe anyone wanting more than 1 or 2 at the most. Just cannot understand the logic behind this policy of the accounts department which is what the sales guy said to me. This stock will end up on the shelf with no buyers. So.. unless I can get another 31 request along with me ..... I'll just have to wait for MC to deliver. thanks again z {Original Message removed}

Whereabouts in the UK are you Zantos? If not too far away I may be able to help. I am in Didcot, OXON. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Wynn Rostek 21:48 2004-06-21: >I have a Picstart Plus I bought in 1996. Does anyone know if it can still be updated with new firmware, or have they changed the Picstart Plus in the last few years? I bought mine in -97, the serial no ends with -R4 so i guess it is a revision 4 I have updated the firmware some years ago according to some MC document: added a resistor to correct VPP (IIRC), and a small cap on a pin at the programming socket. I also added a hand grounding pad, seem MC do not know about ESD... Went back to MPLAB 5.20 now because an newer version i have do not handle PIC14000. ...And because 5.20 do not handle recent firmware i have firmware 2.01 plugged in Picstart. And today i learned it only works reliable on one of my COMports. Bah. (i can have other devices on both COMs) And now I learn even the latest nonflash firmware do not support the PIC i choose for the next project either... I think we should build/buy another programmer instead of buying that flash upgrade. /Morgan -- Morgan Olsson, Kivik, Sweden -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

At 15:48 6/21/2004 -0400, you wrote: >I have a Picstart Plus I bought in 1996. Does anyone know if it can still be updated with new firmware, or have they changed the Picstart Plus in the last few years? > >TIA > >Wynn Rostek > Hi Wynn: I have a Picstart plus revision 4 that I upgraded with the 18F kit, and it works great. Microchip said they would replace it with a working one if it didn't work. Good luck, chuck -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList spam_OUTpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

At 05:30 PM 6/24/04 -0800, you wrote: >Hi Wynn: > >I have a Picstart plus revision 4 that I upgraded with the 18F kit, and it >works great. Microchip said they would replace it with a working one if it >didn't work. > >Good luck, > >chuck I upgraded mine; it then failed. Microchip replaced the entire unit, no questions asked. Good support! Tom -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList .....piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspam@spam@mitvma.mit.edu