Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer. I am a beginner and I am
looking for one that would have good supporting documentation. I have found
the schematics for many different programmers what worries me is that after
I build it I will be on my own to figure out any problems that arise.
Steven Rightnar wrote:
>
> Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer. I am a beginner and I am
> looking for one that would have good supporting documentation. I have found
> the schematics for many different programmers what worries me is that after
> I build it I will be on my own to figure out any problems that arise.
If you want support, you could try the DonTronics DT001
It's the one with the load/go switch for flash devices.
Thanks Tim, Andy & All.
I have now got my DT001 board programming 16c71 chips.
After I found the config table I was away.
Previously I had all the data lines inverted .
Onto the next fault.
After this it would only program the first byte. (incorrectly)
I repaced the plug pack with the lab supply at 18v and it programmed and
verified.
I had monitored theVpp with a CRO and could not see it dipping but it
must
have been.
This is what happens when you use too much test equipment.
Now I have it working with a stronger plug pack and it still works OK.
Thanks again All.
I use PicStart Plus and, while it is expensive at first, it seems to be the
most compatible and has the least hassles. It does have some drawbacks
especially when you are burning chips with lots of memory (it takes longer
than some of the other programmers). It has the advantage of being
supported by MicroChip and it comes with enough documentation to make you
feel comfortable. In addition, MPLAB software recoginzes it and plays well
with it.
I have also built and used Peter Anderson's Morgan PIC programmer
(http://www.phanderson.com). It is simply a breadboard that you assemble the
components on - which also doubles as a development environment. It is cheap
($49 gets you a solderless breadboard - JE25 - and all the components, plus
documentation and schematics and two 16F84s with resonators - you can buy
the components without the breadboard from Peter and save a lot). You do
have to buy a third party programming software if you want to do anything
other than 16F84s. The total cost for a complete kit and for the software
would end up around $80. I think it is a very good alternative.
I have also purchased and used some of the other programmers and they did
NOT come with very good documentation. But then again, this isn't rocket
science so they can be figured out. They also had to have extra programming
software purchased for them (same software as for the Morgan programmer).
I think the PicStart Plus is the way I would go - but you will get lots of
opinions on this.
> Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer. I am a beginner and I
am
> looking for one that would have good supporting documentation. I have
found
> the schematics for many different programmers what worries me is that
after
> I build it I will be on my own to figure out any problems that arise.
>
> With regards,
>
> Steven
Of the professionally produced programmers available, generally they
will cost about half as much as a picstart, but they may not support all
pics, they generally lag behind new pics by a few months, and some
charge for upgrades in firmware or software. I found out with the
Parallax programmer that every time new chips came out, I had to buy an
'upgrade' for my programmer, which wasn't expensive, but it was a
hassle. It didn't have a zif socket, and the software (at the time) was
all in dos.
Of the homebuilt/hobbyist programmers available most do not program all
of the PIC line, they usually lag a few months behind in supplying
software/firmware/schematics to support new chips, generally are less
integrated (run this program to assemble, this program to burn, etc),
and when the author stops doing the pic thing, you end up on your own.
With the picstart when a new chip comes out, a new version of the
programmer software (MPLAB) comes out, available for free. The picstart
supports every PIC sold. MPLAB is an integrated environment, which
allows user expansion. I can program my PICs in C, compile, simulate,
and program without switching applications. The downsides are that the
schematic/software/firmware are closed (ie, not available), and the
interface is also closed (though some are working on 'opening' it...).
It does not program as quickly as some programmers (though it's not
meant for production use).
The extra $50-$100 it cost me is worth it for what I use it for.
-Adam
Steven Rightnar wrote:
>
> Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer. I am a beginner and I am
> looking for one that would have good supporting documentation. I have found
> the schematics for many different programmers what worries me is that after
> I build it I will be on my own to figure out any problems that arise.
>
> With regards,
>
> Steven
The yeahs have it, the PICSTART Plus is named the best first time, new
user, programmer to buy.
At 03:53 PM 12/8/99 -0500, M. Adam Davis wrote: {Quote hidden}
>I have to agree with Dan about the picstart plus.
>
>Of the professionally produced programmers available, generally they
>will cost about half as much as a picstart, but they may not support all
>pics, they generally lag behind new pics by a few months, and some
>charge for upgrades in firmware or software. I found out with the
>Parallax programmer that every time new chips came out, I had to buy an
>'upgrade' for my programmer, which wasn't expensive, but it was a
>hassle. It didn't have a zif socket, and the software (at the time) was
>all in dos.
>
>Of the homebuilt/hobbyist programmers available most do not program all
>of the PIC line, they usually lag a few months behind in supplying
>software/firmware/schematics to support new chips, generally are less
>integrated (run this program to assemble, this program to burn, etc),
>and when the author stops doing the pic thing, you end up on your own.
>
>With the picstart when a new chip comes out, a new version of the
>programmer software (MPLAB) comes out, available for free. The picstart
>supports every PIC sold. MPLAB is an integrated environment, which
>allows user expansion. I can program my PICs in C, compile, simulate,
>and program without switching applications. The downsides are that the
>schematic/software/firmware are closed (ie, not available), and the
>interface is also closed (though some are working on 'opening' it...).
>It does not program as quickly as some programmers (though it's not
>meant for production use).
>
>The extra $50-$100 it cost me is worth it for what I use it for.
>
>-Adam
>
>Steven Rightnar wrote:
>>
>> Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer. I am a beginner and
I am
>> looking for one that would have good supporting documentation. I have found
>> the schematics for many different programmers what worries me is that after
>> I build it I will be on my own to figure out any problems that arise.
>>
>> With regards,
>>
>> Steven
>
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sent from the desk of:
Terry Allen Steen, EE KILLspamengineeringKILLspammarinapower.com
332 McLaws Circle, Ste 111 757-258-8800 (Voice)
Williamsburg, Va 23185 757-258-8805 (FAX)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
!I AM A WHALE MAIL USER! If you have a large file to send, goto http://www.whalemail.com send them to: mplengineer
Give me your account and I will use it also
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our web-site: http://www.marinapower.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The yeahs have it, the PICSTART Plus is named the best first time, new
user, programmer to buy.
At 03:53 PM 12/8/99 -0500, M. Adam Davis wrote:
>I have to agree with Dan about the picstart plus.
>
>Of the professionally produced programmers available, generally they
>will cost about half as much as a picstart, but they may not support
all
>pics, they generally lag behind new pics by a few months, and some
>charge for upgrades in firmware or software. I found out with the
>Parallax programmer that every time new chips came out, I had to buy an
>'upgrade' for my programmer, which wasn't expensive, but it was a
>hassle. It didn't have a zif socket, and the software (at the time)
was
>all in dos.
>
>Of the homebuilt/hobbyist programmers available most do not program all
>of the PIC line, they usually lag a few months behind in supplying
>software/firmware/schematics to support new chips, generally are less
>integrated (run this program to assemble, this program to burn, etc),
>and when the author stops doing the pic thing, you end up on your own.
>
>With the picstart when a new chip comes out, a new version of the
>programmer software (MPLAB) comes out, available for free. The
picstart {Quote hidden}
>supports every PIC sold. MPLAB is an integrated environment, which
>allows user expansion. I can program my PICs in C, compile, simulate,
>and program without switching applications. The downsides are that the
>schematic/software/firmware are closed (ie, not available), and the
>interface is also closed (though some are working on 'opening' it...).
>It does not program as quickly as some programmers (though it's not
>meant for production use).
>
>The extra $50-$100 it cost me is worth it for what I use it for.
>
>-Adam
>
>Steven Rightnar wrote:
>>
>> Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer. I am a beginner
and
I am
>> looking for one that would have good supporting documentation. I have
found
>> the schematics for many different programmers what worries me is that
after
>> I build it I will be on my own to figure out any problems that arise.
>>
>> With regards,
>>
>> Steven
>
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sent from the desk of:
Terry Allen Steen, EE TakeThisOuTengineeringEraseMEspam_OUTmarinapower.com
332 McLaws Circle, Ste 111 757-258-8800 (Voice)
Williamsburg, Va 23185 757-258-8805 (FAX)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
!I AM A WHALE MAIL USER! If you have a large file to send, goto http://www.whalemail.com send them to: mplengineer
Give me your account and I will use it also
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our web-site: http://www.marinapower.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I have to agree with Dan about the picstart plus.
>
> Of the professionally produced programmers available, generally they
> will cost about half as much as a picstart, but they may not support all
> pics, they generally lag behind new pics by a few months, and some
> charge for upgrades in firmware or software. I found out with the
> Parallax programmer that every time new chips came out, I had to buy an
> 'upgrade' for my programmer, which wasn't expensive, but it was a
> hassle. It didn't have a zif socket, and the software (at the time) was
> all in dos.
>
> Of the homebuilt/hobbyist programmers available most do not program all
> of the PIC line, they usually lag a few months behind in supplying
> software/firmware/schematics to support new chips, generally are less
> integrated (run this program to assemble, this program to burn, etc),
> and when the author stops doing the pic thing, you end up on your own.
>
> With the picstart when a new chip comes out, a new version of the
> programmer software (MPLAB) comes out, available for free. The picstart
> supports every PIC sold. MPLAB is an integrated environment, which
> allows user expansion. I can program my PICs in C, compile, simulate,
> and program without switching applications. The downsides are that the
> schematic/software/firmware are closed (ie, not available), and the
> interface is also closed (though some are working on 'opening' it...).
> It does not program as quickly as some programmers (though it's not
> meant for production use).
>
> The extra $50-$100 it cost me is worth it for what I use it for.
>
> -Adam
>
> Steven Rightnar wrote:
> >
> > Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer. I am a beginner and I am
> > looking for one that would have good supporting documentation. I have found
> > the schematics for many different programmers what worries me is that after
> > I build it I will be on my own to figure out any problems that arise.
> >
> > With regards,
> >
> > Steven
Steven Rightnar wrote:
>
> Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer.
I have got to agree with all the comments about the PicStart Plus,
That was the main reasion I chose the warp 13 programmer
(PicStart Plus compatible) so I can work within mplab
or with it's own free software, which works very well.
--
Peter Cousens
email: p.cousensEraseME.....cwcom.net or EraseMEp.cousensvirgin.net
smail: 48, Yarmouth Cresent, London, N179PQ, England.
Peter Cousens wrote:
>
> Steven Rightnar wrote:
> >
> > Can I get some sugjestions on finding a programmer.
>
> I have got to agree with all the comments about the PicStart Plus,
> That was the main reasion I chose the warp 13 programmer
> (PicStart Plus compatible) so I can work within mplab
> or with it's own free software, which works very well.
> --
> Peter Cousens
> email: RemoveMEp.cousensEraseMEEraseMEcwcom.net or RemoveMEp.cousensspam_OUTKILLspamvirgin.net
> smail: 48, Yarmouth Cresent, London, N179PQ, England.
It's not clear to me if you wanted info on buying a programmer or on
finding one to build from scratch that you could get help from, on-list,
Steven?
Myself, I started with a Parallax programmer, Upgraded to the PS+ at a
Microchip seminar; the price was decent there. The Newfound
programmers' prices are even better, and exactly compatible.
I'm moving to a Prime-17, when I get around to putting it into an
PicStart+ / EMP-20 like case; I like my goodies well-encased, as I have
these 18# cats who otherwise walk on things <G> It's NOT a good thing
for electronics, for a long-haired cat to tromp on them... Zap. Bad
enough when they stand on a sore rib & smile at me!
If you run a PicStart+, I'll suggest getting 2 17C44/JW's as you get a
chance, as the firmware WILL change on you from time to time; I have
the first /JW in the machine here now, my machine came with 1.50
firmware and I managed to tough it out until the 2.01 firmware arrived;
Next time the firmware updates, I'd need another /JW part. It'd be nice
if at least *one* came with the machine; Dream on, huh? <G> I'll
probably sell my PS+ off, as with the EMP-10, EMP-20 and Prime-17, I'm
pretty well covered.
Myself, I *prefer* Dos programming software, it means I have more
machines I could program a chip from, and don't have to move as huge of
a chunk of data around as often - MPLab 4.12.12 is 8 Mb, try installing
that to 12 computers every couple months! The Dos software for my
Needham's EMP-20, OTOH, which programs far more devices and does so over
the parallel port, is a whole 875 kb, 1/10 the size. (And the Needham's
web pages are faster to snag stuff off of than uChips', someone thinks I
must have all day to watch even the text web pages re-display twice per
page, times 18 levels deep; I'm about to figure out how to just go grab
stuff off the FTP servers, instead, HAS to be faster! <G> Gripe,
grumble, ... <G>
It's seemingly a constant of engineering that something's Just Not Right
<G>
Mark
--
I re-ship for small US & overseas businesses, world-wide.
(For private individuals at cost; ask.)
ip.co.za
