Post by thread:Need ICD feedback

> Anybody who used this sytem give me a bit of feedback on it? > Is it worth it to get? > > Thanks > Quentin I've used it a lot, just ask me! Friendly Regards Octavio Nogueira =================================================== spam_OUTnogueiraTakeThisOuTpropic2.com ICQ# 19841898 ProPic tools - low cost PIC programmer and emulator http://www.propic2.com ===================================================

Octavio Nogueira wrote: > I've used it a lot, just ask me! > OK, I am asking :) The small investment you've made into, is it worth it? Is there any good feature in it you can lift out that made your life easier. I might sound negative, it's just after a Microchip seminar a few months ago did not leave much confidence in the usefullness of this product with me. Thanks Quentin

Well if you can effort $2000, it's better to buy the ICE 2000, but for only $134, the ICD is a great product, you can do real-time emulation up to 20MHz and down to 3V, you can single-step under MPLAB and see/modify variables. For me it's a GREAT help developing an application, unless you are a genius and develop a software with no bug at the first time. The ICD can emulate from 8 to 40 pins with adapters. By the way, we also produce and sell the ProPic 2 ICD, cheaper and better them MPLAB ICD. Friendly Regards Octavio Nogueira =================================================== .....nogueiraKILLspam@spam@propic2.com ICQ# 19841898 ProPic tools - low cost PIC programmer and emulator http://www.propic2.com =================================================== -----Mensagem Original----- De: Quentin <qscKILLspamICON.CO.ZA> Para: <.....PICLISTKILLspam.....MITVMA.MIT.EDU> Enviada em: Sexta-feira, Outubro 29, 1999 01:52 Assunto: Re: Need ICD feedback {Quote hidden}> Octavio Nogueira wrote: > > > I've used it a lot, just ask me! > > > OK, I am asking :) > The small investment you've made into, is it worth it? Is there any good > feature in it you can lift out that made your life easier. > I might sound negative, it's just after a Microchip seminar a few months > ago did not leave much confidence in the usefullness of this product > with me. > > Thanks > Quentin

Quentin, Speaking only for myself of course I would say YES it's worth getting. I've had one for a few months now, and the first time I used it, I got the application up and running in a couple of days, whereas without it, had been working on that project for about a week. So, my best guess is that it cut my development time by between 1/3 and 1/2. I'd say that's a pretty good return for the investment, (About $130.00 US). And as an added benefit, you can emulate most of the lower end PIC's with it by using just the peripherals that the lower end part you're trying to emulate has. Bottom line: If you develop a number of designs using a number of different members of the PIC family, and you want an improved system over the cut and try method with UV erasbles, you can't go wrong. Granted, it's not as good as an ICE, but it doesn't cost any where near as much as an ICE either. This is my opinion only, and is posted for any and all to read and to act upon as they see fit. As a side note, I have seen a lot of posts, both pro and con regarding PIC's vs Scenix and Atmel and others. As far as I'm concerned, I'm sold on the PIC processors, as I have been using them since about 1989 or 1990 or so, and I have no intention or reason to change brands. No, I don't own stock in Microchip. It's just that Microchip has been good to me over the years, and I plan to remain loyal. But to each his own. Hope this gives you something you can use one way or the other. We now return you to your regularly scheduled PICLIST, already in progress....... Regards, Jim On Fri, 29 October 1999, Quentin wrote: > > Anybody who used this sytem give me a bit of feedback on it? > Is it worth it to get? > > Thanks > Quentin EraseMEjimspam_OUTTakeThisOuTjpes.com

To Octavio and Jim: Thanks guys, you both got some valid points, I agree ICE 2000 price is ridiculous, especially for a small business man like me. I am a UV pipe liner ("HI! Quentin!") and are about to step onto Flash with the 16F87x, thus my query about the ICD. After the blurb by the Microchip rep., I just wanted to get some 'real' feedback from users before I buy. I am placing my order on Monday. Thanks. Jim, RE your side note: I am with you. Sofar, PIC's has been able to full fill every microprocessor design needs. I am happy with it, and so are my customers. So I just ignore the PIC/Atmel/Scenix wars. Regards Quentin

> To Octavio and Jim: > Thanks guys, you both got some valid points, I agree ICE 2000 price is > ridiculous, especially for a small business man like me. I am a UV pipe > liner ("HI! Quentin!") and are about to step onto Flash with the 16F87x, > thus my query about the ICD. After the blurb by the Microchip rep., I > just wanted to get some 'real' feedback from users before I buy. > > I am placing my order on Monday. Thanks. > > Jim, RE your side note: I am with you. Sofar, PIC's has been able to > full fill every microprocessor design needs. I am happy with it, and so > are my customers. So I just ignore the PIC/Atmel/Scenix wars. > > Regards > Quentin Dear Quentin, Before placing your order, please consider buying ProPic 2 ICD instead of MPLAB ICD. The MPLAB ICD has some wiring errors on the header and you wont be sure if you buy the new one with the correction or not. I don't even know if they released a new version already. On the other hand ProPic 2 ICD has no wiring errors, is mainly assembled with SMD and works just like MPLAB ICD. Again you can take a look at http://www.propic2.com Friendly Regards Octavio Nogueira =================================================== nogueiraspam_OUTpropic2.com ICQ# 19841898 ProPic tools - low cost PIC programmer and emulator http://www.propic2.com =================================================== -----Mensagem Original----- De: Quentin <@spam@qscKILLspamICON.CO.ZA> Para: <KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Enviada em: Sexta-feira, Outubro 29, 1999 05:05 Assunto: Re: Need ICD feedback

> One more question: > Is a 16F87x included with the ICD kit? > > Quentin > "All we sense is vibration, nothing is material." Yes, it is. Friendly Regards Octavio Nogueira =================================================== RemoveMEnogueiraTakeThisOuTpropic2.com ICQ# 19841898 ProPic tools - low cost PIC programmer and emulator http://www.propic2.com ===================================================

>Before placing your order, please consider buying ProPic 2 ICD >instead of MPLAB ICD. The MPLAB ICD has some wiring errors on >the header and you wont be sure if you buy the new one with the >correction or not. I don't even know if they released a new >version already. Octavio, Wireing errors???? I didn't hear anything about any bleeping wireing errors. I got mine in a while back but haven't done any real work with it yet, how can I tell and does MC acknowledge the error..... John C.

John A. Craft wrote: >Wireing errors???? I posted this a while ago: {Quote hidden}>Routing error in Microchip ICD header: > >PIC16F877 socket pin RD3 is connected to what should be the low voltage programming signal from the ICD Module !!! > >This really should be pin RB3 (LVP) pin. > >The revision number on my ISD header is 2. > >Strangely, the Demo board in th esame kit is correctly routed to the place for soldering in a connector. > >Obviously somebody typed wrong of B and D in a netlist or something. >What is bad is they have not yet checked it and neither corrected or reported this error. >I have not seen a note of this anyway. > >The debugger is supposed to *find* bugs, not *be* a bug!! :( > > >I wonder, is this erroneous connection the reason why they say LVP does not work? > >Have somebody tried it out (with correct LVP connection) ? Except from that, I am happy with it, except MPLAB hangs more often when using ICD than without it. Save often!! - I learned... Regards /Morgan Morgans Reglerteknik, HŠllekŒs, 277 35 KIVIK, SWEDEN fax +46(0)414-70331 & +46(0)859817928 tel +46(0)414-446620 spamBeGonemorgans.rtspamBeGonetelia.com

As usual, Rice's guy also offers pretty good stuff with their no-nonsense casing and quality stuff at hobbist's price. Take a look at their web-site. The web-site is http://www.adv-transdata.com. Email me offlist if you want more information about that. Ling SM TakeThisOuTsm.lingEraseMEspam_OUTcmpmail.com > To Octavio and Jim: > Thanks guys, you both got some valid points, I agree ICE 2000 price is > ridiculous, especially for a small business man like me. I am a UV pipe > liner ("HI! Quentin!") and are about to step onto Flash with the 16F87x, > thus my query about the ICD. After the blurb by the Microchip rep., I > just wanted to get some 'real' feedback from users before I buy. > > I am placing my order on Monday. Thanks. > > Jim, RE your side note: I am with you. Sofar, PIC's has been able to > full fill every microprocessor design needs. I am happy with it, and so > are my customers. So I just ignore the PIC/Atmel/Scenix wars. > > Regards > Quentin Dear Quentin, Before placing your order, please consider buying ProPic 2 ICD instead of MPLAB ICD. The MPLAB ICD has some wiring errors on the header and you wont be sure if you buy the new one with the correction or not. I don't even know if they released a new version already. On the other hand ProPic 2 ICD has no wiring errors, is mainly assembled with SMD and works just like MPLAB ICD. Again you can take a look at http://www.propic2.com Friendly Regards Octavio Nogueira =================================================== RemoveMEnogueiraTakeThisOuTpropic2.com ICQ# 19841898 ProPic tools - low cost PIC programmer and emulator http://www.propic2.com =================================================== -----Mensagem Original----- De: Quentin <qscEraseME.....ICON.CO.ZA> Para: <EraseMEPICLISTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Enviada em: Sexta-feira, Outubro 29, 1999 05:05 Assunto: Re: Need ICD feedback

> Thanks guys, you both got some valid points, I agree ICE 2000 price is > ridiculous, especially for a small business man like me. I am a UV pipe > liner ("HI! Quentin!") and are about to step onto Flash with the 16F87x, > thus my query about the ICD. After the blurb by the Microchip rep., I > just wanted to get some 'real' feedback from users before I buy. > > I am placing my order on Monday. Thanks. We have found the ICD works well, barely a hiccup EXCEPT that the software complains about comms errors that dont seem to be errors at all. We have got used to just ignoring these error messages and all works fine. Our first project development using it (16F877) has been at Auckland Zoo feeding Sealions for 3 months now without a hiccup. A really nice feature of an ICD is that once everything seems to be working you can unplug the header comms link and the 16F877 carries on working, great test of stand-alone operation. The software complains horribly on the PC and MPLAB really needs to be rebooted when you reattach the lead but thats no big deal. The ICD is a pain when it came to serial comms debugging, we had a bug where the RX was writing over the buffer and we had to use our ICEPIC running 16C74 emulation on to catch the problem. That was further complicated by the bug in our ICEPIC that put low level digital clock noise on the I/O lines. The delay was hideous finding that bug and we decided to go with the MPLAB-ICE 2000 but the 16F87x module isnt out yet, so we can only use the 12C67x module or the noisy old ICEPIC (16C7x and 16C/F84) for now. _____________________________ Lance Allen Technical Officer Uni of Auckland Psych Dept New Zealand http://www.psych.auckland.ac.nz _____________________________

Price, and we also have 8 and 18 pins adapters. Friendly Regards Octavio Nogueira =================================================== RemoveMEnogueiraEraseMEEraseMEpropic2.com ICQ# 19841898 ProPic tools - low cost PIC programmer and emulator http://www.propic2.com =================================================== -----Mensagem Original----- De: Jerry Iacobucci <RemoveMEjerryspam_OUTKILLspamCANLINKS.COM> Para: <RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Enviada em: Domingo, Novembro 07, 1999 08:06 Assunto: Re: Need ICD feedback > What Makes the ProPic2 ICD Better than Microchips ICD