I am planning to select a PIC development system at work, primarily to
develop applications for the new 12C50X controller (for size and power
reasons). I am a little bewildered by the choices of systems
available. For instance, you can by the entry level system from
MicroChip consisting of the PICSTART-PLUS for assembler, simulator and
programmer, plus the ICE PIC in-circuit emulator for a total system
cost of under $1000. At the high end, you can by the PICMASTER
development system with the MPLAB software and the PROMATE programmer,
for a total system cost of about $3400. I did not hear a compelling
reason to spend the additional money for the higher end system from the
folks at MicroChip (perhaps because I didn't speak to the right
person), but I would guess you get something for the additional money.
Would the experienced PIC users care to offer some guidance in
selecting a development system? My personal bias is towards ease of
use rather than the absolute lowest price. Any help is appreciated.
TIA,
Jamie Burnside
====================================================
Jamie W. Burnside M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory spam_OUTjburnsideTakeThisOuTll.mit.edu 244 Wood Street, Rm. D-353
Phone: 617-981-4511 Lexington, MA 02173 USA
====================================================
Jamie W. Burnside wrote:
>
> Fellow PICers,
>
> I am planning to select a PIC development system at work, primarily to
> develop applications for the new 12C50X controller (for size and power
> reasons). I am a little bewildered by the choices of systems
> available. For instance, you can by the entry level system from
> MicroChip consisting of the PICSTART-PLUS for assembler, simulator and
> programmer, plus the ICE PIC in-circuit emulator for a total system
> cost of under $1000. At the high end, you can by the PICMASTER
> development system with the MPLAB software and the PROMATE programmer,
> for a total system cost of about $3400. I did not hear a compelling
> reason to spend the additional money for the higher end system from the
> folks at MicroChip (perhaps because I didn't speak to the right
> person), but I would guess you get something for the additional money.
>
> Would the experienced PIC users care to offer some guidance in
> selecting a development system? My personal bias is towards ease of
> use rather than the absolute lowest price. Any help is appreciated.
I've used the ICEPIC and the PICMASTER. I prefer the PICMASTER though.
The PICSTART plus is a nice programmer for development.
I'm currently using MPLABC (also quite expensive) and cannot beleive I
programmed in assembly for so long!
Home-made programmers are usually a pain in the backside because you
don't (usually) get frequent softwate upgrades.
--
Friendly Regards
Tjaart van der Walt
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| Another sun-deprived R&D Engineer slaving away in a dungeon |
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Yes, I agree. I've used RICE16, Icepic and PICMaster...
going back to the picmaster after using the other two
was when I realised that it is better. MPLAB is also
better than the software that drives RICE16 or Icepic;
when working with the RICE16 or Icepic I still do a
fair amount of work using the simulator in MPLAB before
using the Icepic/RICE16.
The RICE16 and Icepic *are* capable tools, though, each
with good points.
- Andy.
*************************************************************
Andrew David Senior Project Engineer - Software
Thanks to all who responded. Since the PICMASTER seems to have
universal approval (with the possible exception of the price ;-), I
will probably go with it. My compliments to this group for the rapid
and helpful posts.
====================================================
Jamie W. Burnside M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory jburnsidespam_OUTll.mit.edu 244 Wood Street, Rm. D-353
Phone: 617-981-4511 Lexington, MA 02173 USA
====================================================
> Thanks to all who responded. Since the PICMASTER seems to have
> universal approval (with the possible exception of the price ;-), I
> will probably go with it. My compliments to this group for the
> rapid and helpful posts.
Jamie:
I have a couple of PICMASTERs, and I believe they're the best PIC
emulators, but I can sympathize with the price issue. You might want
to take a look at the $700 ICEPIC emulators; they have minor software
problems now, but by this time next year, Microchip will probably
have them running under MPLAB.
ll.mit.edu 244 Wood Street, Rm. D-353
