Post by thread:PIC START PLUS From Digi-Key

I saw Bob Blick's comment about the PIC START--but that $148.88 price tag is incorrect. I just ordered it and it is $199.++. Seems that Microchip changed the price of it almost before the Digi-Key catalog came out. I was torqued!!! to say the least but ordered it anyway. Its a shame that Microchip would do something like that but ... better let it go I guess. Just wanted to save anyone else the pain that I went through at the time I ordered mine. Its not Digi-Key's fault, and the order lady I talked to when I ordered mine was very polite and full of sorry's about the whole deal. Be nice if Microchip would give us a rebate if orderd during the three month period of the Digi-Key catalog currently published. Mike Regards... Mike Hall - "http://members.aol.com/mhall34450/" WB8ICN Dayton, Ohio

Hello All, I have a PicStart Plus programmer and I just can't get it to communicate with my PC. When I run MPLAB and try to select the comm port for the programmer, all the options appear dimmed. I tried changing the BWCC.DLL driver, the MPPLUS.DLL, reinstalling MPLAB, checking the ports on the Device Manager and configuring them manually, etc. I have com2 available but so far I haven't been able to 'undimm' it in MPLAB. Please, help... TIA Gabriel Gonzalez TGO Electronica

Just to add to this... if you are a student or an educational institution make sure you ask for the educational discout on the PICSTART PLUS. I'm not sure whether you do this with Digikey directly or if you have to go throught Microchip but since I got this information from my Microchip Rep yours should also be aware of the details. Just wanted to share this and hopefully save some people a few bucks. Charles >Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 15:13:47 -0500 >Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list <spam_OUTPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> >From: Mike <.....wb8icnKILLspam@spam@DNACO.NET> >Subject: PIC START PLUS From Digi-Key >To: PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU > >I saw Bob Blick's comment about the PIC START--but that $148.88 price tag is >incorrect. I just ordered it and it is $199.++. Seems that Microchip >changed the price of it almost before the Digi-Key catalog came out. I was >torqued!!! to say the least but ordered it anyway. Its a shame that >Microchip would do something like that but ... better let it go I guess. > >Just wanted to save anyone else the pain that I went through at the time I >ordered mine. Its not Digi-Key's fault, and the order lady I talked to when >I ordered mine was very polite and full of sorry's about the whole deal. Be >nice if Microchip would give us a rebate if orderd during the three month >period of the Digi-Key catalog currently published. > >Mike >Regards... >Mike Hall - "http://members.aol.com/mhall34450/" >WB8ICN >Dayton, Ohio > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

At 01:20 PM 2/21/98 PST, you wrote: >Just to add to this... if you are a student or an educational >institution make sure you ask for the educational discout on the >PICSTART PLUS. I'm not sure whether you do this with Digikey directly >or if you have to go throught Microchip but since I got this information >from my Microchip Rep yours should also be aware of the details. > >Just wanted to share this and hopefully save some people a few bucks. > >Charles Charles, How much is the educational discount? Thanks, Sean +--------------------------------+ | Sean Breheny | | Amateur Radio Callsign: KA3YXM | | Electrical Engineering Student | +--------------------------------+ Fight injustice, please look at http://homepages.enterprise.net/toolan/joanandrews/ Personal page: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/shb7 .....shb7KILLspam.....cornell.edu Phone(USA): (607) 253-0315

>From: Sean Breheny <EraseMEshb7spam_OUTTakeThisOuTCORNELL.EDU> >Subject: Re: PIC START PLUS From Digi-Key >To: PICLISTspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU > >At 01:20 PM 2/21/98 PST, you wrote: >>Just to add to this... if you are a student or an educational >>institution make sure you ask for the educational discout on the >>PICSTART PLUS. I'm not sure whether you do this with Digikey directly >>or if you have to go throught Microchip but since I got this information {Quote hidden}>>from my Microchip Rep yours should also be aware of the details. >> >>Just wanted to share this and hopefully save some people a few bucks. >> >>Charles > >Charles, > >How much is the educational discount? > >Thanks, > >Sean > The Canadian rep informed me I could get the package for approx. $150 CND. (Please don't quote me on this) I am at work right now and don't have my Digikey catalog handy but perhaps someone else can tell you what the regularly go for in CND bucks. Good Luck! Charles ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: pic microcontroller discussion list > [@spam@PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Charles Laforge > Sent: February 21, 1998 19:45 > To: KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: Re: PIC START PLUS From Digi-Key > >>or if you have to go throught Microchip but since I got this > information > >>from my Microchip Rep yours should also be aware of the details. > >> > >>Just wanted to share this and hopefully save some people a few bucks. > > > >How much is the educational discount? > > The Canadian rep informed me I could get the package for approx. $150 > CND. (Please don't quote me on this) I am at work right now and don't > have my Digikey catalog handy but perhaps someone else can tell you what > the regularly go for in CND bucks. Well in my Digikey catalog they list it at $199US, that comes to about $280.59CND. Not a bad deal, more than $100 off, if the quote is correct. TTYL

Open up Mplab.ini in the windows directory and under programmers set the commport to the one that the picstart is connected to. [programmers] current=PRO MATE Device Programmer 0=PRO MATE Device Programmer 1=PICSTART Plus Dev. Programmer commport=2 Rich At 02:46 PM 2/21/98 -0600, you wrote: {Quote hidden}>Hello All, > >I have a PicStart Plus programmer and I just can't get it to communicate >with my PC. When I run MPLAB and try to select the comm port for the >programmer, all the options appear dimmed. I tried changing the BWCC.DLL >driver, the MPPLUS.DLL, reinstalling MPLAB, checking the ports on the Device >Manager and configuring them manually, etc. >I have com2 available but so far I haven't been able to 'undimm' it in >MPLAB. > >Please, help... > >TIA > >Gabriel Gonzalez >TGO Electronica > > ========================================= = Abolish the Income Tax! Fire the IRS! = = http://www.nrst.org/ = =========================================

Charles Laforge wrote: > The Canadian rep informed me I could get the package for approx. $150 > CND. (Please don't quote me on this) I am at work right now and > don't > have my Digikey catalog handy but perhaps someone else can tell you > what > the regularly go for in CND bucks. > > Good Luck! > > Charles Is that price for the Educational version? I am currently a student at BCIT, but didn't know about the educational version. I got my Picstart Plus last December, and got it for around CDN $200 + Taxes = $230. Alvin

The $148.88 price was a special offer at the end of last year which expired on 12/31/97. I am not sure when it started. Just before the end of the year I got a new Jameco catalog and noticed that the price had jumped to $199 and then someone on this list mentioned the special offer and I went out that day to purchase one that day. At 03:13 PM 2/21/98 -0500, you wrote: {Quote hidden}>I saw Bob Blick's comment about the PIC START--but that $148.88 price tag is >incorrect. I just ordered it and it is $199.++. Seems that Microchip >changed the price of it almost before the Digi-Key catalog came out. I was >torqued!!! to say the least but ordered it anyway. Its a shame that >Microchip would do something like that but ... better let it go I guess. > >Just wanted to save anyone else the pain that I went through at the time I >ordered mine. Its not Digi-Key's fault, and the order lady I talked to when >I ordered mine was very polite and full of sorry's about the whole deal. Be >nice if Microchip would give us a rebate if orderd during the three month >period of the Digi-Key catalog currently published. > >Mike >Regards... >Mike Hall - "http://members.aol.com/mhall34450/" >WB8ICN >Dayton, Ohio > > Gene Norris RemoveMEGnorrisTakeThisOuTearthlink.net E. Windsor, NJ USA

I don't have the letter here with me but what I believe my Microchip reprensentative said was the PicStart Plus was available to students for $150 versus the $212 (I think thats the current CND Digikey price) it normally sells. I don't beleive its for an educational or slimmed down version but for the full package. You might have to order it through your school or something... I'm not sure. If i think about it I'll contact my rep tommorow and get more details for you guys. Actually, any Canadian reps on the list? Charles >Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 21:12:34 -0800 >Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list <spamBeGonePICLISTspamBeGoneMITVMA.MIT.EDU> {Quote hidden}>From: Alvin Tan <TakeThisOuTAlvin_TanEraseMEspam_OUTBC.SYMPATICO.CA> >Subject: Re: PIC START PLUS From Digi-Key >To: RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU > >Charles Laforge wrote: > >> The Canadian rep informed me I could get the package for approx. $150 >> CND. (Please don't quote me on this) I am at work right now and >> don't >> have my Digikey catalog handy but perhaps someone else can tell you >> what >> the regularly go for in CND bucks. >> >> Good Luck! >> >> Charles > > Is that price for the Educational version? I am currently a >student at BCIT, but didn't know about the educational version. I got >my Picstart Plus last December, and got it for around CDN $200 + Taxes = >$230. > >Alvin > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Good Idea about the rebate Mike. After the gal told me it was just a promotional price good in Dec 97 it took me several days to get over being mad. Like you I finally ordered it. I wonder if the price difference was worth the flak their sales persons must have received...... ==Mac== ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- At 03:13 PM 2/21/98 -0500, you wrote: {Quote hidden}>I saw Bob Blick's comment about the PIC START--but that $148.88 price tag is >incorrect. I just ordered it and it is $199.++. Seems that Microchip >changed the price of it almost before the Digi-Key catalog came out. I was >torqued!!! to say the least but ordered it anyway. Its a shame that >Microchip would do something like that but ... better let it go I guess. > >Just wanted to save anyone else the pain that I went through at the time I >ordered mine. Its not Digi-Key's fault, and the order lady I talked to when >I ordered mine was very polite and full of sorry's about the whole deal. Be >nice if Microchip would give us a rebate if orderd during the three month >period of the Digi-Key catalog currently published. > >Mike >Regards... >Mike Hall - "http://members.aol.com/mhall34450/" >WB8ICN >Dayton, Ohio >

Calvin wrote: > Hello All, > > I have a PicStart Plus programmer and I just can't get it to communicate > with my PC. When I run MPLAB and try to select the comm port for the > programmer, all the options appear dimmed. I tried changing the BWCC.DLL > driver, the MPPLUS.DLL, reinstalling MPLAB, checking the ports on the Device > Manager and configuring them manually, etc. > I have com2 available but so far I haven't been able to 'undimm' it in > MPLAB. > > Please, help... > > TIA > > Gabriel Gonzalez > TGO Electronica Hi Gabriel. a few thing I will recommend it should work. before you do any thing disconnect your mouse cable and connect it with com2 to see your port is fine is yes continue 1. do not reinstall with out deleting old mplab . 2. run diskscan first. 3. rum memmaker 4. install new mplab 5. in system folder unchecked FIFO 6. restart your pc Andre Abelian let me know if you still have problem. ========================================== = http://www.compufire.com = = andreEraseME.....compufire.com = = EraseMEmcu-engineeringcompufire.com = = Andre Abelian: Engine Electronics, Inc.= = Tel 909-589-5485 Fax 909-598-5695 = ==========================================

Andre Abelian wrote: {Quote hidden}> > Calvin wrote: > > > Hello All, > > > > I have a PicStart Plus programmer and I just can't get it to communicate > > with my PC. When I run MPLAB and try to select the comm port for the > > programmer, all the options appear dimmed. I tried changing the BWCC.DLL > > driver, the MPPLUS.DLL, reinstalling MPLAB, checking the ports on the Device > > Manager and configuring them manually, etc. > > I have com2 available but so far I haven't been able to 'undimm' it in > > MPLAB. > > > > Please, help... > > > > TIA > > > > Gabriel Gonzalez > > TGO Electronica > > Hi Gabriel. > > a few thing I will recommend it should work. > before you do any thing disconnect your mouse cable and > connect it with com2 to see your port is fine is yes continue > > 1. do not reinstall with out deleting old mplab . > 2. run diskscan first. > 3. rum memmaker > 4. install new mplab > 5. in system folder unchecked FIFO > 6. restart your pc > > Andre Abelian > > let me know if you still have problem. > > ========================================== > = http://www.compufire.com = > = RemoveMEandreEraseMEEraseMEcompufire.com = > = RemoveMEmcu-engineeringspam_OUTKILLspamcompufire.com = > = Andre Abelian: Engine Electronics, Inc.= > = Tel 909-589-5485 Fax 909-598-5695 = > ========================================== I've had a (similar) problem with my picstart-plus. It won't initialise when my modem is in use and vice versa. Maybe this is because com2 and com4 share IRQ? I still dont know exactly what it is, but I can't be online and program pic's at the same time now ;) Hans

Comm ports 1 and 3 typically share the same IRQ as does comm ports 2 and 4. You can't have two devices operating at the same time both using the same IRQ. I received a message from Gabriel stating that his problem got fixed when he made the edit in the Mplab.ini file as I suggested. He claims that it did not fix the "dim" selections problem however. Rich At 09:38 PM 2/23/98 -0800, you wrote: >Andre Abelian wrote: >> >> Calvin wrote: >> >> > Hello All, >> > >> > I have a PicStart Plus programmer and I just can't get it to communicate >> > with my PC. When I run MPLAB and try to select the comm port for the >> > programmer, all the options appear dimmed. I tried changing the BWCC.DLL >> > driver, the MPPLUS.DLL, reinstalling MPLAB, checking the ports on the Device {Quote hidden}>> > Manager and configuring them manually, etc. >> > I have com2 available but so far I haven't been able to 'undimm' it in >> > MPLAB. >> > >> > Please, help... >> > >> > TIA >> > >> > Gabriel Gonzalez >> > TGO Electronica >> >> Hi Gabriel. >> >> a few thing I will recommend it should work. >> before you do any thing disconnect your mouse cable and >> connect it with com2 to see your port is fine is yes continue >> >> 1. do not reinstall with out deleting old mplab . >> 2. run diskscan first. >> 3. rum memmaker >> 4. install new mplab >> 5. in system folder unchecked FIFO >> 6. restart your pc >> >> Andre Abelian >> >> let me know if you still have problem. >> >> ========================================== >> = http://www.compufire.com = >> = RemoveMEandreTakeThisOuTspamcompufire.com = >> = EraseMEmcu-engineeringspamspamBeGonecompufire.com = >> = Andre Abelian: Engine Electronics, Inc.= >> = Tel 909-589-5485 Fax 909-598-5695 = >> ========================================== > >I've had a (similar) problem with my picstart-plus. It won't initialise >when my modem is in use and vice versa. Maybe this is because com2 and >com4 share IRQ? I still dont know exactly what it is, but I can't be >online and program pic's at the same time now ;) > >Hans > > ========================================= = Abolish the Income Tax! Fire the IRS! = = http://www.nrst.org/ = =========================================