Post by thread:Parallax or Picstart? (also, uASM note)

> Additionally, the PicStart's serial connection is completely > nonstandard/proprietary, with pretty low-level UART stuff. Would this still > work with LINUX (even emulating DOS)? It definitely doesn't work with the > MAC. I've been looking at the PICStart communications with an HP 4952A protocol analyzer. They use receive data, transmit data, and one handshake line in each direction. The handshake lines are toggled after every command or data byte. I haven't completely worked out the details yet, but I think the Macintosh could actually talk to it. A special cable might be needed. Cheers, Eric

>Hi PICers, > >David said, > >> >> 1. Parallax uses parallel PC port, PICSTART uses serial. You could >> probably use PICSTART from Linux with the DOS emulator, but you can't >> do that with the parallax since the DOS emulator doesn't support the >> parallel port. > >I know this list is not for Linux discussions, but I must disagree here. >The parallel port works fine under DOSEMU. Add the following line to your >/etc/dosemu.conf Additionally, the PicStart's serial connection is completely nonstandard/proprietary, with pretty low-level UART stuff. Would this still work with LINUX (even emulating DOS)? It definitely doesn't work with the MAC. Again, I'll take this time to second Don Lekei's recommendation of the Beradine MicroBurner 512 (see FAQ for more info). It is a little pricey (maybe $350), but well worth it. I have both this and a PICSTART (which I used before I found the microburner), and I don't even take the PICSTART out of the box anymore. It uses a standard RS-232 serial connection, and you can get new modules to let it program new/different chipsets (although they are also admittedly a bit pricey at somewhat over $100 each). It also uses a serial programming routine (WRT THE PIC), so I always have 5 wire connectors on my oceanographic instrumnts, and I can update the frmware with a simple 5-wire cable from the Microburner to the instrument's circuit board (ie: in situ programming, whic I believe the Parallax TruFlight will also do, but the PICSTART will not). Also, since you can download programs from the host computer, to the microburner (which can run off the included AC adapter or a 12V battery) you can program the new firmware into the buner, and take it (no host computer) to the instrument and update the firmware. I have no cnoonction to the MicroBurner, except as a normal customer. -jory PS: Has anyone gotten a version the uASM (for the MAC, from MicroDialects) that will work with the 16c84? Any work on any new MAC-based development tools (I'd especially like a good c84 supporting simulator) I am really trying to get away from SOFTPC! (and I don't have a UNIX or PC/LINUX box, so those emerging avenues/alternatives don't help. :) Gratuitous Background Info:I thought I had bought a c84/c71 uASM version, but hadn't gotten around to using it for a long time. When I recently tried assembling some c84 code with it, I found it wouldn't recognize page1 memory access, etc. I didn't see anywhere I could select the PIC version, so I guessed I had the wrong version. I called MicroDialects, but could not get a hold of anyone who could answer my questions. Several weeks ago, I finally returned the original disk, with a polite letter asking for the correct version (I have not heard back yet). Anyone else have ay particular experiences with them?