> I must agree with Don's comments. Having to set the fuses every time is
> annoying. In my opinion, a major improvement would be for it to simply
> remember the last settings when it starts up.
>

If you hit "Read device" before loading in your object code, the fuses are
automatically set to how the current device was last programmed.  Only works
for the EE part (16C84), though. :-)

> I have experienced other problems using PICSTART. I find that often
> (with 16C71s, at least) it takes 2 or 3 goes to program properly: verification
> fails initially, but it will eventually succeed. Is this a problem that others
> have found? Something to do with firmare perhaps? (Mine is PICSTART-16B,
> Firmware V1.7).

I have found that every once in a while our PICSTART refuses to program
properly, but I put it down to the ZIF socket - devices placed centrally
do not program properly but ones placed at the left side program OK.

> Another point to consider: the programming specs (eg. DS30153D) say that the
> devices should be verified at VDD min as well as VDD max, yet I see no 
> evidence that PICSTART does this. Does anyone know what goes on here? The 
> PICSTART user's guide is silent on such issues. Seems to me that you could 
> easily program a device that verifies at 5V, but fails at 3V.

PICSTART is classed as a DEVELOPMENT programmer, and the programming spec.
states that only PRODUCTION class programmers need to have the variable
voltage capability. I suppose it's how they get away with such crappy drive
software as well.

> Stewart Smith  (ssmith@csuvax1.murdoch.edu.au)
> Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Western Australia.
> 

Simon
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