Hi Mike,
programming different devices not only depends on the "right" hardware,
but also, and this is the most important factor, the right software.
If you're looking for a good, simple, robust and -> inexpensive <-
PIC-Programmer, than have a look at
http://www.git-online/home/bam-mon

It allows programming of 45 different PICs (from DIL8 to DIL40) and the
list can be expanded simply by addig new parameters (fuses, word-length
and so on).
The software that comes with it is shareware.

good luck
           R. Monsees

Mike wrote:
>
> I hope to find a simple answer, but not sure if there is one to this
> question.
> Whats the difference in the various PIC programmers I see on various
> links?
> I have noticed alot of 16C84, or F84, programmers and the hardware is
> straight forward.  Parallax's 16Cxx programmer has a firmware chip but
> no
> extra hardware on their PCB.  I have the parts to build a simple 16C84
> programmer that I wanted to use for some 16F84's I just got but not sure
> if
> the programmer I was going to build will work for the 16F84, since there
> seems to be some issue of it can only program the 16C84--I thought the
> chips
> were (C84 and F84) about the same.
>
> Question #1:  Can I use a simple 16C84 programmer ( the one I had
> intended
> on building is called the "COM84") to program 16F84's?
>
> Question #2:  Whats special about these programmers I see for all of the
> other 16Cxx chips--is it firmware or what?  If I use Parallax's SPEP.exe
> software to program, lets say a 16C56 or 57, and use the simple
> programmer I
> wanted to build for the 16C84, would this work or kill the 16C56 or 57?
>
> Qestion #3:  Whats the alternative if a simple programmer ( such as the
> one
> for 16C84's) won't work for other 16Cxx chips short of buying a
> commercially
> made programmer such as Parallax's?  Are there any homebrew programmers
> out
> there for the 16Cxx series PIC chips that can be built from scratch?
>
> Any help, suggestions, or direction would be graetly appreciated!!
>
> Thanks in advance for any replies...
>
> Mike
>


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