Lewis H. Cobb wrote:

> Myke - for what it's worth I've spent some 3 more wasted hours looking for
> the problem on the NEC laptop and I have learned that the serial port does
> work with other software like hyperterm and an old copy of mirror - typing
> characters to the Picstart plus however does nothing.
>
> I tried the Picstart Plus system on a friend's desktop machine and the same
> thing happens - can't detect the PSP on either of the serial ports on his
> machine either - again - all fifos, etc. set as suggested in the
> documentation.
>
> This thing is going back first thing in the morning - I've got projects to
> do and I'm afraid I just don't have the time to make a career out of trying
> to get someone else's hardware to work - especially when I buy it!  I'd
> appreciate any  pointers on another programmer that I can buy that tends to
> WORK?  Cost is not much of a concern - keeping "my" customers happy is and
> there's some milestones coming up....

I've had my share of PS+ sorrows in the past, too. Have you tried to
download and install the new driver for MPLAB? It works much
better than the one that installs.

If it still won't work, try the following :
Open up a terminal program like Telix or Hyperterm. Short pins 2 & 3. Type
something and see if it is echoed back. If it is, then you know you've got some
action on the port. Now connect your PS+ and type few characters (experiment
with the baud rate). If you see garbage returned, the PS+ works. If you don't,
it doesn't.

BTW the PS+ is a really nice programmer and Mchip is obliged to support it
as soon as new parts come out. All-purpose programmers are more expensive,
and you are not guaranteed that they will support all new Mchip devices.
Another point, is that the PS+ was designed as a development programmer.
A programmer with a more production-type of approach, would chew up
your JW parts much quicker, because they hit your pricey PIC with more
programming pulses.

If price is really no concern, I'd recommend an ICE and a production
programmer. You save loads of time using an ICE.

--
Friendly Regards

Tjaart van der Walt
mailto:tjaart@wasp.co.za

Add your voice !!
Vote at the Great G Com Public Vote. Go to :
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