Hi!  Don't know anything about your enviroment.  For programmers I suggest
getting on Digi-Key's site ( www.digikey.com) and ordering the PICSTART plus
programmer for $199.00.   I had some trouble setting up MPLAB, but it all
works.
Good Luck: John Kirk

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ansel Sermersheim [SMTP:agserm@NETWIZARDS.NET]
> Sent: Friday, August 21, 1998 3:55 PM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      Re: help should i build my own programmer or buy one
>
> (I already sent this out, but I think it got mangled.  Apologies if
> it's a dupe.)
>
> >>>>> "Rigby-Jones," == Rigby-Jones, Michael <Rigby-Jones> writes:
>
> >> Hi!  I hope my opinion doesn't make anyone angry, but I don't see
> >> why anyone builds a programmer.  I guess if you are a manufacturer
> >> and needed to program hundred's of chips you might want build
> >> something.  But with that exception, why not just spend the $200 to
> >> $2,000 and get a complete working programmer?  John Kirk
> >>
> >>
> > Thats fine for people with a few hundred $'s to spend on a hobby
> > they may be just trying out.  The parallel port programmers cost
> > just a few dollars and do the job perfectly.  In fact a 16F84 and a
> > cheapo homebrew programmer has to be the cheapest way of developing
> > a microcontroller application ever.
>
> I'm rather new to this list and to electronics in general, but I've
> been a software person for a long time.  I don't have much to spend on
> what is for me a hobby, and as a college student I have essentially no
> free income.
>
> Could anyone point me at a programmer out there that would be a good
> start? I'm perfectly capable of putting it together from a schematic if
> neccesary, but I don't think I can design one yet ;)
>
> Additionally, if someone could point me toward a PIC assembler and
> downloader for my preferred environment (Linux), I'd be very grateful.
>
> Thanks very much,
> -Ansel Sermersheim
> --
> GCS/CM/IT d- s+:-- a--- C++++ UL++++>$ V? P+++ L++(++++) E++ W+ N++ w---
> M-- PS++ PE Y+ PGP++ t++(*) 5+++ X+ R tv b++++ DI++++ D---(+) G++ e*>++
> h!>++ r--- y?