I haven't used that programmer but it looks ok. I certainly think that
allowing the production device to be reprogrammed is a good idea... There
are a few possible cases here:

A) You want to be able to quickly update your product after production at
your location prior to deliver to a distant customer site:
Considering all the (many more than I have room to talk about here)
advantages of the SX Key from
http://www.sxtech.com (aka parallax)
I would suggest buying one and using that as an ISP in addition to a really
slick little ICD.

B) You need infrequent updates of firmware at the site, and the device will
need to be connected to a PC for that purpose.
Then buy a blitz for $59, build it into the cable (it will fit just about
anywhere) and send it to the remote site to do the update. Don't trust your
customer to find and correctly connect a cable.

C) The unit will always be connected to the PC and may require frequent
firmware updates.
Now this built-in ISP makes sense.

---
James Newton (PICList Admin #3)
mailto:jamesnewton@piclist.com 1-619-652-0593
PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org

-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list
[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Don
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2000 11:07
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Scenix programmer ?


I hope I get away with this. Havent found any scenix lists or
forums. I'm thinking about trying them. I've searched thouroughly for
published programmer circuits and software. Most of them are
undesirable. For example, some of them require you to have a
funtional scenix programmer in order to program a part to build the
programmer. Some of them seem like they were abandoned a year
ago.
Scenix came out with a programmer very recently, and I'm curious
if anyone has tried it? It seems to be intended for use to upgrade
firmware in the field. It has a pushbutton to enable the programmer
and looks like it was intended to be included in the user's end
product. The software prompts to push the button,etc. I'm thinking
we could do away with the pushbutton and use the design as a
development programmer. It doesnt use any processors, just
transistors and a couple of logic chips.
BTW, if you are looking for this stuff, you cant really get it directly
by following the links to their website. All you can get is the
software, which does install ok. I found the following direct links
and downloaded the stuff. There is a schematic, and a manual, and
there is the software, but the latter is just a zip file with the exe and
a bunch of dlls, no installer. I dont know if its the same as the one
that is easy to find on the website
.
http://www.scenix.com/virtual/download/sxisp_schematic.pdf
http://www.scenix.com/virtual/download/SxIspUI.zip
http://www.scenix.com/virtual/download/an24_sxisp.pdf

Anyway, if anyone has any info (good or bad), please let me know!
Thanks
Don