Jacob.B wrote:
.........
>
>> Besides, even if not production, it's likely they have been both
>> programmed and are being used at the same Vcc and temperature.
>> [?????? you better support me on this Jacob ;-)].
>
>Yep, that's true. Temperature is the same, and the PIC is powered from a 78L05.
>
>I contacted our local distributor today, which called a Microchip office,
but I got exactly the answer I expected... "Picstart + is not recommended
for production, use Promate instead"..   I then pointed out that having a
development programmer that caused malfunction in my firmware isn't really
optimal...
>


Well, this was exactly my point. It sounded like you simply
programmed them, and tested them in-house - not even in the field
with varying Vcc and temperature conditions - and some failed
already. I should think a "properly-designed" development
programmer should pass this test - WITHOUT a load of bullshit
coming back from the manufacturer. For crying out loud already
....... [US slang].

OTOH, older programmers/firmware may not set all the programming
parameters optimally for the newer chips. I believe melabs had to
do some fiddling with their EPIC s.w. because of this - lengthened
the delays, IIRC.

Also, you might check that your Vpp voltage is correct.

Regarding differences between production and protoyping, besides
using hi/lo Vcc tests .......

my EPIC is a prototyper, but they actually program the chip on
one pass, testing the ROM cells for proper values as they go,
then go back and set the code protect bits at the end. Some
prototyper programmers may not do this, so you may not know
whether you got the correct data into the cells when doing
code protect.

- danM
===============

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