On Tue, May 27, 2003 at 12:36:41AM -0500, Picdude wrote:
> As much as I bow to Mr. Tait for his great programmer, I'm thinking that it's
> run it's course and it may be time for me to upgrade.

Any why do you think that?

>  I still can't verify PIC's after programming,
> and it may be the programmer HW, software, PC port,
> or a combo of these,

Probably the hardware. My TLVP was specifically engineered so that you can
read/verify the part, and is of course based on the classic Tait design.

> but I'd like consider this from the standpoint of a
> fresh slate.  Would love to hear what's available nowadays that will meet the
> following needs...
>
> - Devices: 12F, 16F, 18F minimum.

Your existing programmer should be able to do this with minimal rewiring. The
further along I get, the more I move towards ICSP only, by having a jumper
cable from the programmer to the target.

> - Interface:  Serial or parallel preferred.  USB may be an option.

Unfortunately USB is going to have to be an option as more and more machines
simply ditch the serial and parallel port for USB.

> - Software:  Anything Linux.  Would also be nice if it worked with MPLAB
>   under Win2k.

Linux software is where the problem lurks. My last software update to picprg2.3
(which I'm thinking about renaming) was about a year ago. But hope is on the
horizon. I just ordered 5 brand spanking new chips from Microchip's sample
department: 18F452, 12F675, 16F877A, 16F819, 18F1320. IMHO these represent
the widest cross-section of the PIC hobby chip market. Once I get them I plan
to update picprg2.3 to program them, and then change the name.

> - Cost: Lower = better, but no hard budget/limit set.

Nothing cheaper than what you already have. Second cheapest option is probably
Wouter's WISP628, which I would consider the other serious contender.

> - Availability:  Homebuilt preferred, though I'll consider others.  Yes, I
> mean my home :-)

I'd keep the old battle ax around and hope that someone will update the
programming software. In the meantime given the above criteria I'd suggest
building a Wisp628. It meets nearly every point above:

- Programs all of the chips you specified.
- Serial interface. Even better because you can use a USB/serial adapter once
  everything goes completely USB
- Software written in Python making it cross platform. Also the serial protocol
  is open, you can write your own tool if you like.
- Inexpensive: $36 fully assembled, $25 for a kit with all of the parts, or
  as cheap as you like if you scrounge your junkbox.
- Easily built at home using your current programmer.

Overall it's probably your winner, though for a homebuilt, it would need a
bootstrap programmer, which you already have.

BAJ

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