I have also used the hacked PICSTART method. I showed it to my microchip FAE and he said (quoting Sargent Schultz) "I see nothing!" He said that the output current specs on the PICstart weren't really up to the task, and it might not work every time. I would not recommend depending on the hacked PICstart. I had to add an external 5V power supply that could power the target board becuase the PICstart 5V supply is teeeny. I also use Microengineering Lab's EPIC programmer for ICSP, it is really good and about $200 smackers. I need to cough up the money for an ICD though. Still works better with external 5V. A 9V battery and a 7805 will do, as long as your target boad is not a power hog. -- Lawrence Lile Tom Deutschman Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list 12/08/2003 02:10 PM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: Subject: Re: [PIC]: ICSP advice needed... > > I have been using my trusty old PICStart plus for quite some > time now, and am interested in starting to do ICSP instead, > so I can start using some surface mount parts. In the past, I've programmed surface mount PICs with the PICStart Plus by building a cable with a dip header on one end and a SIOC-Clip on the other. To use this method, I program the parts before I solder them on to the PCB. You can see an example of the cable at http://www.wizbangdesigns.com/temp1.html Tom Deutschman Wizbang Designs, Inc. 1629 W 8TH AVE Spokane, WA 99204 Phone: (509) 251-4814 www.wizbangdesigns.com -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads