> My own personal programmer is built around the 68HC11 EVB
> with standard
> RS-232.  I parse the .hex files on a workstation, and have command /
> response between the workstation and the '11.  I bit bang the
> ICSP lines
> from the '11, and I experience satisfaction.

That is what I would qualify as a 'serious' programmer.

> For example,
> instead of filling
> an 8K buffer then ALWAYS erasing and reprogramming the whole
> memory, I only
> deal with the memory that is represented in the .hex file.

so how do you deal with a code-read-protected chip? and which 8k? there
are PIcs in all sizes, ranging from 1k (0.5k if you include EPROM PICs)
to IIRC 32k.

> I don't do one thing that otherwise seems universal:  I only use low
> voltage programming, and I don't make a 13V supply.  I have
> not addressed
> or deliberately ignored the variable programming voltage issues.

That makes it a somewhat less general programmer.

> So I am currently dealing with the issue of "how does a
> student download
> code."  Hobbyist have this concern, so I revisited the
> hobbyist programming
> landscape again.  Clearly, the hobbyist arena has not settled
> to a small
> number of designs.

My Wisp628 fits at the high end of the hobby designs / low end of the
seriosu designs. But I sell it, except for one-off hobby purposes it is
not a free design. IIRC Kanda has a similar programmer.

> If possible, I will use an existing programmer design with my
> board.  Actually, this seems to narrow down to using a
> standard connector
> and pin-out.

There are a fair number of ICSP connectors, but I would go for an RJ
connector compatible with Microchip's ICD2. The boards that I make for
for instance educational purposes have both this RJ connector and a
connctor form my Wisp628.

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products

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