> From: Barry Gershenfeld[SMTP:barry_g@ZMICRO.COM] > Sent: Monday, April 12, 2004 3:26 PM > To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: [PIC]: Production programming device? > For the last few years, my ICD-1 (now ICD-2) and I > have been the "production programmer" for all the > PIC's that we use. But the numbers are increasing > and we have a need to let the production techs > program their own stock. I have hesitated handing . this sort of thing over because the procedures > involving the ICD-2 and MPLAB can get quite involved-- > MPLAB is a development environment. I also > suspect that an ICD-2 programming run does not exactly > yield a production-quality part. > What I'm looking for is something that will take a HEX > file--and any other necessry info and not change it > (MPLAB likes to turn Debug mode back on and other > antics) and program the device via ICSP (In-circuit > serial programming). Ideally it would > be upgradeable as Microchip invents new parts. Maybe > Microchip makes what we need. > It doesn't have to be zero cost, either. It does > have to be reliable and simple. > Barry Microchip does make a programmer which does just program and nothing else. The current model is called the Picstart Plus and is available from most distributors who handle Microchip parts. The specifications can be found on the Microchip web site. The ICDs are really development tools with the debugging function as their main feature. There is also a large number of "do-it-yourself" programmers out there. These mainly consist of software which runs on a PC, accompanied by circuit diagrams for a minimal hardware interface. Even though they are free, they may have some limitations, such as not working with the later chip types. John Power -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics