Tim Dallmann wrote:
> I've been successful experimenting with various PIC chips so far,
> namely a few different 16F and 18F chips.  So I thought I would check
> out the dsPIC line and picked up a pic30f4013.  From what I can tell,
> the programmer hardware should still work (i have a JDM-based
> programmer from Olimax) if I use ICSP.

Yes, but the dsPIC programming algorithm is totally different from other
PICs.  It's also not trivial to implement.

> I've also googled and found some commercial products - the ICD2 from
> MicroChip and the USB programmer from www.mikroelektronika.co.yu.
> Both of these are nice, but honestly, I'm trying to do this on  a
> shoestring budget. Even spending $90USD on a new programmer is
> putting me back more than I (or should I say my wife!) would like.

You're going to end up spendng more than that one you actually start doing
dsPIC projects.  How are you going to debug?  The ICD2 is pretty much
essential for that, and it can also be used to program these chips.

> So - has anyone developed programming software that will work on
> Windows with the dsPIC and a JDM programmer?

My Windows programming software does support the dsPICs, but it requires a
programmer that adheres to my programmers protocol spec.  The only one I
know of that does this and has the necessary dsPIC support is my ProProg,
but that is not what you are looking for.

> Does anyone know where
> I would go to find out the requirements for writing my own (I'm a
> programmer by trade)? Does MicroChip have any docs on how to do this?

Microchip has programming specs available for all PICs.  These are in
separate documents from the data sheets.

Again, I think your best bet is an ICD2.  I hear there are second source
knokoffs out there, but can't recommend them because I've never tried them.
One reason I didn't bother with the effort of adding dsPIC support to my low
cost PIC programmer (EasyProg, http://www.embedinc.com/products) is because
I figured a hobbyist would need an ICD2 for dsPICs anyway.


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