I think Olin may have already read the thread in the 
Microchip Forum.

Microchip Forum 
http://forum.microchip.com/tm.asp?m=117082
Subject: Open Source PIC Programmer 
>From Ken:
"Let me add that another requirement that I feel is mandatory 
for a PIC programmer is a variable Vpp supply that is adjusted 
programmatically. I think most of us are in agreement that Vdd 
should be variable, but I feel that having a programmatically 
variable Vpp supply keeps one from "painting oneself into a corner". 
It is also necessary to comply with programming specifications 
since some of the Vpp max/min windows are fairly narrow compared 
with others. I'm not currently subscribed to the PICList, but I 
remember making a PICList post (more detailed post) about this 
a while back. It still might be in the archives." 

Ken is considering a cross-platform GUI programmer
software (using RealBaisc 2005 or similar) for a good 
PIC programmer (firmware controlled variable Vdd
and variable Vpp). I think this is an interesting
topic.

I am not so sure about Wisp628 but I think it is not 
really controlled as well. PICKit 1/PICkit 2 can 
control the Vpp in theory but WH Tan finds the 
Vpp waveform is not good enough. Currently PICKit 
2 does not support 18F so this is only a future 
issue. It can do variable Vdd as well but I think 
it is not implemented yet.

MPLAB ICD2 is using an SMPS (boost converter)
to get Vpp and use a digital poti to control the 
Vpp. However it does not control target Vdd and that 
is why it has problem with Vpp-before-Vdd device and
the reason it is called a prototype programmer.

EasyProg is a production programmer according to
Microchip's definition since it can vary the Vdd
for verification (2-pass varify). However,
EasyProg does not do firmware control of Vpp right 
now so Olin is recommending a volatge divider for 
some new PIC 18F device.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Robertson 
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 12:47 PM
To: piclist@mit.edu
Subject: [PIC] PIC programmer performance comparison

>Ken, is your programmer publicly available?  If so, I'd be happy 
>to put up information on it.

Ken is currently not on the PICLIST according to his own words as 
posted on the
microchip forum.

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