>>One is Myke Predko tutorials at >>www.rentron.comand the other is at >>WinPicProg.co.uk . >> >>I wonder if anyone has an opinion as to which of these two might be the best >>for me? I do have a basic knowledge of electronics, and also of computer >>programming, and do not mind sitting down and spending some time building >>circuits. The WinPicProg site looks like it might be better, but that is >>just my initial impression and I may be wrong. >> >> >Maarten Hofman wrote: >If I could do my newbie period over again, I would've gone with the >PICkit 2, for the following reasons: >1) Building your own programmer is overrated, and in the end usually >more expensive than buying the PICkit 2. > > This calls for a little balance on "building-your-own" .... .... and keep the money for the Pickit in the pocket for a while .... As a hobbyist I used the referenced WinPicProg.co.uk ... and I recommend building A practical PIC-user has to get familiar with elementary building, this is a good start. I used the schematic provided on the website. I used old-computer-parts and breadboard. I spent less than $2. I had a lot of fun doing so. I bought the bufferchip (for the programmer) with my first PIC-order. 16F628, at Glitchbuster. Even when you use this programmer only for the tutorial it is worth it. ..... buy a Pickit afterwards. Or, having one's own opinion after learning from the tutorial, make a 'better/personal' choice. I think newbie-programmers are UNDER-rated because a newbie cant move (start learning hands-on) till he has settled on a programmer. The questions on the PIClist (what programmer should I buy??) back my opinion. I think building a (crude is OK!) PPort-programmer is hard to beat (cheap, simple and easy to trouble-shoot, educational). Herman in PHL. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist