On Sun, Jan 29, 2006 at 10:22:51PM -0800, Bob Blick wrote: > > > Hence another option is needed if someone is interested in just wiggling > > some > > pins from their PC just enough to get a part programmed to bootstrap > > something > > else. > > Is there any standardization in USB-to-parallel converters? Nope. Their driver presents a printing interface, not a pin wiggling one. > Because it > seems to me that "wiggling", in general, is a useful thing. Not just for > pic programmers, but for JTAG, testing LCDs, etc. And sevral pins of > wiggling, not just two or three. Correct. > So the parallel port vacuum will get stronger and stronger until something > fills it. This is why I'm pursuing the stopgap. Any old PIC can easily serve as a multipin serial to parallel interface. But you have to be able to program the part. > Two years ago when I bought my laptop, I also bought a pcmcia parallel > port card. It was expensive, but it's a real parallel port. I imagine in > the future someone will make a USB version that takes hold in the > marketplace and be more affordable. Interesting idea. However, with parts like the FTDI 245 parallel, or even 18F USB PICS, that conversion isn't going to be impossible. But espeically with the PICs it'll be kind of difficult to bootstrap if you have to obtain a USB PIC programmer for the sole purpose of dumping code into the part. I'm admittedly biased because I don't see PIC programmers beyond being tools used to dump bootloaders into the part so I can get to work. From that again admittedly warped world view, finding something to fill to code dumper niche cheaply, simply, and with readily available parts is important to me. The Trivial programmers have filled this need in the parallel realm for the last 5 years or so. Now I think it's time to branch out to serial and USB. But USB is flat too complicated to interface to. So the USB to serial interface serves as a building block that can be used for the code dumper and reused as a serial bootloader interface. BAJ -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist