On 1/30/06, James Newtons Massmind wrote: > > If you want USB, PICkit 2 or GTP USB Lite will be a better > > solution IMHO. > > > > Adding the cost of a USB to serial converter to a simple > > programmer will bring the cost similar to GTP USB Lite or > > even PICkit 2. I know quite some people do have USB to serial > > converter but other may not have. For one I do not have any > > USB to serial converter. > > > > Take note that GTP USB Lite is very similar to Wisp628A but > > it is using USB port to power up the programmer. It will be > > actually quite cheap to build. The software is closed source > > though but the hardware is quite simple. It supports many > > PICs and even dsPICs using WinPIC800. > > > The day... The haaaaaakerrrrrs died... > > Oh well... > > 1. Serial so it will work on all available compters, terminals, PDAs, etc... I've replied in the previous email. I repeat it here. "If you want simple programmers, what is wrong with those JDM/tait coupled with pikdev (Linux) or WinPIC/IC-Prog/WinPIC800/PICPGM/...? Why need another one?" > 2. No software or web server based software so the OS doesn't matter. What do you mean by "no software"? Why is that a requirement? Wisp628A/xwisp2 is quite good so that most OS are supported (Linux/Windows/FreeBSD/OS2/Mac OS). You can develop PDA based version if you want. > 3. Actually shows the user what the heck is going on rather than "magic > happens in this program and some signals go into the PIC and wow! Presto! > It's programmed" So you expect all the use to study the complicated programming specifications? Apparently it is more complicated than many people think. I will say those who really understands "what the heck is going on" when programming a PIC will understand that it is not simple at all. > 4. Allows a bootloader (open source) to be loaded into the PIC so that > future loads are faster, still don't require software, etc... > 5. Bootload programmer software for what ever open source programmer you > want for other PICs and use whatever software. > > But at least once, you had some idea of what signals were actually being > applied to the PIC.... I do not understand what you mean by "no software"? You still needs a host downloading software. I do not say that simple programmer is of no use. I just say the existing programmers are good enough at least in the aspect of hardware. We have serial based JDM/Wisp628A/EasyProg/PS+ and parallel based LVP/Tait/EPIC+ and USB based PICkit 2/GTP USB Lite/Kits 1xx/ICD2. If one wants to develop another simple programmer for the community, I guess it will be better to spend the time on improving existing firmware and PC software. For example, it is a challenge to port Wisp628A to dsPIC and base line PICs. It is a challenge to port EasyProg to Linux. It is challenge to port EasyISP to newer protocols. It is a challenge to improve PiKdev (Linux) to support more PICs or even dsPICs under Linux. It is a challenge to continue the extending the chip support of PICkit 2 under Linux. It is challenge to support ICD2 under Linux with PIKlab. There are so many things which can be done. > Ok, enough said. I'll let it die now. > I do not understand your rant at all. Regards, Xiaofan -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist