Hi, I've been reading the digest for a couple of weeks, and trying to
get started on pic'ing without much luck. I feel its time to ask you
guys some newbie questions. I am using PIC 16f84a, WinXP, learning from
www and course book from local university (Cape Tech, South Africa).

1) I am trying to build a programmer off the www. In replies from the
list to someone else recently, it seems that this is a bad idea.
Can anyone here vouch for the following designs that they should work?
PPWin hardware - www.semis.demon.co.uk/Pics/ppwincct.bmp
Oshonsoft hardware - www.oshonsoft.com/picprog.html
They are Tait designs, and differ only in the fact that Oshonsoft uses
more caps. (I think)
Both boards are giving the correct voltages on the pic pins during
software testing as below.

2) WinXP abstracts the LPT ports. So I downloaded 2 different LPT
drivers - can you guys vouch for them?
GiveIO.sys
UserPort.sys
I found GiveIO works, at least under test.

3) I am trying 2 different softwares, both get good reviews on this
list, but not sure about their compatibility with XP and the above
drivers - anyone know?
ICProg ver 1.05d (also 1.05c)
FPP ver 0.9 build 43
Anyone know correct FPP settings for the boards mentioned above?
I can get the software to change the correct LPT1 pin outs as required,
using their test modes and multimeter, but have no oscilloscope to check
while programming.

Since voltages on pins seem correct under test conditions I am starting
to think there are timing problems maybe under programming conditions.
Could there be a synchronisation problem with the board under XP using
these drivers? Is there a way to test if MCLR rises fast enough to 12.5V
without using scope?

Am at a loss, and can't afford "real" programmer for a few months, but I
have all the time and dedication in the world (i.e. unemployed...). Any
advice appreciated.

Of course I could change to a "better" pic and use bootloader, but that
requires one have a programmer working to put the boot code on first
with. Chick'n'egg situation...

Thanks
Richard

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