All tools has its own pros and cons. For a tool that matured enough and easy of use, I would like to say, the PICkit 2 is your best bet. Funny N. Au Group Electronics, http://www.AuElectronics.com ________________________________ From: Forrest W Christian To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:42:35 PM Subject: [PIC] Which in-circuit programmer? First a bit of background: I regularly do multi-target programming. That is, programming where I am working on communication between two PIC's. I almost always will have two ICD's running at any given time. Right now, my ICD collection (excluding the non-usb ones), consist of a PICKit2, a ICD-U40 (CCS), and the mikro-e ICD. I should also mention that I'm generally not using the *debugging* features of the tools. Just not how I program - too many years of not having it and doing embedded work I guess. I will occasionally dig it out, but it's not critical. So I'm really just using it as an in-circuit programmer. I've generally used the PICkit2 when using the microchip tools, and the U40, when programming in CCS PIC-C. Unfortunately the U40 I have is older, and doesn't program the chips I am now starting to work with... so I have to share the pickit2 which can cause problems when I really am working on both sides at the same time. My initial thought was just to buy a ICD-U64... but there are things I really like about the PICkit2 - mainly that I can set it in auto-program mode and it just writes the code to the device when it changes. I also hear really good things about the programming speed on the ICD3, but not so good things about the PICkit3 (so far - realize it will probably improve with age). And, I've never dove into the whole third-party clone options. So, I'm really not sure which option to choose. So, maybe what I'm asking for is a quick rundown on what people like or don't like about their programmers, and perhaps a comparison of the ones they have used. I am not all that cost sensitive, but would much rather pick a less expensive tool if it will work for me. Thanks, -forrest -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist