On 01/01/2011 23:45, Olin Lathrop wrote:
> Byron Jeff wrote:
>> >  But how do you program it? I know the typical answer to this is "buy =
a
>> >  programmer".
> Exactly.  It seems like you're going a long way to avoid getting a
> programmer.  Do you realize a fully compliant programmer is now available=
 in
> singles for only $20
> (http://www.microchipdirect.com/ProductSearch.aspx?Keywords=3DTEMLP001)?
> That's cheaper than I sell singles on my own web site.  I'll make them
> available at subtantial discount if you want to outfit a whole lab or get
> one for every student in a class.  Even before any educational discount,
> it's already a lot less money than any book the student will have to buy =
for
> a class.
>
> The LProg only handles the PICs that can enter program mode with the unlo=
ck
> sequence and don't require high voltage on Vpp, but there are plenty of
> those to chose from and that shouldn't be much of a constraint if you're =
a
> hobbyist or student.
>
> Hopefully it will do the 16F182x subfamily soon.  I'm digging thru the
> normal high voltage programming algorithm now, and see that the POD has b=
een
> busy.  It's mostly the same, but just different enough to require more ca=
ses
> to be added in a few places.  After I get the 16F182x working with normal
> HVP on the USBProg, I'll try to add support to the LProg with LVP.
>
>> >  But if you're only going to use it once in a blue moon,
>> >  because the primary mode of development is a bootloader, it's not as
>> >  simple a decision as you may think.
> But you're only using the programmer once in a blue moon because it kinda
> sucks, being a "dumper" as you call it.  Think of the reverse.  If you
> already had a programmer then you wouldn't have to hassle with a bootload=
er
> at all.

Olin speaks great sense here.

If I was doing production programming I'd not recommend the Pickit2. It=20
and other budget programmers are for people that want to dabble and=20
don't want to spend money.

As I had my own home made ICSP programmer (using VP=3D12V) and serial port=
=20
bitbanging for several years, I bought the Pickit2 at recommendation of=20
the list here as I needed 3.3V prog for 18FxxJxx family. I wish I had=20
bought it sooner. It was actually cheaper on Microchip site than clones,=20
but delivery was 3 months. so I bought the clone from Sure Electronics=20
(it matches Microchip published schematic) and it happily loaded the=20
latest firmware version from Microchip. You can pay MORE in the Retail=20
High street for a dumb USB to Serial Adaptor.
--=20
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