Recomendations of a Pic Programmer?

[Kito]

Programmer, Pic Brand, Purchase Place?
comments?

[AndyKunz]

I use QuickWriter from www.tech-tools.com most of the time, and Microchip ICD2 when I have to. You can also try Dontronics or a multitude of others.

FWIW, the Microchip ones are best if you use the newest chips - they always make sure they support them long before they hit the market.

Andy

[MX]

MeLabs U2 works good for me:

http://www.melabs.com/products/usbprog.htm

MX

[phil_g]

Plenty of opinions in the previous thread... :)
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=773936
Phil

[mmormota]

Pickit2. It's a debugger as well.

[Alan Hopper]

Pickit2, you even get a serial terminal to the pic thrown in with the lastest software

[BushmanLA]

I use the Picstart + compatible programmer from olimex.

You can buy either the USB or serial version from www.sparkfun.com

I use the serial version, but I have an adapter (also from olimex) if I need to use it from USB. This programmer works just like the PicStart+ from microchip, so you can program with it directly from MPLAB instead of using some third party software. Also it is likely that the third party software supports it as well.

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=3

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=4

I have been extremely pleased with this programmer. It has a ZIF socket that supports 8 to 40 pin PICs, and it also comes with a connector for in circuit programming.


Edit: All this at half the price you would pay for the real Picstart+ from Microchip. The serial is $80ish and the USB version is $90ish. Don't get the serial one unless you have a real deal serial port on your computer, most usb to serial adapters just wont work with this thing.

[Kito]

http://home.maine.rr.com/randylinscott/aug20.htm

Is this legitimate?

[phil_g]

Yes, its one of many variations of the David Tait programmer... the one you list connects to the parallel port, which has the disadvantge that there is no power there and therefore you need batteries. There are serial port variants such as the JDM that use the RS232 line voltages and so need no batteries.
I have used a JDM for a couple of years & it was fine for C84s & 12C509s but it doesnt cater for a wide range of pic types. TBH, this type of programmer is a bit old hat since microchip went flash. The Pics they were designed for (C84's mainly) are now pretty much obsolete anyway.
I think you'd be better off with, say, a Pickit-2 as it comes witha development board, introductory lessons, etc and is quite cheap.
Theres also the fact that you have friends on here with Pickit-2s who can help, whereas if that design you found doesnt work, you would be pretty much on your own.
That said, my JDM gave very good service for no outlay. Pay yer money, take yer choice.
Cheers
Phil

[dleroi]

I built Bob Blicks version of the Tait programmer in an evening a few years ago. It cost next to nothing and I've been happily programming all kinds of PICS with it ever since.

http://www.bobblick.com/techref/projects/picprog/picprog.html

I use it with EpicWin from ME Labs. The beta version has served me well, but you can upgrade for a small fee.

http://www.melabs.com/support/progsoft.htm


****************

Now, having said that, I want to put in a plug for the BASIC Atom for those that program in BASIC, or want to learn. Or, those that use the Basic Stamp and want more juice.

The Atom is Stamp-like in the way you program it - no separate programmer. The compiler is free, but is much more powerful than the Stamp and most other PIC compilers (BASIC). It does floating point math, hardware serial comms (buffered), and interrupts out of the box. It's a zillion times faster than the Stamp and doesn't have the variable and memory restrictions. It's also a lot less expensive. The easiest way to get started is to buy the "Ultimate OEM Module" from here:

http://www.downtowninternet.com/elproducts/products.htm

For $59.95, you're up and running. Oh wait, you need a wall-wart and a serial cable. OK, for $99.95 you can get the "Ultimate OEM - Atom
Starter Package", which has it all, plus a breadboard and wire kit.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING THIS AS A REPLACEMENT FOR A LOW-LEVEL PIC PROGRAMMER. Rather, as just one more tool you should know about and a great, inexpensive, way to learn to program PICs in BASIC without the need of a programmer.

Also, I'm not affiliated, in any way, with Basic Micro or any of their distributors.

I'm touting the Atom because I love the "Ultimate OEM Module" for quick, one-off projects and I don't want them to go out of business!

- Don

[Malc C]

Programmer, Pic Brand, Purchase Place?
comments?

Hit the search this forum option, this request comes up time and time again, and you'll find a lot of suggestions on how to get started, from using a $12 commercial JDM programmer and free software from the web, to $120 development system such as the EasyPIC4, to commercila programmers costing $$$$

[stegla]

I had no luck at all with home-made programmers.

I now use a Pickit2 clone that I bought off Ebay and I love it.

Steve

[Malc C]

Steve, i still use a PicKIT1 for most of my programming of small pin cout PICs - works a treat - I've seen those clones and they doo look good - nice to hear you're happy with it

[rmteo]

As mentioned by several posters, the PicKit 2 is a great programmer. For US$35, you really can't go wrong. It is made by MicroChip and will program anything from a PIC10 to a dsPIC33 thru a USB port.

[GlennS]

I use one of these, works a treat:
http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=K9505
Glenn.

[trash0]

I was going to suggest the same el-cheapo that jaycar (altronics) does.
It's cheap and you can program all the basic pic chips. Download the compiler from microchip. There is also the other end of the spectrum... the EasyPIC4.
mikroElektronika have a range of programers, all top shelf material that are a bit above most people.
www.mikroe.com

Quick note. the chip programers don't make you write better software. They just make it possible for you to program and test the software written.

I program only in Assembler, I have done so since the 8008 days. I can program in many other higher level languages, but I do not feel they give me the precission I require. For some people Basic and C are much better languages and can offer them much better results for their programing skills.

[Markz]

Another vote for the Pickit2. It just works.
In fact, all you need is this and an AVR Dragon and you're all set for less than 100$

Marc

[leu1]

Try this
http://feng3.cool.ne.jp/en/pg5v2.html

It can program almost all PIC MCU, and can work with PICProg. I had build one, it is very cool!

[xtal]

Feng3 works great , been using 2+ years