Microchip Promotion: 20% off PICKit 2 Starter Kit and other tools

[JohnMuchow]

Just got a notice from Microchip about their 20% off promotion (thru Dec. 31st) of a big bunch of their development tools and a couple of books. The PICKit 2 Starter Kit is now only $40 (http://www.microchipdirect.com/productsearch.aspx?Keywords=DV164120) and it's even more of a great bargain. IMHO, it's one of the best ways to get going with using PIC microprocessors, especially when using any of the free versions of the BASIC compilers out there.

Just use Code YES08 upon checkout on http://www.microchipDIRECT.com

We already have two PICKit 2's but will be getting a third so we can run a programmer, a serial analyzer, and a logic analyzer all at the same time. :)

John

[Acetronics]

Hi, John :(

1) Offer do not apply here, in France

2) Was ~ 50% a while ago for UK Only ...

3) Did you notice Pickit and ICD are just turning into Much More powerful Version 3 ??? ...

Alain

[JohnMuchow]

Hi Alain,
Bad news about how limited the offers really are! :(

I saw the product announcements...very nice!
I think the PICKit 2 is still a terrific bargain though for someone who wants to break into the world of PICs. It's now US$30 less expensive than the PICKit 3 and most people just starting with PICs (and a lot who have been using them for a long time) won't need the dsPIC and 32-bit PIC support they get with the PICKit 3.

But, I'm glad you brought it up as it's a decision each user will have to make. And, the PICKit 3 is still a great bargain for those who want to explore the feature set of Microchip's bigger chips!

John

[tb47]

1) Offer do not apply here, in France

To add insult to injury samples are not available in europe for the time beeing. Anyone know why? Also, are there any rumours about if and when samples will be back?

As it happens, I am expecting an E-blocks starter kit shortly. I do have experience with assembler for some computers, but never woriked on micro controllers. Looking forward to give it a try.

[sneasle]

Is this still valid? I noticed the starter kit is back at $50 now.

[JohnMuchow]

Yes, it is. You need to apply the coupon (YES08) when checking out. The discount will then be subtracted...US$39.99 total.

John

[rmteo]

I think the PICKit 2 is still a terrific bargain though for someone who wants to break into the world of PICs. It's now US$30 less expensive than the PICKit 3 and most people just starting with PICs (and a lot who have been using them for a long time) won't need the dsPIC and 32-bit PIC support they get with the PICKit 3.
John
If you go here:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en027813

you will find that the Pickit2 supports most (if not all) dsPICs and PIC32s. The only limitation is that debug support for the PIC32 under MPLAB is not available.

[alex.guzun]

Thanks John :)

And it is still available in Europe. Just checked - Reg Price: 37.87 EUR, Disc Price: 30.30 EUR.
But if you know Ferell shop, there is (and was) a PICKIT2PROMO kit (http://sk.farnell.com/microchip/pickit2promo/development-programmer-promo-w/dp/9945350) for €29.12
i believe it is the same PICKIT2 Starter Kit, coz when you open Technical Data Sheet i'll see PICkit2 Starter Kit PDF

I think i'm gonna buy one.

[orraman]

In another thread I mentioned that EPE magazine has an offer for UK residents for the PICkit 2 Debug Express Kit at £9.99 before 31st January 2009.
Microchipdirect.com Register (or re-register?) with UK or the Union Jack flag, enter part number DV164121.
Add to shopping cart, enter Coupon number EPEPIC08, press apply.
Select checkout, accept terms and conditions, place order.

On the Proton Picbasic forum one non UK person managed to get one.
Proton Basic has a nice IDE that also comes with the Free download (50 line)

Dave

http://www.picbasic.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10271&highlight=pickit

One of the conditions on the EPE magazine page was "one per household" I have ordered one.

[Acetronics]

Hi, Orraman

Works ONLY for UK ... and the delivery address is checked ... too bad :( !!!

Alain

[alex.guzun]

billing address, too
it seams to be :(

[GoodEater]

Has anyone else seen this?

I just came across this site. They list all sorts of promos for microchip stuff.
http://www.microchipdeals.com

[sneasle]

Well, I missed out on the starter kit deal, anyone know the best price for just the pickit2, just the programmer?

[village_idiot]

Mouser and Digikey both had about the same prices, think it was $40 but I could be wrong.

[sneasle]

I think it is $25 at Microchip direct, was hoping it was cheaper elsewhere.

[Probedude]

And, the PICKit 3 is still a great bargain for those who want to explore the feature set of Microchip's bigger chips!

John

Who's selling the Pickit 3 already?

[orraman]

When he started this thread JohnMuchow showed the versatility of this kit (Thank you John.) and he wrote ~~~

Quote ~~~~~~~
We already have two PICKit 2's but will be getting a third so we can run a programmer, a serial analyser, and a logic analyser all at the same time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Post # 9 I gave details of an EPE / Microchip offer so if you are in the UK or have family here then EPE may gain your support but do read the last line of that post.
I had an arrangement with a friend and one was delivered to me yesterday.
The 16F Demo Board that is bundled with the PicKit 2 is sold as a spare for £14.54.
However this kit will reprogram 12F6XX chips that have been previously programmed and neither of my other programmers will.

Dave

[alex.guzun]

What do you mean by last line, Dave?
Great Thank You for PicKit :)

[orraman]

Greetings Alex,

I have found the reference.
GPIO3 is MCLR or Input Only; and I always used it as input.

With all due thanks to "David" and his Post # 8 for an excellent explanation on the very helpful Proton Basic forum.

If my praise seems rather fulsome, consider a grumpy old skinflint glowering at a pile of chips that refuse to reprogram. Did I say he was tight?

Dave

http://www.picbasic.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5301



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Hi,
Be aware that the 12F675 is a little different to programme.
While brand new with no previous programme, the device will programme OK but if you have selected internal oscillator and MCLR off then you may find it won't programme a second time, looking like it is dead.

This comes about beacause some programmers present 5v to the chip prior to programming. With a simple JDM type programmer and IC-Prog there will be 5v on the chip as soon as the serial port is opened.
With int osc and MCLR off the chip has all it needs to run the previous programme and will hence never get in to programme mode. What is needed is to ensure that the programming voltage goes high before Vcc does which will force the chip to toggle in to programme mode rather than run.

This may not be what you are seeing as you would have expected a programming fault to warn you but it is a problem that many encounter with the 12F675.
The RCD programer from Feng 3 works well and explains the problem better than I can.
Good luck.

Cheers,
David