Cheap USB Pic Programmers

[Brown]

Ok so I want to learn Pic programming and was is this any good http://www.ebay.com/itm/Develop-Micro-controller-Programmer-K150-ICSP-USB-PIC-Automatic-Programming-NEW-/360749500810?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item53fe58898a and is there tutorials of this type of programmer. Thanks!

[deth502]

i tried that, or one similar. imo, it programs the chip, and quite easily. problem, you have to have a hex file. there is no compiler (i believe thats the correct term) for you to write a program in. and if you use another compiler you cant (i never could) get the program exported to a hex file without the programmer made for that compiler (liek mplabs for pickit). basically, if you have someone do the programming for you, and you just take the hex file and put it on the chip, its great. otherwise, get the pickit. i just broke down and fot the pickit3, havent tried it yet, waiting on a new 1tb hd for the pc before i install the programs.

[pickle9000]

There are tons of Pickit clones. My advice would be to go that route, you can get chip adapters if you need them. Try downloading some software first and see if it supports the programmer you want to use. That will narrow down your options as well as making setup a breeze. This is true of any device.

[Brown]

the problem with the clones that they're too expensive. Are there another 10-ish dollar programmers?  Thanks Deth And Pickle!

[pickle9000]

I downloaded the software package for the one you posted, looks like it has a mplab driver. You should install it and see what happens. Maybe you have a winner.

[Brown]

I haven't bought the programmer yet, maybe Deth can try it?

[jaxbird]

If you want to have a go at the smaller PICs, I'd recommend spending a bit more and getting a PICkit2 clone.

Or if you want to try the much more powerful 16 bit PIC24, they have a small eval board called Microstick, it's about $25, but it comes with a couple of PICs worth about $5 each, so the Microstick is really only $15.



It fits in a breadboard and works with their MPLAB environment for programming and debugging.

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en548414

[lapm]

I have original picKit2 works just fine, since i dont use latest and greatest PICs in my projects. So if you are useing lower end pic´s take a look what Pickit2/3 clones supports. Might be worth a buy.

[Brown]

What about theses DIY PIC programmers http://www.instructables.com/id/JDM2-based-PIC-Programmer? Would they work with a USB to TTL instead of the 9 pin serial?

[Brown]

It should right just connect
 RS232 Pin 1 to DCD
 RS232 Pin 2 to RXD
 RS232 Pin 3 to TXD
 RS232 Pin to 7 to RTS
 RS232 Pin 8 to CTS

Right? Will this work?

[kripton2035]

What about theses DIY PIC programmers http://www.instructables.com/id/JDM2-based-PIC-Programmer? Would they work with a USB to TTL instead of the 9 pin serial?

forget about these jdm programers, they are too old.
you wont be able to program recent pics
it will be awfully slow - they were ok 10 years ago when there was only 1k to program on the pic 16f84
even then it was slow. you need a real usb programing dongle
the pickit 2/3 fits the need, get a clone they work nice too
and my advice if you wotk with mplab compiler (free from microchip) get a pickit (clone or not)
if you want to work with mikroelectronika compilers (mikroc, pascal or basic) get they mikroprog it's nicely interfaced with their compilers.
one more thing : with a pickit or a mikroprog you be able to DEBUG your program, with a jdm it's not possible. (and would be too slow if any)

[deth502]

I haven't bought the programmer yet, maybe Deth can try it?

im not sure its the same one i have, but it looks identical. ive tried mplab with mine and i couldnt get it to work. i also tried 1 other popular free compiler, i forget which one, and i have already deleted them from the computer, but i couldnt get them to work. now, it could very well have been an error on my part, but if they do work together, its certainly not easy.

the program that comes with it does read chips, so if you have one you want to duplicate, it looks like it would be good for that (havent tried that), and again, its very simple to use to put the hex code on the chip, but the problem lies (for me) in getting the hex code to put in it. without a compiler that will make you a hex file, youre stuck at the mercy of what you can find. i was lucky enough for the one project i had to have someone here be generous enough to provide me with the hex file.

[Brown]

just came into some money, Pickit 3 here I come! Thanks!

[Jon Chandler]

If you actually want to write code and program PIC mircos, the PICkit 2 or PICkit 3 is the way to go.  If, on the other hand, you want to invest a great deal of effort and money into trying to get a cheap programmer to function, a JDM programmer is a great choice.  Many people have spent a great deal of time and money searching for the mythical Holy Grail of USB adapters that actually allow a JDM programmer to function and have little to show for it but an ever-growing pile of rejects.

[Chopsticks]

I've used quite alot of 'ebay' pic programmers since i got into electronics a couple years ago and the main issue always comes down to software support for the programmer as well as hardware support for the programmer and of corse the supported PIC's. the best advice is like others have mentioned, get a PicKit 2 or 3, the clones are fairly cheap on ebay around $20-30.
You'll thank yourself for doing so in the long run trust me

[tasos987]

The actual question is you want to learn programming PIC's or try to learn why a JDM wont work (some K of posible reasons  )?
Either you get one Pickit (2-3) and start playing around OR you can start the guessing and cursing around 

[lapm]

What about theses DIY PIC programmers http://www.instructables.com/id/JDM2-based-PIC-Programmer? Would they work with a USB to TTL instead of the 9 pin serial?

Forget them, trust me on this. They are extremely dependent on serial port being real serial port and being able to provide enough voltage swings to properly power the device.

Now days it seems to be getting harder and harder to find those beefy enough serial ports. That's why i got myself PicKit2. Those DIY programmers are just too machine dependent for my taste. Works on your machine, borrow it to friend and it docent work on hes...