GQ PRG-055 MCUmall Programmer

[ko4nrbs]

Has anyone use a GQ PRG-055 MCUmall PIC programmer?
https://www.mcumall.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=40
Bill

[fchk]

I don't trust the vendor to provide any software updates. And without any updates this thing might become a brick in Windows 11 at some point if Microsoft tightens its grip or driver certificates expire etc etc. I trust Microchip much more to provide support for a reasonable product lifetime.

These programmers were common when PICs were EPROM based. Thats 30-35 years ago. With flash code memory came in-circuit programming via the ICSP header we still know today.

If you strongly want such a device I recommend Xeltek. They have been in business for a long time. I got 10 years of updates for my Superpro 280U, which still works in a 32 bit VM.
https://www.xeltek.com/

And especially for PICs you loose the ability to debug them. Flashing in a Fire&Forget manner yes, but nothing more. Debugging requires MPLABX plus PICKIT.