So, what are people using for CHEAP ICSP programmers these days?

[TrueMetalGeek]

A cap from MCLR to ground is also necessary to kill the spikes.

But if the pin can be programmed as I/O then these problems are minimised.

Ioannis

I've been using the KIT 149 since about the beginning of my PIC tinkering.
Within the MICROBURN software I have simply always turned off MCLRE so i can have it as an input.
Of course that may be different when using the PICKIT 3

I am still not exactly sure how to turn MCLRE off when I was using it in Microcode studio. I've seen some defines or configs or something posted in other's people's codes but I'm not sure what works

[TrueMetalGeek]

Well I did get it working again.
Slapped in a PIC and added thew VPP/MCLR pull up resistor.
Using the CLK/DAT for outputs was not an issue after all.

I think I was doing it wrong since the beginning (no pull up on the VPP line) and I just got lucky on some early uses and then it would not work.

[CuriousOne]

I got same issue.
Using PicKit 3 (Both clone and genuine, found zero difference in operation).
But got into trouble- got a tray of PIC18F45K80 for cheap, just to find out that PicKit3 standalone software does not support this MCU (Only PIC18F45K20 is supported).
So is there any kind of software upgrade, or need to get whole new programmer?

[CuriousOne]

This Pickit3plus software looks promising
but too bad they don't have demo/trial download option...

[tumbleweed]

There's pickitminus. It works with PK2 and PK3. http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=24700
It's not quite as up to date as pickit+, but it's free.

[CuriousOne]

Thanks, I'll try it

[HenrikOlsson]

MPLAB IPE is also free.
I'm using v5.20 with its command line tool (but it has a GUI) and a PICKit3. In the GUI I can connect to my PK3 and I can select the 45K80 as my target but I haven't tried programming one.

[Ioannis]

... just to find out that PicKit3 standalone software does not support this MCU ....

Which standalone? PickitPlus or other? If it is PickitPlus, then Evan is very helpful and may add this device for you.

Ioannis

[mpgmike]

As far as older programmers, the newer PIC offerings cannot be programmed with the older PICKit2/PICKit3 programmers. There is a cut-off. Microchip is currently only supporting PICKit4, ICD4, and Snap.

[CuriousOne]

Standalone I mean Pickit3 standalone software by microchip.
And as I know, there is no such software for PicKit 4.

[CuriousOne]

Just checked, PicKitMinus + PicKit3 works with 18F45K80 just fine!
Thanks again!