USB Pics, ICD2, pic basic pro

[vacpress]

Hello everybody. I have some experience with pics, pic basic, etc. but I was hoping someone with much more experience could comment on some stuff... Answer some questions which, I have been googling and stuff, but it isnt becomming totally clear. My questions are pretty easy, I think, for someone else to just say yes\no to. Here we go!

1. Does an ICD2 device program the USB Pic devices?(18f4550, etc)
2. Can I use protoboards designed for other 40 pin pics (ec 18f425) for my USB experiments? Just gotta add those extra components?
3. Does anyone know of protoboards that are specifically designed for the 18f4550? All I can find is boards with an FTDi rs232 chip, or boards just designed for general purpose 40-pin pics.

Thanks alot everone! I am at work and trying to be productive while brainstorming, cant sit on google searching! I am a new user. Please bear with me!

-R

[vacpress]

#1 Yes the USB pics seem to be in the ICD2 device list, which i finally found...

Now onto figuring out if the 40 pin 18f4550 is compatible with my protoboard from dhmicro.com (40xli)

[Darrel Taylor]

Glad you answered #1, since I don't use ICD2.

2. Can I use protoboards designed for other 40 pin pics (ec 18f425) for my USB experiments? Just gotta add those extra components?

Hmmm, 18F425, not familiar with that one.
But the 18F4550 has the same basic pinout as the 18F452. So anything that uses a 452 footprint will work for USB.
Of course you need a USB connector.

Here's one that I have several of...
Prototyping/Experimental Kit W/MINI-USB
http://cgi.ebay.com/Prototyping-Expe...QQcmdZViewItem

Or, The B version...
Prototyping/Experimental kit W/USB Type B Receptacle
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._promot_widget

Or, The A version...
Prototyping/Experimental Kit W/USB Type A Receptacle
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._promot_widget

And for #3, well, anything for the 452 will work, it doesn't specifically need to be for a 4550. But here's a good one for the price.
EasyPic 4
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...2&postcount=15

[dhouston]

Or, The B version...
Prototyping/Experimental kit W/USB Type B Receptacle
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._promot_widget

Here's an assembled Type B breadboard adapter for an excellent price.

• http://www.winfordeng.com/products/pbcub1f.php

[vacpress]

Hey!

Thanks. I actually just ordered some products from Winford. Fair enough prices on some stuff I need.

So, I managed to get as far as 'unknown USB device' in win xp pro sp2 when using the microchip bootloader files. I found a compiled .hex for the 18f4550 on the forums here somewhere.

When I specifiy the correct device driver, it refuses it, prefering to be unknown. Jerk.

Any insights on this? I should note that Ive got a 10pf cap pulling pin 18(usbv) to ground, not the specified 470nf. 10pf is the smallest ive got!

Thanks!

[Darrel Taylor]

That capacitor is probably the culprit.

It's there to stabilize the 3.3V Voltage Regulator for USB.

10pf is way too small. 0.22uF is recommended, but I've used .1uF once only because I didn't have a bigger one handy at the moment.

A larger capacitor will work fine, 1uF, 4.7uF whatever you have. It's just there for a filter.