New PIC Programmer

[DynamoBen]

I'm currently in the market for a new programmer. Several years ago I started out with the P16PRO. While it did its job for a few years I got tired of swapping pics and eventually it quit working. Instead of fixing it I decided to buy a JDM style ICSP programmer from sparkfun. It never really worked consistantly and it finally stopped functioning the other day.

So now I'm in the market for a new programmer. I'm not really interested in spending a lot of money since this is my hobby, but I still want a nice programmer. I've seen several posts about the pickit 2, and have see several ICD2 clones on ebay.

What's the best way to go? Is ICD2 worth the extra expense? Any clones worth looking at?

Finally it might be nice to find something that also does eeprom programming, and possibly other microcontroller types (AVR etc.). Now I'm pushing my luck.

[mvs_sarma]

Hi,
your statements are confusing-- what is wrong with the first one you had-- bored of it and want a change. you went to JDM version from sparkfun OK. you say thaT IT NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AND FAILED FINALLY-- WHY NOT TRACE AND FIX THEM INSTEAD AGAIN DUMPING MONEY-- IF THIRD ONE FAILS, god forbid, you will go for 4th.

I for one, feel there may be issues with programmers-- we have to sit down analyse and set right. the issue may be silly and small . Let us use the oppertunity to learn hardware debugging useing this case.

please take in right perspective as you yourself told, we the hobbists cant waste money even of we can afford. for the same money you may purchase newer ICs --

[websmith]

Hi
I agree, I have built several of my own Olimex design (JDM) see http://www.olimex.com/dev/pic-pg1.html
and it has been working perfectly for ages. There are some limitations to understand which may lead you to think it is mal-functioning:

1) The programming signals and power is derived from a limited +-12V supply serial port on the PC and can not supply a target board with big demands and shunt loads. ie having a fan or something daft on the 5V rail on the target board will pull down the volatages.

2) The ground is floating and so the pic target board can not be ground referenced to the PC - ie connecting a scope for example to the pic while programming will cause it to fail. - The same thing if the Pic target board has a PSU that earths the 0V rail

3) Keep the ICP lines from the programmer to the PIC reasonably short (<30cm)

4) Use a decent prog s/w eg IcProg.exe and follow the instructions to set up if you use XP.

[DynamoBen]

First off I know exactly what is wrong with both programmers and I don't know that I'm interested in repairing them. I was taking this oppritunity to "upgrade" to something a little more robust. While the JDM worked well it became a problem when I was prototyping due to the reasons websmith gave.

[bbarney]

For the price I don't think you can beat a PicKit2,the Icd2 is 4 times the price.It really depends on what you want a programmer or debugger which the pickit2 now does(limited)

[DynamoBen]

Well I've never done any debugging so this is all new to me. To be honest I'm a bit fuzzy on how ICD2 works.

I'm really looking for the best value, PICKit2 might be the best of both worlds...thats why I'm asking.