It was not my intention to mislead with regard to the PICSTART . I just thought it might be worth looking at to see if one could get access to RX/TX pins at TTL levels.

In my defence, I had a very quick glance at the PICSTART package and understood it as a development system, together with the fact that the MPLAB IDE download is free, I guessed there must be something more that you get for your 300USD. I accept that the MELABS programmer does not have an independent MAX232, but I do also have Atmel programmers which have a MAX RS232/TTL converter built on; take the target device out and hook up with a couple of crock clips and one could have the MCSP ICD up and running pretty quickly. Ideal for a Sunday afternoon play about.

I have absolutely no idea what is inside the PICSTART + hardware, because I do not have one, maybe it was worth a look though. I do accept from what has been said that it is not designed to be used in this way.

As the Data and Clock lines of the ICSP whilst programming are at TTL levels maybe it is possible to get access to TX/RX with a MeLaBs serial programmer.

However ideally for me it was best to build Hardware units based upon the MCSP help pages and on the excellent RENTRON site kindly provided by Bruce Reynolds ( I have read it many many times. Thankyou very much indeed Mr Reynolds )

Rgrds

Duncan


Just trying to share a hobby