Please help me choose a PICkit

[Jrd]

Ok, so I am trying to figure out what to buy from where and as far as PICs and PIC programmers go I could just buy my pre-programmed PICs from WJohn but I am going to need a PICkit sometime.

So, Do you guys think this PICkit 2 on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/PICkit-2-Development-Programmer-Debugger-ShipfromUSA_W0QQitemZ310091625006QQcmdZViewItemQQp tZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4832e6b22e#ht_865wt_ 907)($47.95 shipped) would be ok or do you think I should go with the PICkit 2 on Microchip (http://www.microchipdirect.com/ProductSearch.aspx?Keywords=PG164120)($44.22 shipped and taxed) with a ZIF adapter (http://cgi.ebay.com/ICSP-Adapter-ZIF-8-14-pin-PIC-use-with-PICkit-2-or-3_W0QQitemZ230414064986QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item35a5bf9d5a#ht_1409wt_759)($9.4 5 shipped)? ($53.67 total)

Or do you think I should buy from somewhere else? Please supply a link to your suggestion.

If someone has a PICkit 2 or 3 with ZIF socket in working order that they would like to sell for < $47.95 shipped I would probably be interested.

[RavingLunatic]

Since the first one is only a clone, I would spend the extra $6 and get the real deal from Microchip.

[hartlove]

j1sys on ebay (the link that you posted with the zif adapter), also has the real PICkit 2, with that same adapter for 49.90 shipped.

I got the PICKit 3 from them (with the adapter you posted) a couple of months ago. It was in my mailbox in like 2 days.

From what I've been reading, there's not much point in getting the 3, over the 2, but it was only a couple of dollars more, and I can see myself getting sucked into a whole new hobby...

[Jrd]

Thank you hartlove I did not see that listing when I searched. That PICkit 2 with 8/14 pin ZIF board (http://cgi.ebay.com/ICSP-Adapter-8-14-pin-PIC-w-PICkit-2-USB-Programmer_W0QQitemZ230414134693QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a5c0ada5#ht_5070wt_ 759) is $49.90 like you said and only $1.95 more than the clone while still being $3.77 cheaper than the other option.

Thank you for your reply RavingLunatic, and with hartlove's find I think it would definitely be worth it.

[mschell]

Thank you hartlove I did not see that listing when I searched. That PICkit 2 with 8/14 pin ZIF board (http://cgi.ebay.com/ICSP-Adapter-8-14-pin-PIC-w-PICkit-2-USB-Programmer_W0QQitemZ230414134693QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a5c0ada5#ht_5070wt_ 759) is $49.90 like you said and only $1.95 more than the clone while still being $3.77 cheaper than the other option.

Thank you for your reply RavingLunatic, and with hartlove's find I think it would definitely be worth it.

I had already bought the PICkit 2 when I found j1sys and his ZIF boards. I bought the set and had it in just a few days. If I hadn't already got the PICkit 2, I would have bought the whole package from j1sys.

Mark

[mrpackethead]

From what I've been reading, there's not much point in getting the 3, over the 2, but it was only a couple of dollars more, and I can see myself getting sucked into a whole new hobby...

Other than it is likely to be supported by microchip for longer, and it supports quite a number of new chips.

[Jrd]

I suppose I could save some money this year by buying my PICs pre-flashed from WJohn (would be around $20 versus the cost of PICs and a PICkit, better make sure I take the PICs off the BOM if I do this) and then invest in the PICkit 3 with 8/14 pin ZIF socket (http://cgi.ebay.com/ICSP-Adapter-ZIF-8-14-w-PICkit-3-USB-Programmer_W0QQitemZ230414735052QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a5c9d6cc)($59.90 shipped) next year or when I can afford it.

[dirknerkle]

I suppose I could save some money this year by buying my PICs pre-flashed from WJohn (would be around $20 versus the cost of PICs and a PICkit, better make sure I take the PICs off the BOM if I do this) and then invest in the PICkit 3 with 8/14 pin ZIF socket (http://cgi.ebay.com/ICSP-Adapter-ZIF-8-14-w-PICkit-3-USB-Programmer_W0QQitemZ230414735052QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a5c9d6cc)($59.90 shipped) next year or when I can afford it.

You'll need that programmer. When you get involved with PICs, flashing and reflashing can become a common activity until you get everything working well. If there's a way to swing buying a programmer at all (maybe someone nice will give you one as a birthday gift), it's well worth while.

[Jrd]

Do you think I could get through my first board/year without a programmer or do you really need to reflash the chips that much?

[hartlove]

I got preflashed chips with the SS24 I built last fall, but one of the chips became "unflashed", so I wound up getting the programmer anyways. It wasn't a bad thing though, because now I can switch between the debugging code and the live code.

[dirknerkle]

Do you think I could get through my first board/year without a programmer or do you really need to reflash the chips that much?

Generally the PICs do a good job, but they can lose their firmware settings.
If you run into a problem, you'll need to either have one or more pics flashed with diagnostic firmware or reflash the existing ones with the diagnostic 'ware to figure things out.

You could perhaps get by if you had a few diagnostic chips lying around, providing they didn't lose their settings, either...

And periodically, slight modifications to the internals of the firmware have been suggested to solve certain kinds of problems that may be specific to your setup or your board. Without having a programmer, you'll have to send your chips out, have them programmed by someone else, wait for them to come back, try them out, send them out again to change something else, etc.

While the PicKits are the defacto standards, there are other solutions around that have worked well for other users. If cost is an issue, you might explore some of the other postings and do some research on your own. I recall seeing some on eBay that had a landed price of around $15, and apparently other DIYC members have used them successfully.

IMO, it's better to have perhaps an inexpensive programmer that does the basics than no programmer at all.

[kylenewman]

if money is an issue you can get a cheap JDM enhanced programmer off ebay for like 12$ shipped from canada that should work well. Just make sure it works with the PIC your using.

[Jrd]

Do you guys think this PIC MCU JDM Programmer (http://cgi.ebay.com/PIC-MCU-JDM-Programmer-for-Microchip-MCU-PIC-Programmer_W0QQitemZ260471173124QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca54ab004#ht_3610wt_ 802) ($15.50 + Free shipping) would be ok for awhile? The PIC16F688 is listed under the supported devices.

[tstraub]

I bought this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270511319335&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_2824wt_959
It uses a ll the same software as the pickit so I think that all the tutorials for pickit should apply. I'm still waiting for it to arrive so I cant really say for sure if it is any good. Just wanted to show you another option.
Tyler

[Blackbeard]

Do you guys think this PIC MCU JDM Programmer (http://cgi.ebay.com/PIC-MCU-JDM-Programmer-for-Microchip-MCU-PIC-Programmer_W0QQitemZ260471173124QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca54ab004#ht_3610wt_ 802) ($15.50 + Free shipping) would be ok for awhile? The PIC16F688 is listed under the supported devices.

I bought one very similar to this one. Looks about the same but the ICSP pins are placed differently along the side.

I'm not a PIC guy, use AVRs mostly, so I can't understand why I can't find software that will allow me to use the ICSP pins on the board to program any board with an ICSP adapter on it. I thought this would bypass the requirements for the ZIF sockets.

I've used it a couple of times with the PICs listed on the "useable" list, and it works very well. I'm finding though that a real PicKit with an adapter is going to be on my list of things to acquire since I've got a need to flash some PICs that aren't on the list.

steve

[Wayne J]

Thank you hartlove I did not see that listing when I searched. That PICkit 2 with 8/14 pin ZIF board (http://cgi.ebay.com/ICSP-Adapter-8-14-pin-PIC-w-PICkit-2-USB-Programmer_W0QQitemZ230414134693QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a5c0ada5#ht_5070wt_ 759) is $49.90 like you said and only $1.95 more than the clone while still being $3.77 cheaper than the other option.

Thank you for your reply RavingLunatic, and with hartlove's find I think it would definitely be worth it.

I think this deal is your best bet. ;)

[jnealand]

If you have ever been a tradesman you would know that buying cheap tools is not the right thing to do. It will always come back to bite you and you will eventually get the best tool for the job and appreciate it when you do. There is a reason why the most recommended programmer is the PickIT2. Not to imply that the others do not work, but you will be spending lots of dollars on controllers, lights, etc. Don't neglect buying good tools (and ones with lots of support) and that includes getting a good soldering station. Just my experience and 2 cents.

[Jrd]

Thank you WayneJ and jnealand. (and everyone else)

Yes I have had experience with low quality tools before, thats why I wanted to get reviews before buying something other than the PICkit2.

I think my mind is made up now, I'll put the PICkit2 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ICSP-Adapter-8-14-pin-PIC-w-PICkit-2-USB-Programmer_W0QQitemZ230414134693QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a5c0ada5#ht_5070wt_ 759) on my list of tools to buy.

As for the soldering station which you mentioned, I am planning on going with the CSI-STATION1A (http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307).

[KeithW]

I bought a Pickit2 from Newark, stating "all hardware included"...haven't even opened the package but apparently I need to get a socket, too...If I'm going into RenardSS24 for the first time, are all 8-pin sockets equal, or should I think of future expansion? Don't want to tear into the kit until I have all the pieces parts together to play with first.

[Wayne J]

I bought a Pickit2 from Newark, stating "all hardware included"...haven't even opened the package but apparently I need to get a socket, too...If I'm going into RenardSS24 for the first time, are all 8-pin sockets equal, or should I think of future expansion? Don't want to tear into the kit until I have all the pieces parts together to play with first.

You need a minimum of a 14 pin socket. It should also be wired this way (Note this is a 20 pin socket)

[IdunBenhad]

Hi:
I bought this programmer last year and it has been great. It programs the 16F688 and many others with no problems found. Shipping is free, too.

The only possible problem is that it is for a serial port. I don't know if a USB to RS232 converter will work, but it should. Maybe I'll get a chance to try it later today.

It comes from China, but if you can wait awhile, you save a lot of bucks

http://cgi.ebay.com/PIC-MCU-JDM-Programmer-Microchip-MCU-PIC-Programmer-/250744481746?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a618927d2

I forgot. Getting them done Down Under is the long way about it. Not to undercut Wjohn, but that's a lot of shipping to pay.