pic usb programmers

[jnb]

I have a couple of projects that I want to try using PIC. One of the first I want to try uses a 16F627 pic chip. That's an older model but still readily available and I'm going to use it because I have code ready for reuse on that, later projects will use newer chips. I'm having difficulty find PIC programmers that do not use serial connections. I've a load of computers here and I don't think a single one still has a serial connection. A lot of the pic programmers say they won't work with a USB - serial adapter. I can find cheap hong kong supplied programmers with USB but really can't find any information on them so I don't know how reliable they are.

So does anyone have any recommendations for USB pic programmers?

[pete_l]

So does anyone have any recommendations for USB pic programmers?

PicKit 3

[hughgilhespie]

Another vote for PicKit 3 - BUT there are issues using PicKit 2 and PicKit 3 with Windows 8 / 8.1. Well, I say issues - they just plumb won't work! Microchip blames Windows - naturally - but AFAIK, they haven't produced a solution.

Regards, Hugh

[jnb]

Is the pickit3 just the hardware, or a hardware and software package? If the former what are the issue with windows 8 and what software does it use for the actual programming? Can it use mplab or is something else needed. If pickit3 is a hardware and software package can it be used with other software that might work under windows 8?

(as you might guess I have never used PIC before!)

[jarl72]

Do you really, *really* need a bare PIC? Could you use a PIC-based arduino clone (e.g. http://www.pinguino.cc/ ) ? 

[jnb]

No idea. I've never used a PIC before and until about 30 seconds ago I'd never heard of a pinguino. What I want is accurate timing, which I can do with a bit of low level code and a crystal, so the only thing that would concern me about something like that pinguino is does the presence of a USB HID layer add a whole load of interrupts and events that can upset that timing? No idea if that is an issue or not, it's just the first concern that came to mind on a thirty second skim read.

[Lonestar70]

Hi,

This one should do what you need and is MPLAB compatible.

http://proto-pic.co.uk/mplab-compatible-mini-usb-pic-programmer/

Hope this helps.

Best Regards.

[pete_l]

What I want is accurate timing, which I can do with a bit of low level code and a crystal, so the only thing that would concern me about something like that pinguino is does the presence of a USB HID layer add a whole load of interrupts and events that can upset that timing?

Yes, that would be an issue.

I take it that when you say "accurate timing" you mean that a certain piece of code, or measurement must take exactly X microseconds, every time.

The only way you can guarantee that is either to program the time-dependent segment in a timer interrupt or to disable interrupts and run the code explicitly. Having interrupts disabled for any length of time seems to be incompatible with a USB interface on the PIC - though they pretty much all have serial in/out pins which are much easier to use. With a Pinguino you only need the USB interface for uploading the software to the device - I don't believe you are required to keep it live or connected once your code is on the chip.

[Psychobilly]

Another vote for PicKit 3 - BUT there are issues using PicKit 2 and PicKit 3 with Windows 8 / 8.1. Well, I say issues - they just plumb won't work! Microchip blames Windows - naturally - but AFAIK, they haven't produced a solution.

Regards, Hugh

We use Pickit3's with windows 8.1 on HP Laptop without any problems...

Peter...

[hughgilhespie]

Hi Peter,

There is voluminous correspondence on this on various PIC / Microchip forums - or there was a few months ago when I was trying to get mine to work. The upshot was that some computers running W8 / 8.1 have problems with the HID interface (used by the PicKits) device compatibility. It is in theory possible to find the offending device and shut it down after which the programmers will work. I tried -and tried and tried - on my ASUS desktop but I couldn't get either the PicKit2 or PicKit3 to work. I gave up and decided to switch to Arduinos. I still have MPLAB etc on a Windows 7 laptop should I need it.

Regards, Hugh

[skybadger]

MPLAB current version will only work with pickit 3 and not pickit 2. Also ICD lab 3 not icdlab2. So I loaded the mplab8.3 version (before it migrated to ultra slow netbeans) and that works fine on Win8.1

The Chinese clones of the above interfaces are all usb and implement default published designs and I have had no problem with my ICDlab2.

Alternatively you can get a demo board which normally allows you to program directly to the chip on board.

Lastly, the pic usb does work at the interrupt level but you can run timer interrupts at the top priority level for pic chips that support native usb. That should give you the resolution you need.

Mike