PIC Programming & PICKIT2 Anyone used one- Vista ?

[Mooly]

Anyone tried the Velleman PICKIT2 USB Pic programmer. Will it work with Vista ?
I know practically zero ( make that zero ) about PIC programming but it's something I would like to get into trying.


Thanks
Karl

http://www.velleman.be/ot/en/product/view/?id=376318

[BWRX]

Unfortunately, it doesn't say anything about being compatible with Vista. You may want to contact them to find out for sure.

If you don't want to mess around with "what ifs" then you might want to look into getting the ICD2 programmer from Microchip. It's guaranteed to work with the PIC micros and with MPLAB IDE, which is a free download. The only downside is the price.

[burbeck]

hi Karl,
the ICD2 is great, and there are some ICD2 clones to look at.
have a look here they do lots of affordable ones and are in UK for back up and info
http://www.quasarelectronics.com/pic-programmers.htm

[Mooly]

Hello Brian and Burbeck,
The more I read on this the less I know ? Am trying to find out if the Pickit2 does support Vista. A few web pages seem to say it does work OK. Waiting for a reply at the moment.
See what you mean about the price of the ICD2
I found this,
http://www.voti.nl/pickit2faq/index.html

I can see I have a lot more reading and research to do.
Thanks for the replies, I will hopefully let you know what I decide.
What I really want to do is to be able to use PIC's etc to add functions such as remote control etc to future projects. I did use a PIC in my last amp but had to "buy it in" as a small PCB with a ready programmed PIC on board. And that costs more than the Pickit2.
http://cpc.farnell.com/HK00354/car-l...nts-ir-decoder

[burbeck]

hi Karl
the ICD2 or clones are capable of programming a wider range of chips it will also give you more scope in the long run etc, more documentation. much more versitile than the pickit.

go for these as opposed to the one you are looking at.

good luck and have fun

[BWRX]

Originally posted by burbeck
the ICD2 or clones are capable of programming a wider range of chips it will also give you more scope in the long run etc, more documentation. much more versitile than the pickit.

Burbeck said it all right there. If you plan on really getting into programming and working with PICs then get the ICD2 and MPLAB IDE, the latest version of which supports Vista.

DV164005-ND is the part number for the ICD2 with USB cable at Digikey. They have it listed for USD160. DV164007-ND is the part number for the ICD2, USB cable, RS232 cable, and power supply - all for USD190. The ICD2 doesn't need the power supply if it can draw power from the USB port. If you don't have a USB port that can support it (I think 500mA) then you'll want the power supply.

[Mooly]

Thanks for the help and advice guys. I'll not jump just yet, need to do a lot more reading up on all this.
This could be one of those things you get hooked on I suspect Just not enough hours in the day.

[Eva]

There are ICD2 clones on ebay going for considerably less than US$160, ideal for low budget developers like me

I got one of these clones ("ICD 2.5") for less than $50 and it works fine, I've used it extensively with several PIC models. However, the USB cable that came with it was a piece of junk and had too high DC resistance. I had to replace the type A connector on the programmer PCB for a type B one in order to use a standard cable.
Also, after a few months of use, one of the XTALs in the programmer failed, but I had a replacement handy. I think it was still a good deal.

[Mooly]

Hi Eva,
It's just such an alien subject to me. I would be much happier designing a hardware solution to a problem, than programming a PIC. If it were electronics it would be like me asking " well whats a resistor then " , that's about where I am at

[burbeck]

hi Karl
with regard to the ICD clones, this is an Elektor kit which i recommend cheap too. take you 30mins to assemble.
http://www.elektor.com/in-circuit-debugger-programmer-(050348-71).91426.lynkx

do a search for 050348

kit=£38
pcb=£6


this ICD clone does as the original Microchip one, it is flash and upgrades its self to latest version firmware etc, software is free.

they used to sell the pcb on its own, have a look on Elector site, if u go pcb only i can provide you with a few of the bits that are hard to get in small quant, inductors, socket and program the chip all for free.