A twisted tale about a logarithmic relay attenuator

[Russ White]

Originally posted by steenoe
I am in for a balanced kit too

Steen

Edit, I would need everything programmed allready! I have no intention to try and learn all that stuff

Hey Steen, everything will be programmed and ready to rock.

[steenoe]

Hey Steen, everything will be programmed and ready to rock.

Thats just great, Russ. Its just the thing I have been looking for

Steen

[jajabin]

Originally posted by Russ White



Hey Steen, everything will be programmed and ready to rock.

Hi Russ,

Are you going to sell the programming board?

[Russ White]

Originally posted by jajabin



Hi Russ,

Are you going to sell the programming board?

I suppose I might, I had not really considered it. Does any one else want them?

I would be glad to if people really want them.

[hayenc]

Maybe you could outline what you get with your programming board that we would not get with the PICkit 2?

[Russ White]

First off I never set out to offer a programming PCB at all. But here are a few advantages.

1) It will program nearly every Michrochip flash PIC out there from 8 to 20 pins. It even has DIP switches and a potentiometer to handle some of the more tricky chips.

2) It works with free open source software.

3) It would be a lot cheaper (the PicKit2 is around $50.00).

4) Its a standard design (based on the RCD which is in turn based on the JDM programmer).

5) Its fun to build the thing yourself.

I think Brian and I could probably do a kit for less than $25, but I will have to do all the math, but it would be right around there.

Cheers!
Russ

[jajabin]

$25 is nice....

I think, everyone should have a programming PCB for future upgrade/update....

[Henry Pootel]

I've done a little PIC programming for my volume control which uses an evaluation board from www.sparkfun.com The board has a litttle prototyping area where I added the VFD, IR and control of the relays. I can program it using the serial port from my PC.

They also have several PIC programmers that are cheap and might save you the work of creating your own... here's a link to one:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...?products_id=8

It looks like it runs $12.95.

I hope this helps.

[BrianDonegan]

That looks like a great deal. Would be good to add a ZIF socket, but you could probably just plug one in to the socket they give you.

[Russ White]

I have yet to price all the components but based on what I know so far I actualy think the price of a complete programmer kit will be a lot lower than $25.

Just wanted to clarify a couple of things. I have used the JDM programmers a lot, and they are great, but they don't program some of the newer chips correctly, in fact they can cause some chips to become un-programmable. The RCD design is much better in that in allows for the new VPP before VDD algorithm.

Also note that my PCB has a 1000uf cap which even with my notebook computer allows for enough voltage doubler high VPP time to progame an 8K flash. Most JDM type programmers will poop out after 4K or so.

Anyway there are lots of solutions out there, many of which will suite this and many other projects just fine.

I have created a double sided layout which is more optimal. I also added a 6 pin SIP ICSP header which would make breadboard prototyping very easy.

I am thinking if we decide to offer these they will probably come with a 20 pin ZIF socket which will save people a lot of grief and bent pins. And maybe even a serial cable.

Note that I make provision on my PCB for PCs with poor regulation by adding R6 which would either be jumpered(normally) or for PCs with poor regulation (very rare case) it can be 200R.

Cheers!