Post by thread:PICStart16B upgrade..

Papageorgiou Spiros wrote: > > Hi, > > I have a PICstart16B and i saw in a digikey catalog an upgrade of > the firmware to V2.0. I have V1.8. The catalog says that the upgrade > enables picstart to program 16c622. What about the newer PICs like > the 12Cxx and others? > What is the difference anyway between 16B and 16C picstarts? > Is it possible to build an IC adaptor for 16B and program > 16C74 and 16c73 and others with it? > I assume that programming method is exactly the same. > > Thanx in advance > > spiros Papageorgiou I notice that Jim Robertson of Newfound Electronics is working on upgrades for Picstart's and Parallax Programmers. Perhaps you should drop in him at: http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~newfound and see if he is finished yet. Don.. Don McKenzie spam_OUTdonmckTakeThisOuTlabyrinth.net.au DonTronics Tullamarine, Australia http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~donmck EASY PIC'n Beginners Guide to using PIC 16/17 MicroChip products. Picosaurus(tm) 40 pin FED Basic with 8 channels of A-D, and real Uart. MEL PicBasic Compiler. Programmers from 15 USD. Pic-Axe(tm) A New Tool.

>Papageorgiou Spiros wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> I have a PICstart16B and i saw in a digikey catalog an upgrade of >> the firmware to V2.0. I have V1.8. The catalog says that the upgrade >> enables picstart to program 16c622. What about the newer PICs like >> the 12Cxx and others? I beleive microchip have decided not to upgrade the picstart 16B or 16C for later devices. The deafening silence on this subject is a good indication to this. >> What is the difference anyway between 16B and 16C picstarts? Well, apart from the different socket, the 40-pin and 28-pin devices came with a new configuration arrangement and the programming spec changed. This new spec is now used on newer 18-pin devices so if you _REALLY KNEW_ what you were doing you could program some 28-pin and 40-pin devices with a standard 16B. But please don't ask me how, you will need detailed knowledge to do it safely. >> Is it possible to build an IC adaptor for 16B and program >> 16C74 and 16c73 and others with it? Only with my firmware if you want to do it 100% safely. (Offhand) I don't think there is a 4K 18-pin device so it sort of rules out using the 16B for the 16C73/74. >> I assume that programming method is exactly the same. DON'T assume anything. Study the programming specs carefully. There are traps. {Quote hidden}>> >> Thanx in advance >> >> spiros Papageorgiou > >I notice that Jim Robertson of Newfound Electronics is working on >upgrades for >Picstart's and Parallax Programmers. Perhaps you should drop in him at: >http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~newfound >and see if he is finished yet. >Don.. > >Don McKenzie .....donmckKILLspam@spam@labyrinth.net.au >DonTronics Tullamarine, Australia >http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~donmck > Well thanks for the plug Don. I will post an advisory message on the piclist when it is ready. I haven't touched my web page for ages. Writing code is much more fun. :-) This is my plan: I intend to post the firmware code (.HEX file) and a working software driver on the BBS and on my web page as soon as I can. The upgrade can be had for the cost of burning your own 17C42. The software is distributed via the "shareware" concept. My "phoenix" firmware will allow the PICSTART 16B to program ALL 16Cxx, PIC14000 and PIC1250X devices. Some will need adapters of course. All the features will be supported including the data EEPROM (At last!!) the pic14000 calibration and the 16C52-JW virtual support. All the 16Cxx devices are working and the 14000 and 1250x are being added right now. The programming specs have just landed and sample devices will be available soon for testing. Of course, we are going to need a cheap 17Cxx programmer..... Anyone wanting Further details please email me *directly* at newfoundKILLspamne.com.au. And I will update my web page one day soon, I promise. Jim Robertson