Post by thread:new firmware for PICSTART 16B1?

Hi. I have the Phoenix Firmware for the PicStart. I think mine was a 16B1. I downloaded the Beta a long time ago, and got a friend to write a 17C42 or some such device with the code. Seems to work very well for me. I understand that they are selling a non-beta version now. It can program chips that don't fit in the 16B1' socket, but you have to make up an adapter for that. >From memory, I got mine from Newfound Electronics, try http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~newfound/ Or, you might be able to try http://www.dontronics.com I understand that Don McKenzie may have access to these as well....But he's probably Emailed you by now. Cheers - -----Original Message----- From: Thomas Adams <spam_OUTtadamsTakeThisOuTGMX.NET> To: .....PICLISTKILLspam@spam@MITVMA.MIT.EDU <PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Date: Sunday, 30 November 1997 08:31 Subject: new firmware for PICSTART 16B1? >I have a PICSTART 16B1 and found some references about a firmware on >DejaNews with which you could program a lot of additional devices. >Unfortunately the supplier doesn't support the 16B1 anymore and now I >wonder where else I could get the firmware? >

Steve Lang wrote: > I have the Phoenix Firmware for the PicStart. I think mine was a 16B1. > I downloaded the Beta a long time ago, and got a friend to write a > 17C42 or some such device with the code. > > Seems to work very well for me. I understand that they are selling a > non-beta version now. It can program chips that don't fit in the 16B1' > socket, but you have to make up an adapter for that. > > >From memory, I got mine from Newfound Electronics, try > http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~newfound/ > Or, you might be able to try http://www.dontronics.com > I understand that Don McKenzie may have access to these as well....But > he's probably Emailed you by now. Thanks Steve and sorry guys, I have been away for a few days and signed off the list. If you have a look at: http://www.dontronics.com/phoenix.html You will see the following: =========================== Due to illness, Jim Robertson of Newfound Electronics is no longer able to offer the PicStart firmware file and chip upgrades. He has found the amount of ongoing support required has been very taxing on his health and regrets pulling the plug on what was to be a brave new venture for him. =========================== I posted this many months ago now. It's a situation that is beyond my control and of course Jim's too. In recent private conversations with Jim, the amount of work required to keep up with the new parts introduced by MicroChip was becoming beyond his resources. Many users also wanted a system running under W95 and NT. Jim wasn't able to provide that support. He is supporting current sales of his Newfound PP1 and Warp-3 programmers, however there is an end in sight to these units. PP1 will be finished shortly, and Warp-3 will go on for a little while. Jim has gone well on a world wide scale with these units, but you can't continue with health problems. I'm not sure what Jim's future plans are at this stage. Don McKenzie .....donKILLspam.....dontronics.com http://www.dontronics.com DonTronics Logo Design Contest http://www.dontronics.com/logo.html Basic Stamp Windows 95 Front End Now Available. PicNPoke "Pacman like" Multimedia Simulator for the PIC16x84. SimmStick(tm) Atmel & PIC proto PCB's. 30 pin Simm Module Format. For more details, send a blank message to EraseMEinfospam_OUTTakeThisOuTdontronics.com or simstickspam_OUTdontronics.com or @spam@basicsKILLspamdontronics.com

> I downloaded the Beta a long time ago, and got a friend to write a 17C42 or > some such device with the code. Do you still possess the downloaded file or could make a copy of your 17? > From memory, I got mine from Newfound Electronics, try They don't support the PICSTART any more, they rather sell their own programmers. > I understand that Don McKenzie may have access to these as well....But he's > probably Emailed you by now. No, I emailed him before asking in this list but didn't get a positive reply. cheers Thomas

>I have a PICSTART 16B1 and found some references about a firmware on >DejaNews with which you could program a lot of additional devices. >Unfortunately the supplier doesn't support the 16B1 anymore and now I >wonder where else I could get the firmware? I have also been through this loop, looking for the Phoenix upgrade, but that was before I found the Piclist, and its global pool of enthusiasm(!). Is there anyone on the list who has a version of Pheonix that they could make available for others to download, maybe we could find the last version Jim Robertson created and put it on a web page or FTP site. Ideally, if Jim is unable to continue the work, perhaps someone could persuade him to release his source code as PD and someone else could 'pic up the baton' (sorry couldn't resist the pun), and continue development, I wouldn't mind trying, but I'm sure there are others much better qualified/experience than myself, who would relish the challenge, and earn themselves some kudos, and undying gratitude of us lowly, deprived and abandoned(by Mchip) 16B1 owners! What do you think?......Paul

On 4 Dec 97 at 11:35, Wolfgang Kynast wrote: > >On 4 Dec 97 at 11:04, Paul BRITTON wrote: > >... >> Is there anyone on the list who has a version of Pheonix that they >> could make available for others to download, maybe we could find the >> last version Jim Robertson created and put it on a web page or FTP >> site. > >that would clearly be illegal. > >Wolfgang > >-- I wasn't suggesting doing anything illegal. I thought the Phoenix upgrade was freely downloadable from Jim's website when it used to be available..... and I'd hardly suggest contacting the owner of the code if I was going to rip him off, would I? I happen to think that what Jim did was a brilliant achievement, given that Microchip were v. unforthcoming about interface protocols for the 16B1, and I think it would be a shame for that effort to be unused in future, I was trying to see if someone was willing to carry on Jim's good work. (With his blessing, of course) I don't know how many 16B1's were sold globally, but I have (2)! and would like to prolong there usefulness a bit! Regards Paul

Paul BRITTON wrote: > I happen to think that what Jim did was a brilliant achievement, given > that Microchip were v. unforthcoming about interface protocols for the > 16B1, and I think it would be a shame for that effort to be unused in > future, I was trying to see if someone was willing to carry on Jim's > good work. (With his blessing, of course) > I don't know how many 16B1's were sold globally, but I have (2)! and > would like to prolong there usefulness a bit! Jim hasn't been tuned to the piclist for months, but I'll make sure he gets all messages in this thread. I know he has been wondering where to head with this. These messages may help him decide. Don McKenzie KILLspamdonKILLspamdontronics.com http://www.dontronics.com Don's Download Dungeon: Embedded Work-Ware http://www.dontronics.com/download.html DonTronics Logo Design Contest http://www.dontronics.com/logo.html For more details, send a blank message to RemoveMEinfoTakeThisOuTdontronics.com or spamBeGonesimstickspamBeGonedontronics.com or TakeThisOuTbasicsEraseMEspam_OUTdontronics.com

On Fri, 5 Dec 1997, Don McKenzie wrote: > Paul BRITTON wrote: > > > I happen to think that what Jim did was a brilliant achievement, given > > that Microchip were v. unforthcoming about interface protocols for the > > 16B1, and I think it would be a shame for that effort to be unused in > > future, I was trying to see if someone was willing to carry on Jim's > > good work. (With his blessing, of course) > > I don't know how many 16B1's were sold globally, but I have (2)! and > > would like to prolong there usefulness a bit! > > Jim hasn't been tuned to the piclist for months, but I'll make sure he > gets > all messages in this thread. I know he has been wondering where to head > with this. These messages may help him decide. I have wanted to purchase a Phoenix upgrade, but I was unfortunately too late. Please let Jim know that I (and probably many others) would appreciate it highly if his Phoenix upgrade were made available in some way or another. Thanks, Joost

Joost Kooij wrote: > On Fri, 5 Dec 1997, Don McKenzie wrote: > > > Paul BRITTON wrote: > > > > > I happen to think that what Jim did was a brilliant achievement, given > > > that Microchip were v. unforthcoming about interface protocols for the > > > 16B1, and I think it would be a shame for that effort to be unused in > I have wanted to purchase a Phoenix upgrade, but I was unfortunately too > late. > > Please let Jim know that I (and probably many others) would appreciate it > highly if his Phoenix upgrade were made available in some way or another. > > Thanks, > Joost Yes Joost, I have passed this and all other messages on, as well as some possible suggestions that may eventuate. Don McKenzie RemoveMEdonTakeThisOuTdontronics.com Don's Download Dungeon http://www.dontronics.com/download.html DonTronics Logo Design Contest http://www.dontronics.com/logo.html For more details, send a blank message to infoEraseME.....dontronics.com or EraseMEsimstickdontronics.com or RemoveMEbasicsEraseMEEraseMEdontronics.com

>I have a PICSTART 16B1 and found some references about a firmware on >> DejaNews with which you could program a lot of additional devices. >> Unfortunately the supplier doesn't support the 16B1 anymore and now I >> wonder where else I could get the firmware? >> >> >Microchip's home page now has the firmware in HEX >format. You just have to program it yourself. > Just search for "PICSTART 16B" If anyone is interested, I have an upgrade kit for the picstart 16b1. It was purchased for my programmer, which turned out to be a 16b and could not be upgraded. The chip is new, untouched and comes with all documentation. Any takers? North America only, please. dwayne Dwayne Reid <RemoveMEdwaynerspam_OUTKILLspamplanet.eon.net> Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (403) 489-3199 voice (403) 487-6397 fax