Electronic Circuits and Projects Forum

Thanks for the help. I was talking with Blueroom and he told me that this is basically a PIKKIT2 which is very well supported. I'm going to go do some googling about it before I build either. But for sure I have learned a lot. So here is what I have learned, and I'm sure the forum members aren't afraid to correct me where I'm wrong.
1 You can't start a new thread again until you have posted a minimum number of times. thanks to blueroom for answering anyway.
2 Do your homework, it almost always pays off, especially in the forum. (unless it takes you so long that your subject becomes obsolete. That's only funny until it happens to you.)
3 Canister looking caps are generally electrolytic even if they have colors.
4 Flat "disc" caps are actually disc caps, the cheep ceramic kind.
5 Disc caps that are a little shinny and fatter are generally tantalium.
6 My girlfriend will never think this is cool even after seeing a blinking led.

Originally Posted by jeremygaughan

Thanks for the help. I was talking with Blueroom and he told me that this is basically a PIKKIT2 which is very well supported. I'm going to go do some googling about it before I build either. But for sure I have learned a lot. So here is what I have learned, and I'm sure the forum members aren't afraid to correct me where I'm wrong.
1 You can't start a new thread again until you have posted a minimum number of times. thanks to blueroom for answering anyway.
2 Do your homework, it almost always pays off, especially in the forum. (unless it takes you so long that your subject becomes obsolete. That's only funny until it happens to you.)
3 Canister looking caps are generally electrolytic even if they have colors.
4 Flat "disc" caps are actually disc caps, the cheep ceramic kind.
5 Disc caps that are a little shinny and fatter are generally tantalium.
6 My girlfriend will never think this is cool even after seeing a blinking led.

C1,C2 1:mu: F 63v Electrolytic caps
C3 10:mu: F 63V "
C4,C5 15pF ceramic Disc caps
C6 47:mu: F 25V Elecrolytic cap
C7 100nF multilayer chip cap with leads.( this is the one shining)

The concerned schematic PDF file as downloaded is attached

I meant to say its similar to the PICKit2 design I'm working on. That GTB USB one uses the same 18F2550 as the PICKit2 but is a simpler design. The voltage tripler on the PK2 is a boost converter, the GTB a switched capacitor. Both work quite well. The GTB does not seem to publish the .hex file you'll need. The PK2 does, also the PK2 is a far more polished little programmer than the GTB.

I'll post my simplified version of the PK2 in these forums in the next couple of days.

I have read in a few places that the PK2 only supports around 8 different PICs. I am really interested in the 16f628a (for learning and basic playing around), 16f629 and the 10f2xx's probably the 10f200 (which weren't on the list.)
I would prefer to build the PK2 design, but I have a specific goal in mind and the programs are too complex for me to translate to another PIC. Or in other words I can't yet rewrite the program for a PIC compatible with the PK2. The project is IR system for very small airplanes. I'm sure you have seen this project before as it is quite old.
The GTP, in Spanish, means program all PICs. Of course not many can actually do that for under $800.00 but I have read that it does many of the common PICs. About the HEX, you are right. They don't publish it and the only way to get the new file legitimately is to buy a preprogrammed chip for around $35.00. But, I found the original HEX, it was on a blog site. I understand that the old hex is still legal and valid, but the new ones are copy right protected. So after all that, my question is...Is the PK2 compatible with so few PICs or has it been updated.
Receiver link
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babel...1%2findex.html
Transmitter link
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babel...5f875fb61323b9

The PICKit2 supports oodles of PICs 10,12,16,18,24,30,33 & EEPROMs in programming mode using its own software. As of MPLAB 7.62 it supports quite a few PICs espically the popular ones and debug support for a handful of popular 16F & 18F chips. It's so cheap to buy it's almost not worth cloning and that said I'm working on a reduced function clone (No 3.3V) with a combo Tutor board as the only thing not to like about the PK2 is the programming connector.
A genuine PK2 is only about $40, I've seen clones for as little as $10 on ebay but the shipping will get you. Most clones are $29 go figure. I'd buy the real article for the extra $10.
It has some features the ICD2 doesn't have, auto PIC detection, personalization, EEPROM (I2C, SPI, Microwire) support, TTL (inverted) UART test mode (I'm using that cool feature with the new kit).
For a hobbyist it's an excellent product. And it's easy to build an adapter for use with my kits
Here's a early draft of the PK2 part of the schematic

As soon as I get my JDM working I would like to make a PK2. But in the mean while I am proposing these comments and questions. There are thousands of pages dealing with starting out of the program world, and thousands of pages dealing with advanced electronics..... but when I search for something mid level, I find my self in the dark. For example, finding a programmer that was made after 2005. A tutorial that is current and has an accessible author. One current schematic that uses simple components for a JDM. And is it possible there there would be a filtered straight forward explanation of what is happening when a PIC is being programmed. (that is not sarcasm I actually searched,) And last....why is my helping hand smoking that?

Originally Posted by jeremygaughan

A tutorial that is current and has an accessible author.

Perhaps you might try reading the sticky at the top of this forum?.