PIC Users!! What programmer do you use?

[mgatesoglu]

Hey, i am using SuperPro 280U and i am pretty happy with it. It might be little bit expensive compare to willem or other programmers but here is the list of supported PICs by the programmer that i am using:

Microchip device list supported by SuperPro 280U

 

[Macka]

Alright,
So there's alot of people happy with PICKit 2.
I think Im going to get it.

but whats the difference between PICKit 2 and PICKit 3?
is 3 just a later version?
or is it a different thing?

on the PICkit 2 page (**broken link removed**) there is a link to PICkit 3,
But no where on the PICkit 3 page (**broken link removed**) does it say it is a newer version of PICkit 2.

Which one do I get?

Apparently there is a big difference between the two version, check out this review of the PicKit3 EEVblog #39 – PICkit 3 Programmer/Debugger Review @ Electronics Engineering Video Blog Podcast

Personally, I have used a PicKit2 at uni and I liked it so much and needed a programmer (my home made one didn't work and needed LPT port) so I bought a PicKit2. I haven't had a chance to do anything with it yet, however I have big plans once exams are over.

It does everything I currently want and if necessary I'll make a PicKit 3 clone down the track using my PicKit 2

 

[picbits]

I use a Promate II for anything production, a Picstart plus for tinkering with and a Pic Kit 2 which is still in its box after a year

 

[Gayan Soyza]

I use a Junebug.I have Programmed over 10000 chips on production line.Thanks to bill & TEX tool ZIF zockets

 

[nigelwright7557]

I use a Picstart plus £50 off ebay.
Microchip keep up to date with new devices free of charge.
The updates come with each new revision of MPLAB.

 

[gogo2520]

I would wait on the PICKIT 3 they are having many complants about it. The junebug is a clone of the pickit 2. I would get the pickit 2 because it cost less and is well supported.
gogo

 

[MrDEB]

BUT pickit2 doesn't have on board tutor, extra input/output devices like push buttons or LEDs or expansion capabilities like the Junebug.
Bill did a great job in designing the little Junie.

 

[littletransistor]

I use a PICKit 2 and the PIC16F690 training board that is supplied with it. Works good.

 

[Mr RB]

I've got production programmers but for general development and some ICSP I use my MikroElektronika EasyPIC4 and EasyPIC6.

They are an excellent way to work fast with PICs, these days I rarely do any soldering until AFTER the project is finished.

 

[gogo2520]

Hello Mr RB
I was looking at the EasyPic4 not sure if I want to go that way. What language do you program in?

 

[Mr RB]

I use MikroC.

 

[blueroomelectronics]

BUT pickit2 doesn't have on board tutor, extra input/output devices like push buttons or LEDs or expansion capabilities like the Junebug.
Bill did a great job in designing the little Junie.

Thank you.

 

[gogo2520]

Hello Mr RB
I am at a point were I am deciding if I want program in C or stay with asm. I used to program in C+ when I wrote small programs for windows but that was a long time ago and from what I here the C programs for Pic's are nothing like regular C programs for windows.
What do you think?
I know I am getting off the topic but Mr RB is using a board I am thinking about buying. Sorry.
gogo

 

[Sceadwian]

C is very simple and easy to learn, even if you've forgotten things, and if you've been trying to work with ASM you'll be right at home with C because it readily echos ASM but with C's functionality to boot.

 

[Mr RB]

I don't think you need to be a good programmer to use C with PICs. It's probably best to use the simplest of C code because of the PIC's limited memory and stack. And you can always insert some asm in your C code too if you like, I often do that to speed code up or simply if its the best way to do a job. You can use C for the stuff it does best and use asm for the things it does best.

Since you already know C and asm you should find it pretty easy. The hard part is probably working around the limitations of the PIC.

 

[gogo2520]

Ya I suppose, I have been side stepping around C long enough and I really like the way the Mcro 5 is set up. I'll give it a try. The reason I am looking at the Micro5 board is because I need something that is portable that I can carry back and forth to work and not worry about packing everything up to do so.
thanks for the advice
gogo