picdimmer

[johnbyrne]

I have yet received any pic chips to program because I was waiting for the coop parts order. The price was just too good. However, I'm about to place an order to Mouser as soon as I get the work from Phil that he is ok with the BOM for the 8 channel boards. I'll test the programmer quickly at that time.
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"Often Wrong" ... Wife

[johnbyrne]

Well it would seem that the ebay 20 buck programmer is going to work. I have not actually tried the Renard 8 yet but I did compile the code and upload it to the chip. By the way, I made the serial cable using a male and a female DB9 from Rat Shack with the pins wired straight through (pin 1 to 1, pin 2 to 2, etc ... no swapped pins).

When I know it will work I'll post links to the 2 programs I used. The first is from microlab which doesn't support the JDM but is a very easy to use comiler and the other is winpic that recognized the board without problems and supports the pic16f688. Both are free downloads.

JB
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"Often Wrong" ... Wife

[johnbyrne]

Here is the software I'm using. While the controller isn't working right yet I believe the programmer is working.

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en019469&part=SW007002

While this won't work with the JDM programmer it is VERY easy to compile with... load the code (open) and do a quick build (pull down menu). It will write a hex file in the folder where the code.

Then

http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/winpicpr.html

Install it, pick JDM under hardware, load hex file, and click the program button. That is all there is to it. I have reprogrammed a couple of times too and I use the erase button in the pull down menu. Very quick and easy.

UPDATE: IT WORKS PERFECT! Had to get the serial port config right but it is working perfect. The programmer is a 2 thumbs up.
_________________
"Often Wrong" ... Wife