Best PIC Programmer Kit Under €100 - Angello's Recommendation

[Angello90]

Hey there lads!

I am planing on picking up pic and learn it. Anyone can tell me what programmer kit for pic is the best out there to buy? I want to spend like 100 euro on it. Or maybe you reckon I don't need anything as expensive?

If anyone can give me some examples preferable on ebay and amazon maybe? I looked over the internet I found something like these two, which one would you recommend?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300373391973&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://www.newark.com/microchip/dv164035/mplab-icd-3-in-circuit-debugger/dp/19P0223


Thanks a mil guys! Take care people

Angello

 

[Borg]

Here is a link to a much cheaper kit. https://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=2" I taught myself on something similar a few years ago. I think that you'll also have to purchase a cable connector but, the kit is only $30 US. It's probably not the "best out there" but, it's a cheap way to get started.

If you're interested, I used this site to learn how to program a PIC. http://www.amqrp.org/elmer160/lessons/" The PIC used in the tutorials was about $5.

 

[Snoogans]

I bought mine from Mikroelectronica (link below) the have a range of development boards and in circuit programmers.

http://www.mikroe.com/en/tools/

 

[MATLABdude]

For more, see my post in the other thread:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=367600

(These are the 'official' programmers--but note that there is no emulator / in-circuit debugging, which is why it's so much cheaper than the ones which do have it).

 

[Angello90]

Thanks a lot guys! Helped me a lot! But I am still quite not sure which one to buy.

I mean are the emulators any useful? Also what's the debugger (ICD)? Is it needed?

 

[Snoogans]

Basically you have a few options, emulator, programmer, development board or in circuit debugger.

An emulator plugs into a circuit in place of the microcontroller, it is essentially a separate processor that behaves like the controller you intend on using. Is usually very expensive and can emulate the behviour of many different microcontrollers.

An in circuit debugger, connects to a microcontroller that is already installed in a circuit through set programming/debugging pins. It programs the microcontroller in place and allows access to the state of the registers within (for debugging).

A programmer simply programs the microcontroller outside the circuit which is then installed in the circuit.

The option I would recommend is the development board. It is an entire circuit board that gives you access to all the pins and can have various other circuits built in that are useful for development such as serial ports, indicator diodes, jumpers/buttons/switches to control pin status etc. I own this one http://www.mikroe.com/en/tools/lv24-33a/

You can achieve the same results as a development board with an in circuit debugger, it is just more difficult to interface the microcontrller with the rest of the circuit, especially if it is a large pin count processor.

 

[Angello90]

Thank you Snoogans for info. I was thinking of buying such a set:

http://www.mikroe.com/en/tools/easypic6/
http://www.mikroe.com/en/tools/plcc/
http://www.mikroe.com/en/tools/rtc/

Do you think its a good combination? Or you would rather advise to buy something likewhat you have and getting extension like this:

http://www.mikroe.com/en/tools/experimental/pic/

for 8-40 pins? Which one you would you prefer?

 

[Topher925]

FYI, if you're a student, and your profile says you are, microchipdirect.com gives you an automatic 25% discount on almost everything. That includes the PICkit 3 programmer/debugger and ICD 3.

 

[Snoogans]

What you pick depends on what you intend to use it for. I wanted to do some number crunching with mine so I went with one that could use a dsPIC. If you are learning or it is just simple interface and control type programs, the easyPIC would be a good choice.