On Wed, May 21, 2003 at 11:27:30PM +0100, Gavan Fantom wrote:
> A minimal PIC programmer shouldn't cost you more than a few dollars if you
> build it yourself. I use a setup where the main cost is the parallel port
> connector, running off a 12V supply (readily available inside your PC). It
> consists of a 5V regulator, 2 transistors, an LED for show, and a small
> number of resistors. I use it to program a 16F84A, but there's no reason
> it shouldn't work with other PICs in the range.

I have a more complex programmer (home-designed) with NetBSD host software.
It supports ISP programming as well.

> Also, for the application in question, cost savings could be made in
> hardware by using a cheaper PIC and implementing a software UART.

Yes, but PIC16F628 (with a hardware UART) costs about 2 euros, so there
isn't much room for savings ;-)  I have used software UARTs, though,
because the earlier PICs didn't have hardware ones..

  -jm