PICkit2 Development Programmer/Debugger

[KeithSloan]

Todate I have resisted buying ICD 2 In Circuit Debugger as they used to be around Β£80 and now seem to have gone up to Β£98 and I have managed to get code working with out one.

Now I seem to have found an alternative plan. From my reading on the microchip site. I could use a
PICkit2 Development Programmer/Debugger DV164121 plus a AC164110 RJ-11 to ICSP adapter
see http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcpl ... e=en023805
to debug PIC's that support ICD.

Now EPE Everday Practical Electronics have a special deal on DV164121 PICkit2 Development Programmer/Debugger. Buy the magazine and you can get it for Β£9.98 including shipping. Add a AC164110 RJ-11 to ICSP adapter and you only add Β£6.03 i.e. For Β£16.01 it appears you can get the same function as buying an ICD 2.

Now I have mostly used PIC 16F877A in my E-Block development programmer EB006-00-5. The web page
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcpl ... e=en027813
indicates the 16F877A would work via an ICSP header.

Now my question is there a good chance it will also work using the ICD RJ-11 connector on the EB006-00-5 in conjunction with the AC164110 RJ-11 to ICSP adapter and the DV164121 PICkit2 Development Programmer/Debugger.

What do people think

[Benj]

Hello

The ICSP header provides pretty much the exact same pin connections as the ICD2 connector so I think you should be ok using the PICKit and the converter. You will not be able to debug directly via Flowcode though, You will have to use MPLAB to debug your code using the assembler version of your Flowchart.

[KeithSloan]

One thing I meant to mention. I ordered my PICkit2 for Β£9.98 before I found out about the AC164110 RJ-11 to ICSP adapter. Now if I want to order one I will have to pay Β£8.20 shipping which does not seem worth it for a Β£6.03 adapter.

So if anybody is ordering a PICkit2 (You are only allowed one per household ) and would be prepared to order an additional AC164110 RJ-11 to ICSP adapter to send to me and I will gladly pay you the Β£6.03 + second class postage via paypal or cheque.

No problem using MPLAB. I use it all the time as I don't have or use Flowcode. Looking forward to programming from MPLAB with the PICkit2 and not having to switch to ppp.

Keith

[KeithSloan]

Personally I don't use Flowcode. I sure it is good, but I am an assembler man at heart.

Anyway I came across more information on using PICkit2 and flowcode
http://matrixmultimedia.com/mmforums/vi ... 0c2593682f

Does you previous comment mean that the forum append just discusses programming rather than debugging.

[Benj]

Hello

Yes currently PICKit can only be used for Programming via Flowcode, there is no ICD functionality via Flowcode. We are working on this and hope to have something very exciting regarding debugging available soon. More news to follow later once it has all been confirmed.

[KeithSloan]

Okay I just downloaded the Free Version of Flowcode and started to play and it does look good

So much so that I have offered to give a short demo of Flowcode at a future Radio Club Meeting ( IVARC ) Itchen Valley Radio Club. I don't know if I will be taken up on the offer.

Now I can clearly use my various E-Blocks but as the EPE PICkit2 offer for Β£9.98 was brought up at last Friday evening meeting, It would be good to demo that. Trouble is the demo board that comes with the PICkit2
in the Express Bundle has a PIC16F887, which is not supported by the free version of Flowcode.

Is there say a 30 day time limited version that would support PIC16F887?
Would you consider upgrading the free version to support PIC16F887?

Keith