Question about proto board Software Prototyping Board

[kam]

Hi all,

I'd like to hear some opinions about dev programmers/ proto boards.

Here is what I need...

#1. Be able to program most(?) PIC chips (12/16/18's etc)
#2. Be able to debug from same platform (icd)
#3. Be able to get easy access to ALL pins (breadboard?)

In other words, I would like to burn, test and reburn without removing my chip!

I am currently using the PicDem2 Plus board from MicroChip, and even though it does most of the above things, there are on-board test chips (ie. temp, max232, etc), that are using certain lines and are interfering with my code!

The *best* setup for me would be a platform where I can burn, get access to ALL the pins via breadboard, debug, etc.

I saw the CCS software board, and can I use ALL the pins without any conflict with onboard test stuff?

Any thoughts?

~Kam (^8*

[kender]

I would recommend using a CCS ICD-U40 (which can program all of the PIC families you have mentioned) with a breadboard. To connect the ICD-U easily, get a female RJ11 connector with pigtail wires (DigiKey H9016-ND, Jameco 124038 cheaper) and plug it into your breadboard. Such setup worked for me many times.

The only drawback of breadboards is that the "largest" PICs 18F67XX and 18F87XX come only in surfacemount, and you'd need a fairly expensive adaptor for the breadboard. But for the small and medium PICs breadboard works just fine.

By the way, there were a lot of conversations about the development boards in the main forum, so you might find something interesting there.

[Guest]

Kender,

So what you are saying is that I use CCS's ICD that is connected via RJ11 to my breadboard, then I would have to wire my mcu (f452 in my case) to them so it can program them?

If thats the case, some questions/thoughts...

#1. I could just build my prototype right there since I have to make the MCU alive...I could just continue

#2. Wiring...what goes where?! I know, I know...RTFM...

~Kam (^8*

BTW, it's a nice Spring day here in Santa Cruz Cal...about 68 ~ 71 deg. What a strange Winter we're having...

[KamPutty]

[kender]