Getting into PICs

[cdesselles]

Hello,
I have been surfing the net in search of info about PICs. I have used the Basic Stamp and the SX Chip (Assembly) produced by Parallax. My question may be impossible to answer. I am thinking of giving up on electronics because I cannot find any info. So here is the question:<p>Is it possible to use a handheld device such as a windows CE device to program PICs? It is very important that I use such a device for programming the PIC because my grant for a science education project requires such devices.
I know how to develop in C++,Visual Basic ect.<p>Thanks,
Curtis Desselles

[bodgy]

In theory I don't see why not, though the bother may not be worth it.<p>For the 12/16 series they are serial programmed and Microchip have published the algorithm and timing procedures required on their website.<p>Now the big problem is getting the info out of your device to the pic. If you have a true serial port then no problem- if only IR then you're going to have to build an IR converter, same for USB.<p>There are of course the 16F8** and 18F** series that can take a bootloader and once downloaded they can then program themselves re;atively easily.<p>If your grant is contingent on programming PICs via your PDA, then have a look at Tony Nixon's site he has a key fob size programmer. www.bubblesoft.com.au. There is someone in the US who has the kits. <p>colin

[wd5gnr]

There are several ways you might approach this. Of course, you could just write your own programmer. The protocol is well documented and many people have done it (some in public view, most in private).<p>Another option would be to use a boot loader. For example, we make the APP-II (http://www.al-williams.com/awce/app1.htm) that is a PIC16F873 with a special boot loader built in. This allows you to connect to a serial port and dump an Intel Hex file down to the chip and it reprograms itself! That means that you can program it with anything that can send a hex file out the serial port.<p>We use this techique on a LARGE model rocket (www.asa-houston.org) where the avionics computer can be reprogrammed in the field with a handheld or laptop by just dumping an Intel hex file down the serial port.<p>Good luck!