hi guys,

I want to buy a microcontroller programmer. I have started with PIC so i prefer one for PIC's but a universal would better i think. What is your opinion?

Do you know a good and cheap one?

Also i want to ask which microcontrollers have the more memory to store the program, PIC's or AVR.

 

ATMEL recently introduced the AVR 8-bit XMEGA series. It has 256Kbyte of Flash memory for program storage.

The only downside is that the development board, the STK600, has only recently become available and so it is a bit pricey at the present time.

hgmjr

 

hi guys,

I want to buy a microcontroller programmer. I have started with PIC so i prefer one for PIC's but a universal would better i think. What is your opinion?

Do you know a good and cheap one?

Also i want to ask which microcontrollers have the more memory to store the program, PIC's or AVR.

Here is a Universal Device Programmer, I came across.
http://www.hed-software.com/hedchip.htm
PIC/Atmel serial programmers are more cheaper of course.

 

I don't know that you are an expert or not but, if you want to start learning microcontroller programming than I think PIC KIT2 would be grate, as far as the universal progarmmer is concerned I don't think that it is a very resonable choice for a hobbiest so, if you are not someone who required to make one new project every week or so OR you have plenty of money to sped on your hobby I advice you to not to go for universal programmer. If you are just a hobbiest than just one or two PICs would be enough for almost all your projects so don't worry about memory and all that things, I am reffering you to PICs because they are lot easy to learn ( at leat that was so with me!). Here are some helpful links:

http://www.mstracey.btinternet.co.uk/pictutorial/picmain.htm

http://www.winpicprog.co.uk/pic_tutorial.htm

Hope will be helpful!

 

Mik, check the thread on PICs Vs AVRs you may find some useful information: http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/showthread.php?t=2601

As for an appropriate PIC, have a look at the 18xxx series. It is one of the higher end PICs but you will not find yourself restricted in many uC applications. You can then get the MPLAB and the C18 compiler from over Microchips website and develop your programs in ASM or C depending on requirements.

Dave