Reliable USB PIC Programmer

I have a laptop (Running Vista\OpenSuSe) which I hope to use to program PIC's.

I have read mixed reports of serial port programmers and wondered if USB programmers where any more reliable?

Regards

p.s. what do you think of this one **broken link removed** ?

Is it 32 or 64 bit Vista?

You'd be happier with my Junebug kit

Good question. 32bit.

Very nicely presented web site. Why the Junebug?

c'mon sell it to me ;-)

Download MPLAB 8.0, it should run fine with Vista 32bit. It includes a PIC simulator and is a zero cost way to play with PIC programming.

The Junebug is a PICkit 2 (an excellent little programmer made by Microchip) Compatible programmer / debugger. It's MPLAB and PICkit 2 software compatible.
The Quasar USB PIC programmer is simply a programmer, it relies on custom software to run (you hope they keep it up to date) it's also more expensive than either a genuine PICkit 2 or Junebug.

Junebug also has a 18F1320 Tutor, some LEDs, Pushbuttons, Trimpots, UART and connectors for your own projects. Of course it can be seperated from the programmer with a flick of the DIP switch.
The Debugger will allow you to single step or set breakpoints and view / modify variables & SFRs much like a simulator would but it's real. It's a poor mans ICE (In Circuit Emulator)

Take a look at the Junebug threads on this site, Futz is having fun with his Junebug kit.

I've sent one to Nigel, I don't know if he built it yet.

If you need a ZIF socket adapter you can add the Firefly-Z kit. (ZIF option) to the Junebug.

I use melabs U2 pic programmer at work on WinXP and it has always worked great. It is kind of expensive.

https://www.melabs.com/

Daft question I know, but what would a ZIF socket add?

newbie alert!!!

The ZIF is old school, handy for small PICs like the 12F series as it's hard to spare the I/O. Or if you cannot meet the parameters required for ICP.

Ok, you have sold me I shall place an order.

Despatch to UK? throw in an extra PIC?

Actually, where is the JuneBug sold from, I can't see it on any of your seller sites?

Just Creatron at the moment, I'll see if I can setup a paypal option to buy the kits directly from us.

Sorry I Don't see JuneBug on Creatron

He's has them both assembled and kit form, just email them and ask.