PIC Programmer
 

We want to buy a programmer to reflash the IR board.

If you have reflashed yours, please post what programmer you used, and possibly a link to buy them.

there are a bunch of them on ebay. can anybody verify if any of them work with the IR board.

Re: PIC Programmer
 

Pretty much any PIC programmer with an ICSP header will work, since the PIC is a fairly well-established model.

If you want top of the line, go with Microchip's ICD2, but you will need an adapter from telephone jack to .1" spacing header.

A little bit cheaper, but very good products: Olimex programmers
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...oducts_id=8558
or any of the other PIC programmers by Olimex:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/cat....php?cPath=1_6

Re: PIC Programmer
 

This one looks reasonable. Should be fine, although I haven't actually used it. You would want the $9.50 cable at the bottom of the page also, to be able to plug onto the board.

http://microcontrollershop.com/produ...oducts_id=2174

Re: PIC Programmer
 

This post has do-it-yourself instructions I haven't tried it but I love hacks.

Re: PIC Programmer
 

the microchip Pickit2 is what I use regularly for pic development, and it breaks out to a .1 spacing header, perfect for use with the IR board.

Re: PIC Programmer
 

I also really recommend PICKIT2, I use it all the time.
It will also serve you well later, for learning

Re: PIC Programmer
 

We bought this: $160.00 (figured we'd just eat the cost and will have other projects for which it will be useful)

programmer/debugger: DV164005

We fab-ed an interface cable, but you can get one here:
cable

After a bit of poking around MPLab, we were able to load Bob Grieb's .hex file and get the board working again.

Re: PIC Programmer
 

Third the PICkit 2. We bought ours originally for 862's legendary Playstation 2 Controller OI adapter. This is another great FIRST related PIC project to consider.

On top of that, the header on the PICkit2 fits exactly into the IR board our of the box. It comes with a break-out PCB as well, so you can program many different DIP package PICs.

Out of curiousity, where are you all getting the code or binaries for the IR board? We searched early in the season to try and fix our first misbehaving board to no avail...

Re: PIC Programmer
 

The IR PIC hex file is on the FIRST Additional Technical resources page
http://www2.usfirst.org/2008comp/Manual/FIRSTIR.HEX

Re: PIC Programmer
 

I'll add my vote for the PICKit 2. Comes with a demo board with a PIC 16F device, examples, etc.

We use it to for club projects and training programmers. Can also act as an in-circuit debugger for certain PICs.