Summary

PICSTART^® Plus is Microchip's low cost, development programmer. It connects via the serial RS-232 port to your PC and is operated with Microchip’s Integrated Development Environment software package called MPLAB^® IDE which is included with the programmer at no charge. The programmer supports most of the DIP-packaged microcontroller products available from Microchip. For specific products supported, see the README file found in MPLAB IDE for up-to-date information. Included with the kit is the programmer, serial communication cable, power supply, user's guide (in electronic format) and a copy of MPLAB IDE on CD. Also included is a free copy of the PICC Lite Compiler and a sample PIC16F84 microcontroller.

With the new PICSTART^® Plus Flash Upgrade Module (see below), new device support can be added by reprogramming the PICSTART Plus firmware directly from MPLAB IDE.

Features

PICSTART^® Plus Flash Upgrade Module

This PICSTART Plus Flash Upgrade Module is a printed circuit board assembly containing a PIC18F6720 device. It permanently replaces the PIC17C44 inside the PICSTART Plus. Once installed, the firmware is upgradeable using MPLAB IDE. All future upgrades will no longer require the opening of the enclosure to upgrade the PICSTART Plus firmware.

IMPORTANT: PICSTART Plus units with hardware revision of R20 or later already have this feature and do not require this kit.

This upgrade kit supersedes UK003007 and UK003006.

Before You Begin

You can only use this upgrade with MPLAB IDE v6.40 or later, PICSTART Plus hardware revision must be Rev 5 or later. MPLAB IDE is downloadable from this web site. The hardware revision of the PICSTART Plus is the last digit(s), immediately following "-R", of the serial number on the bottom of the plastic product enclosure port.