June 2010
What is the least expensive system to use to program a PIC16F876A? I got one as a sample from Microchip; now I don't know what to use to talk to it.
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Download the free Microchip IDE from: www.microchip.com/mplabx-ide-windows-installer which is a free, full feature download of the Interactive Development Environment. More info about the IDE and its features at: www.microchip.com/pagehandler/en-us/family/mplabx/ where there are also C language downloads - though I don't know if all the C downloads are free.
Purchase a programmer board such as one of the following from www.ramseyelectronics.com/
www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=CK1301 for $34.95 - with this one you will have to program your PIC chip with the ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programming) connector.
www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=K8076 "Note: This product requires a standard RS232 serial connection and is NOT compatible with USB to RS232 serial adapters or converters." for $47.95 It also has an ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programming) connector for programming PIC chips that are soldered to a PCB. This can be a way to program PIC chips that are other than a DIP (Dual In-line Package).
www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=UK1300 for $69.95 This one connects to your PC with a USB cable.
The datasheet for the PIC16F876 is at: ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/devicedoc/30292c.pdf
