====== How to program a PIC16F87x or PIC18F452 ====== :!:\\ the term **programming** is used in this context for burning a hex file onto the chip. \\ See [[what_is_a_midibox]] if you don't know the difference between MIOS, the bootstrap loader and a MIOS Application. \\ \\ For the MIDIbox project it is **not** required to purchase an expensive, "ready-made" programmer in order to get the firmware into the PIC. Instead you could buy a pre-programmed PIC from SmashTV or Mike, you could ask in the [[http://forum.midibox.org|MIDIbox Forum]] for help, or you could build a PIC programmer by yourself. There are many schematics available on the web. The [[http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_burner.html|MBHP_BURNER]] module is one of such DIY programmers, and it works reliable. **For PIC18F based projects, a PIC programmer is only required to program the MIOS bootloader firmware into the internal flash memory. Once this has been made, you can upload MIOS and applications via MIDI.** Details about this process are explained [[http://www.ucapps.de/mios_bootstrap.html|here]]. \\ If you want to burn yourself, you need to build the PIC Burner: * [[http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_burner.html|PIC Burner]] uCApps If you have to burn PIC16 Chips, see [[http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_iic_midi.html]] for a description of a PIC18->PIC16 Adapter for PIC Burner. You need __PBrenner for the PIC16__ and __P18 for PIC18's__. Both chips can be burned using the PIC Burner Module. \\ \\ :!:\\ I experienced massive problems by using 2 9V Batteries (steady loss of Voltage, though I used fresh Batteries). 15V Power Adaptors are hard to find, and if you find some, they're quite expensive. So I checked all my 12V-Power Modules and finally found one that produces > 18 V. //It is worth trying and measuring all Power Adaptors you have, because some of them produce actually more Volts than said on the packaging// :)