Look at http://pp06.sourceforge.net for open source
dos/win9x/winNTetc/linux software that does most 12 and 14 bit pics on
a variety of parrallel port programmers.

You will likely also find Realterm is useful for debugging the serial
comms, or even to run the display.

http://realterm.sourceforge.net

(Wouter van Ooijen (www.voti.nl)) wrote in message ...
The 16F877 doesn't have an UART, and ELFA doesn't carry this chip
either.

It does, but it is called USART

What is a MSSP, and can it be used to run RS232-communication?

No, it is for SPI and I2C

The only programmer I could find on ELFA seems to be the ISP-PRO

- if you have plenty of time: try one of the 'trivial' or 'zero-parts'
programmers
- 16F87x'a can be programmed with LVP
- check my Wisp628
- maybe consider using a bootloader (my WLoader, that page has links
to other bootloaders)

I would prefer to use free/open source software, the platform I'll be
running on is either DOS or windows XP.

- wisp628 fimware & software is available for DIY, but not fully free
- check ponypog and/or icporg: free but not open source
- some programs don't work on DOS, some don't work on protected
Windoze (like XP)


Wouter van Ooijen

-- ------------------------------------
http://www.voti.nl
PICmicro chips, programmers, consulting