If you don't want to spend an afternoon building a programmer for a PIC, AVR
or whatever, be prepared to pay the long dollar. There are few folks these
days who would build an IDer from discrete circuits. However, it's a pain
in the butt trying to make an IDer programmable for someone who doesn't want
to program!

Understand that the "programming" doesn't have to be the barrier you
suspect. Taking the PIC as an example, the PIC itself is under $3 depending
on the model you choose. It needs 5 volts (a 78L05 and a couple of caps) or
a 3 volt battery. If you are nutty about timing accuracy, it needs a
crystal, 44 cents at DigiKey, or 98 cents if you want tiny. For an IDer,
the only other thing you need is an interface to your audio, probably a
transistor and a couple of resistors. If you want to build it up the
"traditional" way, you will need a fistful of logic chips and a whole
armload of diodes, or an array of DIP switches. Nobody would do that
anymore, it's too exepnsive and complicated.

To program a PIC, there are dozens of circuits out there. Probably the one
that got most people started is the No Parts PIC programmer from Covington
Innovations, because you got to have a pretty lame junk box not to have all
the parts you need. Even if you have nothing, you can go down to Radio
Shack and get all the parts for under $15, even at their outrageous prices.
There are simpler designs, as well. Commercial programmers range from about
$20 to over $100. All of the necessary software is available free. Once
you invest in the programming capability you now can make not only IDers,
but keyers, CW readers, autotuners, synthesizers, and on and on and on.

I used the PIC only as an example. There are folks who would suggest that
an AVR, HC908, or whatever is better. None of them change the equation very
much. The PIC is one of the simpler parts and has been around a while, so
there are hundreds of examples out there for all sorts of applications.

An IDer is a good learning application -- it's hard to think of something
simpler. Unless you expect that this will be your last project, it's
probably worthwhile to bite the bullet and dive in..

...

"zerobeat" wrote in message
om...
Anyone know of an easy to build ider? I know a basic stamp can be
used, but I don't have the programming abilities. The QST ones I've
seen all use outdated components and are complex. I'm building a
small broacast band beacon (low end, around 530 khz) Thanks, 73,
Mike.