In a message dated 97-03-27 10:35:07 EST, you write:

<<
 Andy, this is a question that deals with the PIC16C73A.(Having trouble
 getting e-mail to u. This is the only way I can reach you at this
 time..) I recall that you commented on the problem of UV erasing the
 PIC16C73A chips. I am having major problems with erasing this dog of a
 chip. After 2 hrs of UV exposure, all 10 of the chips will not erase.
 Any suggestions. ? Has Microchip ever acknowledged that there are
 problems erasinh their chips. ? I kinda suspect there are others like me
 wishing they had just stuck with anything other than the EPROM cerdip
 package. Thx Andy
 Evan Cranna
  >>
Evan,
I thought I would add my 2 cents worth,
Several years ago I was learning the PIC1654JW and the PIC1655JW.
I was having all kinds of problems just as you describe.  After much
disapointment and effort to find the problem I finally found it.  It wasnt
the eraser but my programmer.  I had a Fred Eddy programmer (he published
several articles in Electronics Now or Popular Electrinics etc.)  I bought it
because it was $49.00 in kit form.  The ceapest one around back then.  I
found that If I inserted the chips into the programmer while the power was
on,  the chips would appear to have a few bits unerased.  I switched to a
Parallax programmer and all of my problems went away.
Just an idea.  You might be blaming the wrong piece of equipment.

Dave Duley
V.P. DreiTek Inc.