Hamish,

 Probably not.   What this is is a serial connection from the  877 to the PC
via an RS232 serial link.  There is a small
 amount of code that is downloaded to the 877 from the PC
 whenever the ICD session is begun.  I believe it reserves the
 top 256 bytes of the program memory store.  Anyway, this code
 in conjunction with the PC allows the registers and I/O's to
 be examined and changed.  And it will execute your code in
 real time.  You are limited to one breakpoint at a time, but
 you can reset the breakpoint as many times as you want to.
 This is basically a poor mans ICE.  Also, you can emulate
 most other 28 and 40 pin parts as long as you use only the
 hardware that the part you are emulating is equipped with.
 I was told you couldn't emulate the 18 pin parts, but I
 don't know why not.  As long as you keep in mind what you
 are doing.  The serial link takes pins RB6 and RB7 I believe.
 They did this to maintain compability with the ICSP process.
 At the seminars, they run $120.00.  I think they are a little
 more when purchased from Microchip directly.  I bought one,
 but it won't be delivered until about may 5, 1999. Apparently,
 it's taken them longer than expected to ramp up production
 to sufficient quantities to cover everyone.  I can't wait
 till I get mine.  Hope this helps.

                                          Regards,

                                           Jim




>I was wondering if anyone had some details on the ICD capabilities of the
>new 16F87X family.  Can't seem to find much on the microchip web site.  Will

>this feature eventually make emulators redundant?
>
>Ta
>
>Hamish
>