Myke Predko wrote:
>
> I've been playing around with a sample 16F877 and I am having problems with
> not getting a reliable start up.  I'm trying to run it at 4 MHz (using a
> crystal and two 15 pF caps).  The operation of the oscillator seems to be
> hit or miss (mostly miss).  I've played around with different parts (I've
> tried a ceramic resonator, different values for the capacitors) and still
> nothing that is reliable.  I have not tried an in-line resistor.
>
> Has anybody else seen this type of problem and if you did, what did you do
> to fix it?

I plugged my 877 sample directly into my 16C74A based product and have
no startup problems.  3.6864 MHz crystal, 15pF caps, no resistors.

I suspect that Barry is correct.

--Matt