Ok, I've read AN826 from Microchip, and while informative... I'm still not sure whether I want a parallel or series resonant crystal, and if parallel does it really matter for basic circuits what the load cap value is (other than it be between 12 and 32 pF)?? I suspect series resonant will work, but can I get some advice from the pros on this one? Why can't this just be easy? All I want to do is play with the chips... why does this have to be so difficult? (That's a rhetorical question and I don't expect an answer to that. GRiN) BTW: Thanks everyone for the input on my previous post about A/D converting. Keith L. Kovala klk@renderedelement.com -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads