Here are some links of ICD2 clones in China. The price
is for reference only. The information is only to prove
ICD2 clone can be made quite cheap. 

Take note that shipment to outside of China by Fedex or 
Postal Office EMS is quite expensive. It is a bit strange 
but the oversea telephone charges and postages are much 
more expensive in China than in Singapore even though 
Singapore's average GNI is about 19 times of China
(Worldbank 2003 GNI per capita data: USA US$41400,
Singapore US$24220, China US$1290, India US$620).

Official ICD2 clones (endorsed by Microchip):
http://www.goldenchip.com.cn/tools/mplabicd2/mplabicd2.asp
http://www.burnon.com/product/development/index.asp

Both are endorsed by Microchip to produce ICD2 clones
and PS+ clones.

Retail price of ICD2 is about RMB800 (US$100) or RMB1000 (US$125)
with a demo board. The bulk price can be as low as US$60. Shipment 
charge unknown. However my understanding from some Chinese
forum posts is that they are not allowed to sell outside
of Chinese market.

Un-official ICD2 clones:
http://www.pic16.com
1pc USB/serial ICD2, RMB680 (US$85) shipment abroad about 
RMB250 (US$32), shipment within China RMB25 (US$3.2).

10pcs RMB 400 (US$50) not including shipping.

The extend of delivery is quite good (usb cable, serial
cable, 6-pin ICD2 cable, 28pin/40pin debug header,
9V supply and now with promotion a universal program
adapter with a 40-pin ZIF). The problem may be the support
since this is a one-man shop.

http://www.nbglin.com
1pc Serial ICD2 RMB260 (US$33) Shipment unknown.
1pc USB/serial RMB750 (US$94) Shipment unknown

-----Original Message-----
From: Chen Xiao Fan 
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 9:01 AM

There are no better ICD2s than Microchip's original ICD2. All 
of the clones are using Microchip's design (to cut some corners
sometimes to reduce the price) and Microchip's firmware. Therefore
the  Chinese shops are doing fine here. They are not copying the
Olimex design (if it is qualified to be called a Olimex design).

There may be problems related to IP protection in China but this
is not the case here. At least it is not worse than any other
clone makers. I myself have reservations of ICD2 clones regarding
the IP. However I have no problem with them if Microchip does not
have problems with them. Here BAJ is correct. Microchip should
publish the on-chip debug specifications (now only PIC12/14 are
available) and people can produce their own debuggers. PIKdev is
one of such examples (I think only for PIC12/14 architecture now).

Some of them (the S$85 type from pic16.com) are almost exact 
clone of Microchip ICD2 with the Cypress chip inside. The two
main distributors are actually making ICD2 and PS+ clone with
the authorization from Microchip. Of course they will be more
expensive than pic16.com since they print Microchip logo on
the housing. They are also not allowed to export to other
countries without the permission from Microchip. This is the
information I get from Chinese Forums. 

By the way, lots of the Chinese hobbyists built their own ICD2
clones since US$33 (serial only assembled ICD2 from nbglin.com) or 
US$85 (usb/serial ICD2 from pic16.com) are still too much for 
quite some people there. So I do not quite understand BAJ's claim 
that ICD2 clones are so difficult to build.



Regards,
Xiaofan
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