My personal experience shows ICD2 is ok when it is working. The only pain is the "downloading new os" feature when different chips are used, which can easily kill a unit for all kinds of reason (still a mystery to me, it happens randomly). Other than that, it seems fine. I have some good time with ICE2000, and recommend it to new PIC users. But I do got a lot of opposite opinions complaining it's too pricey. By the way, the PK2 was a nice design, and the support was good, but Microchip abandoned this well-designed product in its early stage to leave space for PK3(one of the key PK2 designer left Microchip, not sure for what reason, otherwise, his experience on PK2 can help the PK3 team speed up the design and support.). PK3 is a hybrid of PK2 and ICD2 on a few hardware aspect, but PK3 picked a wrong MCU (3.3V only) as a programmer. PM3 is good too for PIC16Fs if size and cost doesn't matter to you. ICD2 is not so reliable to me, but the free-replacement service is good. There are still a few screaming PK3 users on the Microchip forum complaining about the poor design. After 1 year of its release, PK3 is still not matured. Please be aware of this situation if you don't want get your self some headache. (The PK3 has been unofficially called "the joke of the year" on Microchip forum.) Our BB0703 and BB0703+ carry limited life-time warranty. http://www.auelectronics.com/UserManual-BB0703.htm Funny N. Au Group Electronics, http://www.AuElectronics.com http://www.AuElectronics.com/products http://augroups.blogspot.com/ ________________________________ From: Barry Gershenfeld To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. Sent: Thu, January 14, 2010 5:13:58 PM Subject: Re: [PIC] Field programmers No one has suggested the Microchip products. If the vulnerability is particular the the CCS units, then "something else" would seem to be the answer. I have abused my ICD2's in most of the ways you described (miswired cables, power applied at inappropriate times, etc., though no high voltage arcs), and I've never had one go bad. I've had more trouble with the PM-3 (which is not under my care). But the fact that Microchip will repair or replace these devices (no time limit that I know of) suggests that they put some thought about these problems into their design. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist