> Interesting, depending on different loads ....... Once there appeared to be a problem I made sure to make the test fair. First, bare chip on a breadboard then in-circuit. The same ones failed to a greater or lesser extent in either case. For example being reluctant to accept code more han once in-circuit and needing two or three goes. Even variables such as cable length were eliminated The 43K20 is first chip I've experienced programming problems with, ever, from the earliest days of the 12C508 and 16F84 Joe --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .