Hi,
What about MCLR? I usually use 10K-22K with a 1N4148. Some omit the diode but it'll draw slightly more current from VPP when programming.
I never use the diode because Microchip recommends not to, yet many users do this with success. I have heard that a weaker pullup (>10k) works better, but have always gotten the 10k to work.
Will try the pullup, that was the killer in the old (F84) days. Also, my cable, I made is 18" long.. Could that be it. All the links you sent, they were talking 4" cables.
The cable seems to be a touchy thing, and I think it is the weak part of the ICD2, myself. The cable which came with my ICD2 had about the same length as yours, and worked fine for most boards, however, on some boards it didn't. The short cable I made (~4 inches) works well on all of them. But then, your cable programmed the chip, so I would think it should be O.K.
6=PGC and 7=PGD (I hot glued the connectors to a chip clip). I am going to convert it to pin clips later so I am not locked to a certain PIC, but pretty sure that is what I did (I can ohm it out). If they are backwards will it program a chip?
Well, PGC is Programming Clock, and PGD is Programming Data, so that should give the answer you need here. It would probably program, but incorrectly.
Perhaps you do have them backwards? I'm thinking of this ->
It keeps giving me the ID missmatch, also tells me code in chip does not match when I try to F8 (step over).
Microchip says NO CAPACITORS on PGD or PGC - they will prevent fast transitions on the data and clock lines during programming and debug.
They also say NO PULLUPS on PGD or PGC - they will divide the voltage levels since the ICD2 has pulldowns (4.7k) on both pins.
William, I am waiting until I get back to Canada to try out your ICD2. Nice looking board, and very kind of you to provide. In fact as far as boards and schematics go, your site offers great resources. The twisted assembler is grrr, well I can develop source myself if I want to do...
The problem I always had with making PCBs was in the drilling. I always seemed to mangle the thing when drilling. Looks like I'm not the only one!
Mramos, I enjoy helping, or trying to; all too often I have been drawn into crappy, negative, and counter productive diatribes on this board, which make me feel awful about myself, and humans in general. Focusing on electronics, and those problems, is joy, even in the most frustrating times. Life is too short to spend time being angry about that over which I have no control.
O.K. I have a bit of a break, so I'm going to read up all I can on debugging.