that code is on the 12f683 and works fine.

for the 16f77 ive stripped it all down to
Code:
@ __CONFIG  _BODEN_ON & _CP_OFF & _PWRTE_ON & _WDT_ON & _HS_OSC

DEFINE OSC 16

ADCON1 = 7


start:

    pause 500
    debug "owout (start conversio)"     
    OWOUT portb.2, 1, [$CC,$44] 
    debug "success!"
    pause 500

goto start
I see the start message, but nothing more.
what really has me is even if there wasn't a device connected, it shouldn't hang on owout, and I can't even think of a condition it could hang at owout. I've found nothing on this being an issue, so I'm just going to have to use a different device.