hi,

really sorry, as I mentioned, I am a novice programmer with PICs and not familiar so pls correct me if I'am wrong.

1) The chip CAN be programmed without any programmer ,eg. JDM etc, just the right serial to chip connections and IC-Prog right?

2) I've read the specs but it gets pretty confusing. Low voltage programming---The Vdd is raised first to +5V , following which MCLR and RB4 are also raised to +5V by serial connections with a 4.7K resistor(no longer 12 V from serial port) . So shorting out MCLR and RB4 should be the way?

That way, both MCLR and RB4 are raised to 5V. (LVP)

Thks, really appreciate the advice.