Erik goes nonlinear every time someone suggests using something on which the paint is already dry

Au contraire I merely suggest that, in many cases, using 25 year old chips, instead of modern counterparts, is not exactly making life easy for the OP.

The case in point here is that every problem raised would disappear if the processor was replaced with an ISP device (232 or JTAG, NOT Atmels so called 'serial ISP').

Some chip functions have not had improvements for ages, e.g. how old is the MAX232A?, the 75176?, the HC and HCT series?, so, for those, the paint is definitely dry..

But when 'designing' with tecnologies such as the '31 lead to major 'inconveniences' in the design it must be prudent to suggest a newer simpler alterenative, not because it is newer, but because it is simpler to use..

Erik