PICs for kits

I mentioned code for PICs recently:

https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-code.html 

Today I received an inquiry about the Norcal keyer chip:

the PIC12F629-I/P is programmed by me to become the Norcal Keyer chip

http://wb9kzy.com/norcal.htm 

The ham then mentioned that he had built a home brew version of the Norcal Keyer kit for a beacon project but it didn't work.  He didn't realize that the PIC chip he had purchased was blank and wouldn't do anything until it was programmed.  So he just wanted to check that I still sell the chip.  

When I heard this I offered to program the chip he had bought at no charge other than the normal  shipping fee (now $5 in 2025).  I can see where a customer might not want the hassle of packing up and sending the chip to me for programming but I thought I'd offer.

I'll put something on the web site about this later but I also offer this service to customers in general:  if you would like me to program YOUR chips with my code, email me first and let me know what you'd like to do - we can work something out.

Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY
http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm