The area around the 5 volt regulator is very crowded, and some of the parts will be nearly impossible to solder if the 78L05 is in place.  C3, C15, R15 and D3 should be placed before U6 (78L05).

J1 is the serial "in circuit" programming jack, and is another area where parts are difficult to solder if the jack is placed first.  R10,  R11,  R12 and R20 are easier if done before J1. 

C15, U5 , the crystal, RFC2 and RFC5 are mounted from the ground plane side.

The oscillator will work without the crystal by placing a 30 to 100 ohm leaded resistor in the holes for the crystal. This isn't real stable, but allows initial setting of  C1 to the correct frequency. Things start to get more critical with the crystal in the circuit.

It can be difficult to tell if the PIC has loaded the synthesizer registers if you can't listen to the oscillator frequency. There is enough delay in the program to hear the oscillator start on its natural frequency, then lock to the reference. I use a Yeaesu VR5000. There are many other suitable receivers.

Programming the PIC is easily accomplished using the PICALL programmer, K8444KT. from MPJ

http://www.mpja.com/directview.asp?product=8444+KT.

Programming must be done with the "ICSP" option, so be sure your programmer supports this method. The connections between the PIC and programmer are well marked in the schematic. The circuit provides isolation between the PIC and the rest of the circuit so that the PIC power comes from the programmer. No other power is needed for programming.

BACK