Not happening....and - to pin 5...RS232 connctions works with the 08m...120 pico cap cross the power. Still nothing. Any suggestions?
Diagnosing a problem from long distance purely by the use of the written word is hard.
You have to bear with us - you can see everything, you know exactly what you have been and are now doing. We can't and don't. All we can ask is stupid questions and point out where you seem to be doing something different from accepted practice.
Not happening....so what does happen. Something must. Tell us clearly
- to pin 5...so this is an error? You meant -ve to pin 8?
RS232 connctions works with the 08m...so what programming cable are you using?
Using 4.5v from a stable ps...what sort of power supply?
120 pico cap cross the power - odd value. And very very small. Probably not doing anything worthwhile in the circuit at all. Can you try 100nF in parallel with 100uF?
What code is in the PICAXEs that you are failing to program? Any DISCONNECTS or long running pause/sleeps etc?
Have you tried the serial port test? Rock solid successful readings AT THE SERIN PIN every time?
Have you tried the hard reset procedure?
Can you read the firmware version? (do you know how to?)
Have you browsed through
http://www.picaxe.com/FAQs/Fault-Finding/ - anything relevant to your setup there?
There is no fundamental reason why 08M2 and 14M2 don't/won't program...