This wasn’t much of a success. I believe there were some differences between the PIC12C508s and PC12C508As. If anyone could point out what would be different that would be swell – I’m not a datasheet wizard and if it doesn’t just zap, I try again a few different ways. Sadly all resulted in failure on this occasion… Calibration IDs, all that razzamatazz but no luck!
I promise to upload a video where I do successfully flash the… I think they are 12F629 or something along those lines anyway. Reflashable… none of this one-time programming (OTP).
Edit: January 2015 – Turned out my GQ-4X is dying slowly and randomly. I have since purchased another model with no issues!