Thanks for the voltage warning. I wasn't aware it was a 1.8v device. I thought it was 3.3v. I guess I'll have to search for another programmer and chip!
CH341A might still be the cheapest option. They are sometimes sold with a 1.8V adapter. Just search for the combination... maybe you can also find that adapter w/o an additional CH341A.
The chips might still work, they usually are rather sturdy.
Nico