Eprom programmer

[endrien]

So I've been on the lookout for an eprom programmer, I noticed this one:

http://www.mcumall.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4282

It appears to support 2732 eproms as shown here:

http://www.mcumall.com/comersus/store/Programmer-Comparison-4X-3X-90B-2007-2005-190-280-Sept-03.htm

 

It looks like a pretty good, cheap eprom programmer.

Can anyone comment on it?

 

Also is it possible to buy new 2732 eproms or a chip that is still being produced that would work with an atari 2600 cart?

Edited August 16, 2010 by endrien

[+batari]

DO a search for Willem and 2732 here, and you'll see that these programmers do a poor job at programming 2732s.

 

AFAIK, the 2732 chips have been out of production for many years. You can still buy larger 27-series EPROMs, though - mostly 27256 and 27512, but they have 28 pins and although they will work, they are not a drop-in replacement.

[endrien]

DO a search for Willem and 2732 here, and you'll see that these programmers do a poor job at programming 2732s.

 

AFAIK, the 2732 chips have been out of production for many years. You can still buy larger 27-series EPROMs, though - mostly 27256 and 27512, but they have 28 pins and although they will work, they are not a drop-in replacement.

 

 

Well what would you recommend? I'm not looking to spend 150 on a Batronix programmer that only programs <=32 pins

[+batari]

DO a search for Willem and 2732 here, and you'll see that these programmers do a poor job at programming 2732s.

 

AFAIK, the 2732 chips have been out of production for many years. You can still buy larger 27-series EPROMs, though - mostly 27256 and 27512, but they have 28 pins and although they will work, they are not a drop-in replacement.

 

 

Well what would you recommend? I'm not looking to spend 150 on a Batronix programmer that only programs <=32 pins

You will be disappointed if you buy a Willem for 2732 chips. Just about everyone who bought one here has been disappointed.

 

If your goal is to go cheap, you can get an older programmer that programs these old chips very well. Make sure it comes with software and all cables/cards or you will basically have a paperweight.

 

Keep in mind that these older programmers, although they work well, require a parallel port, or in some cases, an ISA slot, so you may need to pick up an older PC to use them.

[jaybird3rd]

I use one of these, although I'm sure there are many other pocket programmers on the market just like it. It's a parallel-port programmer, and the most recent software for it is Win9X only, so I use it either with a DOS computer or inside a Windows 95 virtual machine. It programs EPROMs from the 2732 all the way up to the 27C080.

 

The 2732 has been out of production for a long time, but it is still readily available on the used market. Your best bet might be a place like EPROMMan; they offer them in bulk for fifty cents each.

[endrien]

I use one of these, although I'm sure there are many other pocket programmers on the market just like it. It's a parallel-port programmer, and the most recent software for it is Win9X only, so I use it either with a DOS computer or inside a Windows 95 virtual machine. It programs EPROMs from the 2732 all the way up to the 27C080.

 

The 2732 has been out of production for a long time, but it is still readily available on the used market. Your best bet might be a place like EPROMMan; they offer them in bulk for fifty cents each.

I would like to be able to burn nes roms etc at some point as well, which is why I would like a high pincount zif socket, though I was looking through ebay and these old programmers aren't too expensive. I am however wondering if they require software or ISA cards to be even used. Or if they can be used with any programming software and a serial/parallel port.

 

I'm not going to embed the images, just link as it would be too much.

http://i35.tinypic.com/22gbcl.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/2iubxqh.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/fof3wg.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/2llmt6v.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/6ens3s.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/148gbk9.jpg

 

Can anyone who is knowledgeable comment on any of these? I can't really seem to find much if any info on them through google.

Edited August 16, 2010 by endrien

[jwierer]

I use the Pocket Programmer

http://secure.transtronics.com/osc/product_info.php/cPath/55/products_id/621

 

I have the older parallel port version hooked up to an older PC, but it has worked fine with older 2732s for years. They are more expensive ($249), but easy to use. I got mine off eBay for about half the price. There might be older parallel port versions for cheaper if you still have a PC that support it.

 

-Jeff

[endrien]

I'm hoping to get something that will program obsolete eproms, as well as new eeproms and flash roms that have current day uses(where as eproms don't really have a use in this age besides repairing old tech)

[endrien]

I'm hoping to get something that will program obsolete eproms, as well as new eeproms and flash roms that have current day uses(where as eproms don't really have a use in this age besides repairing old tech)

 

 

I figure just pictures are useless, here is a list of models next to the pictures:

http://i35.tinypic.com/22gbcl.jpg - DATA GENIE HT-14

http://i37.tinypic.com/2iubxqh.jpg - GTEK 7128

http://i34.tinypic.com/fof3wg.jpg - PROMPRO-8X

http://i36.tinypic.com/2llmt6v.jpg - Data I/O 201 (I like the looks of this one, . Looks well built and professional)

http://i36.tinypic.com/6ens3s.jpg - ESTA, ES1346 (Liking the big zif socket+multiple smaller)

http://i34.tinypic.com/148gbk9.jpg - Zax Micro Communicator TTL MC-177 II (This looks very professional and was apparently used at a honda manufacturing plant)

[GroovyBee]

If you want to get an "older" programmer off ebay make sure to ask if it comes with appropriate cables, software and controller cards before you purchase. If the seller doesn't have the accessories required to complete the unit you are potentially buying a doorstop.

[endrien]

If you want to get an "older" programmer off ebay make sure to ask if it comes with appropriate cables, software and controller cards before you purchase. If the seller doesn't have the accessories required to complete the unit you are potentially buying a doorstop.

 

 

For this programmer, http://i36.tinypic.com/2llmt6v.jpg - Data I/O 201 the person said(when I asked if it came with software etc):

"Hi! here a place where you can use one of their software made for i/o 201: http://home.myfairpoint.net/mlps_vt/promlink.htm or this one that i use with it: http://www.dataio.com/products/default.asp?id=16&p=2"

 

Would the data I/O work well for 2732s and other eproms? I can't seem to find a manual or documentation on it.

Edited August 17, 2010 by endrien

[GroovyBee]

"Hi! here a place where you can use one of their software made for i/o 201: http://home.myfairpoint.net/mlps_vt/promlink.htm or this one that i use with it: http://www.dataio.com/products/default.asp?id=16&p=2"

 

Ask him/her to download and test it for you . That'll save you a ton of grief down the road.

 

Would the data I/O work well for 2732s and other eproms? I can't seem to find a manual or documentation on it.

 

From my experience Data I/O programmers are pretty good. However I don't know about the particular model that you are interested in.

[endrien]

 

 

From my experience Data I/O programmers are pretty good. However I don't know about the particular model that you are interested in.

 

 

 

The auction states:

 

Open / Unopen :Opened Packaging

Item Funtionality :Excellent - Item is tested,Functioning and Guaranteed against DOA.

Packaging : Not Original Packaging

Item Condition : Great - Item looks presentable, Minor visible wear.

Edited August 17, 2010 by endrien

[GroovyBee]

The auction states:

 

Open / Unopen :Opened Packaging

Item Funtionality :Excellent - Item is tested,Functioning and Guaranteed against DOA.

Packaging : Not Original Packaging

Item Condition : Great - Item looks presentable, Minor visible wear.

 

Does the auction have pictures of the programmer being controlled by the software?

[endrien]

The auction states:

 

Open / Unopen :Opened Packaging

Item Funtionality :Excellent - Item is tested,Functioning and Guaranteed against DOA.

Packaging : Not Original Packaging

Item Condition : Great - Item looks presentable, Minor visible wear.

 

Does the auction have pictures of the programmer being controlled by the software?

 

No, just the picture I posted.

He also just replied:

Here the device list for model 201: http://home.myfairpoint.net/mlps_vt/MOD201.PDF

you can also find your manual there: http://www.arcadiabay.de

 

I was not able to find a manual there however.

Edited August 17, 2010 by endrien

[GroovyBee]

No, just the picture I posted.

 

Its a world of difference between the power LED coming on and the programmer being recognised by the PC and erasing, writing and verifying the contents of an EPROM. A decent seller would have no problems taking some pictures of the programmer as its working. If they don't, you'll just have to assume the power led means its 100% OK .

[endrien]

No, just the picture I posted.

 

Its a world of difference between the power LED coming on and the programmer being recognised by the PC and erasing, writing and verifying the contents of an EPROM. A decent seller would have no problems taking some pictures of the programmer as its working. If they don't, you'll just have to assume the power led means its 100% OK .

They say "Item is tested,Functioning and Guaranteed against DOA". If it didn't work I would simply reverse the paypal payment. So assuming it does work, this would be a good programmer to get?

[GroovyBee]

They say "Item is tested,Functioning and Guaranteed against DOA". If it didn't work I would simply reverse the paypal payment. So assuming it does work, this would be a good programmer to get?

 

As I mentioned previously Data I/O have a good reputation but I can't comment on the model you are interested in because I've never used it. Its up to you at the end of the day.

[endrien]

In my search for an old eprom programmer on the cheap my friend on another forum came through, he lives in Canada somewhat close to where I do and is sending me an BP microsystems EP-1 completely free of charge as he wanted to see it get put to use. It is a 1985 programmer and I managed to find software+ a manual for it online so thats a plus.

[Bruce Tomlin]

The EP-1 is also serial-based, so you can use it with just about anything that can upload files with XMODEM.

[endrien]

The EP-1 is also serial-based, so you can use it with just about anything that can upload files with XMODEM.

Yeah, I would like to find a device list for the EP-1 however. I would assume it can do 2732's and 27C512's?

[Bruce Tomlin]

I'm guessing 2716 through 27512 sizes, and no 25xx sizes because they had a different pinout. Also no 2708 because they needed even more voltages, which is why few modern programmers will support them.

 

I have an older EP-1 manual somewhere (from the middle of it's product life cycle), but I couldn't find it.

Edited August 20, 2010 by Bruce Tomlin

[Chris Leach]

So touching base on this topic again,

I too would like to purchase a burner. Those of you that have one, would you care to share the model you are using and maybe any success stories? I want to use it for nes carts, but not sure where to begin....I'm sick of paying $25 or more for each cart, when it could be done by myself?

 

(I miss the quality Shawn Sr. brought to the table....)

[jaybird3rd]

EDIT: Never mind; I forgot that I had already responded to this thread!

[rustynutt]

After a tornado landed us where we live now, am beginning to set up the mad scientist lab

 

Bought a Maxon GAL Programmer last year from Nick Harlow (wish I could get the GEN Lock he has ) and have been stashing a BP Microsystems EP-1 for a few years. It came out of the dumpster (you should see what's in the dumpster of Naval Labs!) without manual or softs.

 

What's great about all the Atari sites is the amount of information and knowledge that's out there.

Took a few Giggle searches to be landed in one of the arcade forums. I'd seen reference to a package that (www.hexbus.com) Jon Gudri had zipped up for the unit, EPROM updates, manual, everything you'd need to know about the unit. Unfortunately he placed it in drop box which expired in 2011.

Another poster mentioned it was available in their "obsolete" section of their site. Another user said they couldn't find it, with a BP employee chiming in stating he would upload it to their FTP site.

 

Sure enough, EP1.zip is still there. ( ftp://ftp.bpmicro.com/dnload/ )

 

Fun story

 

Thought I'd attach the file here in case down the road someone is looking for the file and the BP ftp site is down.

 

Side note, picked up two Lattice lsp Download USB boxes. HW-USBNN-2A from a source in China. Didn't readily see any available elsewhere. Good price (thus 2x) fast shipping. The Milan (when it gets back) will appreciate the updates .

 

Good time to live in the Atari world

ep1.zip