Bytewriter EPROM Burner

[RCA1802]

I recently acquired a Bytewriter EPROM burner, this is an EPROM burner for Atari 8-bits that uses 2 joystick ports as an 8-bit connection to the burner. I've had a saved search on eBay for years so when one finally came up I snapped it up

 

I thought the enclosure would be metal but it's actually plastic.

 

 

 

 

Inside is an 8035 microcontroller with a 2K EPROM and an 8255 parallel chip.

 

 

I really like the software...

 

 

I don't have a burner that can write 2532s so the Bytewriter is actually useful! Here I am burning an updated monitor EPROM for my SYM-1 SBC... The burner is SLOW compared to other ones I have but not too slow, it took about 5 minutes to write the 2532

 

 

The joystick connectors are recessed on the XE so the connectors won't fit, I had to hackup some gender changes to make extenders

 

Attached are the ROM dump and an ATR of the software if anyone needs them.

bytewriter8.17.BIN bytewriterA.ATR

[lbaeza]

Congratulations on your purchase. Bytewriter info is scarce, so thanks for sharing those details ?

 

kind regards,

 

Luis.

[TGB1718]

Nice piece of kit, will it do other EPROM types too ?

[RCA1802]

Forgot to mention that mine didn't come with the manual but there is a PDF version at the Atari Museum: http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/3rdparty/Other/ByteWriter/index.htm

 

It can burn 2716/32/64/128 as well as TI 2516/32/64 and Motorola 68764 (which is useful as this can be used as a drop in replacement for some commodore ROMS in their various machines.) There was also an adapter harness that allowed you to dump various carts however I haven't even been able to find a picture of this.

Edited October 15, 2020 by RCA1802

[lbaeza]

57 minutes ago, RCA1802 said:

There was also an adapter harness that allowed you to dump various carts however I haven't even been able to find a picture of this.

That is interesting, first time I read somehing like that. Years ago I made a hardware device that allowed me to plug a cartridge while the device was plugged on the EPROM programmer. It half-worked, and haven't had the chance to go back and fix it...

 

Is there a picture anywhere of this harness for the Bytewriter?

 

Kind regards,

 

Luis

[RCA1802]

1 hour ago, lbaeza said:

That is interesting, first time I read somehing like that. Years ago I made a hardware device that allowed me to plug a cartridge while the device was plugged on the EPROM programmer. It half-worked, and haven't had the chance to go back and fix it...

 

Is there a picture anywhere of this harness for the Bytewriter?

 

Kind regards,

 

Luis

I can't find any, it may have been vaporware. Convologic also advertised a device called the WAM cartridge which was like a regular cartridge but it was battery backed ram or something. I can't find any pictures or information on this device except that the Bytewriter software allows you to convert your dumped cart to the WAM cart's format.. 

[+Larry]

I bought a Bytewriter in '83 or '84.  Back then, eprom burners were pretty rare, and pricey.  Nice quality unit, but limited to 27128 or 27256 (and smaller) eproms. I also had to file down the 9-pin connectors for them to fit in my 130XE.