30 Apr
2012
30 Apr
'12
5:16 a.m.
Jim Brain wrote:
I know others have defended the Willem units, and
I'll add my note as a
satisfied customer.
I'll add another.
Be aware most Willems will require a parallel port.
Most newer units
will also sport a USB port, but it's for power only.
If you decide to use the "USB power" be sure whatever USB port on your
computer can handle it. I had mine plugged into one of the "back"
ports on my computer and it worked fine. Later, I put the same
motherboard in a different case that allowed me to hook up some "front"
USB port connectors to the pin headers on the motherboard. Apparently,
these ports did not supply enough current and the Willem behaved badly.
I was just considering pitching it when it occurred to me to plug it
into the back port as before. Sure enough, that fixed it.
Either way, buy a unit with a socket for an external
power supply. The
on board charge pump can't do enough with USB supplied power to handle
all of the EPROM programming variants.
Yes, after the above experience, I went ahead and rigged up a "wall
wart" supply.
Bill S.