27 Jul
2004
27 Jul
'04
1:41 p.m.
At 11:21 PM 7/27/04 +0100, Tony wrote:
So are Tinker Toys but I passed that stage long ago.
[Building an EPROM PRogrammer]
The only PC connected ones that I have all run from DOS. If you can't
find a PC then use one of the stand alone models like the Data IO 29B.
Why bother? You can buy them cheaply and
easily, both new from the
manufacturer's and used from E-bay. Yeah, Yeah I know someone will say
Sevearl good reasons
1) You cna probalby build one in less time than it takes to come from
whatever mail-order supply you choose (that's certainly true in the UK)
which means you can get on with the project.
2) Many of the modern cheap programmers need a PC/Windows, which not all
of us have, or care to have
3) Many modern programmers do not support older EPROMs. Heck, some of
them no longer support any Vpp higher than 12.5V. This is a problem if
you want to program those 2732s....
The only thing that my Data I/O 29Bs, Stags, and other programmer won't
program are 1702s. But I have two Pro-Log units that will handle those. I
haven't paid more than $10 for any of the programmers that I have.
If you want a decent PC powered programmer that's CHEAP then checkout
the used Needham PB-10s. They program everything from 2708s to 27512s and
sell used for about $15 to $30.
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=162&item=5110675237&
rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW>. I've bought these for as little as $5. The first one
that I bought came WITH a Columbia portable computer (8088, 640K, 2
floppies). I think I gave $20 for everything.
it's an eductional thing but hanostly
can't you find a better way to use
And yes it is an educational project. your time than to reinvent the EPROM programmer
for the 10,000th time?
Care to suggest some???
Is this a trick question? I guess you don't get out much. Here's the
short list: Cold beer, hot cars, hot women, sports, tv, movies, old
computers, friends, traveling, pets, reading, family, tending my greden,
taking care of my house, etc etc etc.
But just to keep things on topic I have a whole house full of computers
and ANY of them is a lot more interesting than an EPROM programmer.* A have
a GOOD number of them that I've never even turned on due to lack of time.
If I ever finish with them then I have a lot more squireled away in a
friend's warehouse. I'm also presently building my own transistor curve
tracer (actively building), 1 GHz network analyzer (gathering parts), power
supply tester with selectable constant voltage, current and power
(gathering parts) and some other test equipment that I CAN'T buy. With
GOOD EPROM programmers selling for ~$30 (see
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1504&item=3826524752
&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW> it's foolish to waste your time building your own.
And there are DAMMED few EPROMs, PALs, BiPolor PROMs, etc that the 29B
won't program. To me an EPROM programmer is an appliance like my microwave
oven and I give it about as much consideration. I just don't see the point
in spending a lot of time and money building or repairing anything that is
readily available and cheap to buy. I have a LOT better things to do with
my time!
* The only INTERESTING EPROM programmers that I have are the 4004 CPU
powered ProLog units and the 4040 CPU powered Intel units.
Joe