26 Jul
2005
26 Jul
'05
2:58 p.m.
Bruce Lane <kyrrin at bluefeathertech.com> wrote:
I almost forgot to mention... All the Data I/O
programmers I mentioned
in my last note have a distinct advantage over many others: They will
work with nothing more than a 'dumb' ASCII terminal attached to their
serial port for control.
But how would you then get the image to be programmed into the box? Does
it support something like XMODEM/YMODEM/ZMODEM/Kermit on the terminal
port, or is an ASCII terminal not really sufficient, i.e., maybe they
can only use a terminal to control mass duplication, but initialing image
loading still requires a Losedows box?
MS
26 Jul
26 Jul
3:11 p.m.
On 7/26/05, Michael Sokolov <msokolov at ivan.harhan.org> wrote:
Bruce Lane <kyrrin at bluefeathertech.com>
wrote:
I haven't worked with ASCII download to the 29A or 29B, but with other
1980s-era device programmers, what I've seen is an interactive menu
scheme, then at some point, you type a letter to begin entering some
sort of known ASCII file format (Intel Hex for EPROMs, compiled PALASM
files for this one bipolar PAL blaster I have...), then escape from
the comm program, then send a file from the host to the blaster as if
a human were typing it,
then re-enter the line and enter the command to end editing, and you
are ready to blast.
Of course, one _could_ just type in the data, one letter at a time,
but the risk of data entry error is high.
On modern systems, I'd probably use either Kermit (ASCII, not
Kermit-protocol transfer) or minicom (also has raw ASCII file transfer
functionality) to send files to such a device.
I'd love to know what a 29B wants in terms of logic device programming
input, and what external tools I'd need to go from either a PLD file
or a JEDEC file. If the 29B takes unaltered JEDEC files, that'd be
great.
-ethan
I almost forgot to mention... All the Data I/O
programmers I mentioned
in my last note have a distinct advantage over many others: They will
work with nothing more than a 'dumb' ASCII terminal attached to their
serial port for control.
But how would you then get the image to be programmed into the box? Does
it support something like XMODEM/YMODEM/ZMODEM/Kermit on the terminal
port, or is an ASCII terminal not really sufficient, i.e., maybe they
can only use a terminal to control mass duplication, but initialing image
loading still requires a Losedows box? 
5:59 p.m.
At 02:11 PM 7/26/05 -0500, Ethan wrote:
I'd love to know what a 29B wants in terms of logic device programming
input, and what external tools I'd need to go from either a PLD file
or a JEDEC file. If the 29B takes unaltered JEDEC files, that'd be
great.
I just checked. According to the Logic Pak manual it both transmits and
recieves standard JEDEC files.
IIRC if you have the PALASM plug-in for the Logic Pak then you can type
in logic equations and it will compile them into the appropriate fuse map
in (IIRC) JEDEC format. I bought all the necessary plug-ins and manuals for
a project a couple of years ago but the project got scratched and I've
never used the stuff so I'm operating from memory here.
I have all the manuals for the 29B, Logic Pak, PALASM plug-in and
several of the PAL adapters, you're welcome to borrow them and scan them if
they're not already posted somewhere.
Joe
-ethan
6:24 p.m.
On 7/26/05, Joe R. <rigdonj at cfl.rr.com> wrote:
I just checked. According to the Logic Pak manual it
both transmits and
recieves standard JEDEC files.
Perfect.
IIRC if you have the PALASM plug-in for the Logic
Pak then you can type
in logic equations and it will compile them into the appropriate fuse map
in (IIRC) JEDEC format. I bought all the necessary plug-ins and manuals for
a project a couple of years ago but the project got scratched and I've
never used the stuff so I'm operating from memory here.
I have all the manuals for the 29B, Logic Pak, PALASM plug-in and
several of the PAL adapters, you're welcome to borrow them and scan them if
they're not already posted somewhere.
I may get ahold of you later on that. I'm working a deal on a 29B
with lots of goodies, but I won't know what's included for a few days
yet.
I'll get back to you, possibly after I get back from vacation in
mid-August, possibly before I leave - it all depends on how this deal
works out.
Thanks,
-ethan
9:12 p.m.
Hi, gang,
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 26-Jul-05 at 14:11 Ethan Dicks wrote:
On 7/26/05, Michael Sokolov <msokolov at
ivan.harhan.org> wrote:
> Bruce Lane <kyrrin at bluefeathertech.com> wrote:
>
> > I almost forgot to mention... All the Data I/O programmers I mentioned
> > in my last note have a distinct advantage over many others: They will
> > work with nothing more than a 'dumb' ASCII terminal attached to their
> > serial port for control.
>
> But how would you then get the image to be programmed into the box? Does
> it support something like XMODEM/YMODEM/ZMODEM/Kermit on the terminal
> port, or is an ASCII terminal not really sufficient, i.e., maybe they
> can only use a terminal to control mass duplication, but initialing image
> loading still requires a Losedows box?
Not at all. Data I/O made a nice, free DOS terminal emulator utility called
'HiTerm' available. It contains a command set which allows you to transfer files
between the programmer and the host computer, subject to the 8.3 naming pattern limitation
inherent to DOS.
I'd love to know what a 29B wants in terms of logic
device programming
input, and what external tools I'd need to go from either a PLD file
or a JEDEC file. If the 29B takes unaltered JEDEC files, that'd be
great.
JEDEC is indeed one of the recognized Data I/O formats (#91, if I'm not mistaken).
However, in order to read or program PLDs, your 29B must have a LogicPak adapter plugged
into it, and the appropriate device adapter plugged into the LogicPak.
Keep the peace(es).
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy,
Blue Feather Technologies -- http://www.bluefeathertech.com
kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech do/t c=o=m
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped with surreal
ports?"
6:44 p.m.
Bruce wrote...
> I almost forgot to mention... All the Data I/O
programmers I mentioned
> in my last note have a distinct advantage over many others: They will
> work with nothing more than a 'dumb' ASCII terminal attached to their
> serial port for control.
Yes, but the 29B does not REQUIRE a terminal.
But how would you then get the image to be programmed
into the box? Does
it support something like XMODEM/YMODEM/ZMODEM/Kermit on the terminal
port, or is an ASCII terminal not really sufficient, i.e., maybe they
can only use a terminal to control mass duplication, but initialing image
loading still requires a Losedows box?
Well, the obvious way. Put an original chip
in the machine and hit the read
button :) The other way... enter via front panel. The other other way - hook
up a computer and send the image to the ram in the 29B. The protocol is not
difficult at all. It's not Xmodem, but... easy nontheless.
Jay
6931
days inactive
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5 comments
5 participants
participants (5)
-
ethan.dicks＠gmail.com -
jwest＠classiccmp.org -
kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com -
msokolov＠ivan.Harhan.ORG -
rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com