Eprom programmer...
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- Dizzy
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Eprom programmer...
Hi all,
I've decided I'd like a crack at building a Harlequin but will need to program a suitable rom. I've seen mention of the TL866 programmer that people use, but there seems to be many variations and I'm unsure as to what to buy, as they seem to vary between a few quid to hundreds! All I need is something that can program flash roms along with eproms should I need to program any in the future for any retro systems I might find myself working on. Can anyone give me any advice or links etc?
Cheers
JD
I've decided I'd like a crack at building a Harlequin but will need to program a suitable rom. I've seen mention of the TL866 programmer that people use, but there seems to be many variations and I'm unsure as to what to buy, as they seem to vary between a few quid to hundreds! All I need is something that can program flash roms along with eproms should I need to program any in the future for any retro systems I might find myself working on. Can anyone give me any advice or links etc?
Cheers
JD
Re: Eprom programmer...
It's been a good few years since I bought mine, but you're after something like this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325720763905 ... SwSoBkpePR
(Hopefully that link works...)
NB: I haven't bought from this seller, that's just an example.
£63 seems a reasonable price.
There appear to be some black versions about. No idea about them, though they could be the same thing in a new, "fancy" case.
There are some smaller ones that look superficially similar and cost low-teens quid, but they're for reprogramming little 8-pin serial chips. That's not what you want.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325720763905 ... SwSoBkpePR
(Hopefully that link works...)
NB: I haven't bought from this seller, that's just an example.
£63 seems a reasonable price.
There appear to be some black versions about. No idea about them, though they could be the same thing in a new, "fancy" case.
There are some smaller ones that look superficially similar and cost low-teens quid, but they're for reprogramming little 8-pin serial chips. That's not what you want.
Re: Eprom programmer...
Here's the video that sold me on one, by everyone's favourite electrical engineer from down under.
As you can see from the teardown, there's a lot of good stuff packed into them for the money. I hate to think what the equivalent from a big-name American equipment company would cost.
As you can see from the teardown, there's a lot of good stuff packed into them for the money. I hate to think what the equivalent from a big-name American equipment company would cost.
- 1024MAK
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Re: Eprom programmer...
The real TL866 programmers are quite expensive (RS has them at £300).. The cheaper programmers that come from China are unauthorised clones. Or the seller has just used the name to attract customers in their search and what they are selling is a different programmer.
In addition to this, sellers sell various different adapters for the TL866 programmer. These are likely what you are seeing for low prices.
The clones of the TL866 programmer are white in colour and typically go for £30 upwards (depending on if it excludes or includes UK VAT). For 28 pin DIL/DIP chips like 27 series EPROMs, 28 series and similar EEPROMs and flash ROMs, you don’t need any adapters. The chip will fit in the ZIF (zero insertion force) socket.
Please note that any/all USB powered programmers only work correctly with modern EPROM chips. They may not work with older EPROMs that need a 21V or 25V programming voltage.
Most people who talk about having used a TL866 programmer, are talking about having used a clone.
The clones are harder to find now that the real manufacturer has managed to get some sites to crack down on the sellers of the clones.
Here’s a link to them on aliexpress. There is one currently on there for £6.42, you could take a gamble…
I hope this helps.
Mark
In addition to this, sellers sell various different adapters for the TL866 programmer. These are likely what you are seeing for low prices.
The clones of the TL866 programmer are white in colour and typically go for £30 upwards (depending on if it excludes or includes UK VAT). For 28 pin DIL/DIP chips like 27 series EPROMs, 28 series and similar EEPROMs and flash ROMs, you don’t need any adapters. The chip will fit in the ZIF (zero insertion force) socket.
Please note that any/all USB powered programmers only work correctly with modern EPROM chips. They may not work with older EPROMs that need a 21V or 25V programming voltage.
Most people who talk about having used a TL866 programmer, are talking about having used a clone.
The clones are harder to find now that the real manufacturer has managed to get some sites to crack down on the sellers of the clones.
Here’s a link to them on aliexpress. There is one currently on there for £6.42, you could take a gamble…
I hope this helps.
Mark
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Re: Eprom programmer...
I mean, it's a bit of a moral grey area.
If you're a company using one of these Chinese clones to program up hundreds of devices a week then you should probably feel a bit guilty. But if you're a hobbyist working on your own projects for fun then you probably can't justify spending £300 on a genuine French TL866 anyway.
The Chinese clones do at least come with their own surprisingly comprehensive PC software. (Albeit with a bit of occasionally amusing Chinglish in the menus.) It's not like the £6 clones of Saleae logic analysers that assume you're happy to rip off Saleae's PC software.
Give the EEVblog video a watch. I'm sure you'll find it educational as well as entertaining.
If you're a company using one of these Chinese clones to program up hundreds of devices a week then you should probably feel a bit guilty. But if you're a hobbyist working on your own projects for fun then you probably can't justify spending £300 on a genuine French TL866 anyway.
The Chinese clones do at least come with their own surprisingly comprehensive PC software. (Albeit with a bit of occasionally amusing Chinglish in the menus.) It's not like the £6 clones of Saleae logic analysers that assume you're happy to rip off Saleae's PC software.
Nope, you're wrong. These things are capable of generating a variety of programming and supply voltages, including the 21V programming voltage needed by many really old EPROMs.
Give the EEVblog video a watch. I'm sure you'll find it educational as well as entertaining.
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- Dizzy
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Re: Eprom programmer...
Cheers chaps, guess I just need to find a cheap one and take a gamble....
JD
JD
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Re: Eprom programmer...
It depends on a number of variables including:
- How much current the EPROM draws at 21V, not all old NMOS EPROMs are equal,
- How good the inductor and the other components in the boost power circuitry are,
- If the +5V from the USB drops significantly under load.
Mark
Standby alert
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer being good this year.
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer being good this year.
Re: Eprom programmer...
Do you actually own one of these?
- 1024MAK
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Re: Eprom programmer...
Yes.
Mark
Mark
Standby alert
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer being good this year.
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer being good this year.
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- Dizzy
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Re: Eprom programmer...
One other question, what's the deal with the T48 units? As I'm seeing those popping up a lot too, they the same thing or inferior?
JD
JD
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Re: Eprom programmer...
Unfortunately I don’t know anything about the T48 units. So I can’t help there.
Certainly for the money, for most hobby uses, the clone TL866II Plus is IHMO the best option.
Mark
Certainly for the money, for most hobby uses, the clone TL866II Plus is IHMO the best option.
Mark
Standby alert
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer being good this year.
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer being good this year.
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- Dizzy
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2021 6:35 pm
Re: Eprom programmer...
Done a bit of research, looks like these are the replacement for the tl866 - usb 2.0 and up to 25v programming voltage - 47 quid on aliexpress so might be worth a punt!
JD
JD
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Re: Eprom programmer...
@1024MAK
Are you Mark fixes stuff on Youtube
Are you Mark fixes stuff on Youtube
Be Safe! Be Happy! and have some Speccy FUN!!!
- 1024MAK
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Re: Eprom programmer...
@hellraiseruk if you do go for one, it would be good if you let us know how you get on with it.
@oO cozy Oo - no, that’s not me. I do have a YouTube channel, but there is very little content, and even less computer related stuff. On Youtube i’m “Mark 1024MAK”.
Mark
@oO cozy Oo - no, that’s not me. I do have a YouTube channel, but there is very little content, and even less computer related stuff. On Youtube i’m “Mark 1024MAK”.
Mark
Standby alert
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer being good this year.
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer being good this year.
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- Dizzy
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2021 6:35 pm
Re: Eprom programmer...
Pay day next Friday so may well order, God alone knows when it'll arrive!
JD
JD
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Re: Eprom programmer...
thumbs up lol1024MAK wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 8:27 pm @hellraiseruk if you do go for one, it would be good if you let us know how you get on with it.
@oO cozy Oo - no, that’s not me. I do have a YouTube channel, but there is very little content, and even less computer related stuff. On Youtube i’m “Mark 1024MAK”.
Mark
Be Safe! Be Happy! and have some Speccy FUN!!!
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Re: Eprom programmer...
Ordered, says 12 day delivery but we'll see... will let you know how I get on, usefully it allows you to program PIC chips as well, and it has a basic chip tester functionality but no idea how well that works. Got 3 quid off too, sale on at aliexpress
JD
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Re: Eprom programmer...
Well, it came today, nicely packaged. Hooked it up to the pc, installed the software and first thing it did was to update the firmware. Grabbed a c64 dead test cart and pulled the w27c512 off it, read it out and flashed it back in no time, works like a charm!
Next thing to do is to order me a Harlequin then I can flash the eeprom that comes with the kit.
JD
Next thing to do is to order me a Harlequin then I can flash the eeprom that comes with the kit.
JD
Re: Eprom programmer...
Always meant to investigate one of these, for the Dandanator.
I've also want to write a ROM game at some point; something that you can put in 16K but that will use the RAM of a 48K machine. And I don't mean simply for unpacking compressed data; something that can generate a game from minimal data but can exploit a lot of RAM, like maybe destructible scenery, or lots of pre-shifting of graphics or computed, expanded tables to accelerate 3D.
I've also want to write a ROM game at some point; something that you can put in 16K but that will use the RAM of a 48K machine. And I don't mean simply for unpacking compressed data; something that can generate a game from minimal data but can exploit a lot of RAM, like maybe destructible scenery, or lots of pre-shifting of graphics or computed, expanded tables to accelerate 3D.
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Re: Eprom programmer...
Just had mine from Aliexpress £35 took about 2 weeks all working fine,using mine for c64(Vic20 and C16) kernal roms with a switcher for Jiffydos, also might do a pair of 128k +3 roms a and b. well worth the money but would not pay ebay prices of £60 +.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004 ... 1802zDXMbp
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004 ... 1802zDXMbp
Be Safe! Be Happy! and have some Speccy FUN!!!
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- Dizzy
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Re: Eprom programmer...
Yep used mine for PIC chips, flashing 27c512s on a pi1541+fast load card, and also for testing some 74 series ICs. Works a treat!
JD
JD