Eprom programmer question

[sck0006]

I have just been put in charge of finding a good general prom
programmer for my work. I've used programmers twice, which makes me
the "expert", so now it's handed off to me. Since I'm not even
experienced with these, I was wondering if there is a brand that is
preferred? Budget is around $500-750, and we will mostly be doing
27c256's, 27c512's, 27c64's, there was one oddball that I can't
remember, but most that I looked at supported all the chips that we
would be working with. Does anyone have any input on a generally easy
to use, good quality programmer? It wouldn't be used very often and
doesn't necessarily have to have any fancy features like an emulator.
Thanks for all help, I can get a list of all the chips we'd be working
with if necessary Monday.

Thanks
Steve

 

[John Miles]

I have just been put in charge of finding a good general prom
programmer for my work. I've used programmers twice, which makes me
the "expert", so now it's handed off to me. Since I'm not even
experienced with these, I was wondering if there is a brand that is
preferred? Budget is around $500-750, and we will mostly be doing
27c256's, 27c512's, 27c64's, there was one oddball that I can't
remember, but most that I looked at supported all the chips that we
would be working with. Does anyone have any input on a generally easy
to use, good quality programmer? It wouldn't be used very often and
doesn't necessarily have to have any fancy features like an emulator.
Thanks for all help, I can get a list of all the chips we'd be working
with if necessary Monday.

Thanks
Steve

The Willem programmer has worked very well for me, although as with most
PROM burners I occasionally do get a bad burn (which is easily detected
in the verification phase of the burn). You sure can't beat it for the
price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws1/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7550316059

It requires both a USB port (for power) and an enhanced parallel port.
I have actually never burned anything but 27256s and 27C256s, but it
should have no trouble handling the ones you mentioned.

No relation to the seller (except for having bought my own programmer
from them).

-- jm

 

[Pierre-François]

Look at XELTEK www.xeltek.com
I have a SUPERPRO 280 programmer, it work very well and is relatively cheap.
Good luck
Pierre-François

 

[Stefan Huebner]

I have just been put in charge of finding a good general prom
programmer for my work. I've used programmers twice, which makes me
the "expert", so now it's handed off to me. Since I'm not even
experienced with these, I was wondering if there is a brand that is
preferred? Budget is around $500-750, and we will mostly be doing
27c256's, 27c512's, 27c64's, there was one oddball that I can't

Try to get an old stock Advantech Labtool 48, but be careful not to
get a chinese rebuild - at least the rebuilt Labtool 48 XP is not
software compatible. I was lucky enough to get a new original one
(non-XP version) for less than 300 EUR, I've worked with this unit
from 1999 to 2001 doing lots of chips (PIC, Atmel, EEPROM, EPROM,
Flash) for service purposes, so I decided I also need this one after I
spent a whole weekend trying to repair a notebook BIOS which my
previous programmer, a self made Willem, not supported. I'm quite
happy with it, but it took me half a day to figure out that Windows XP
is permanently trying to locate PnP printers on my parallel port so
that a longer (4Mbit or so) programming always failed. I just remember
that I've also backup'ed 82Ssomething PROMs for one of our customers
with this thing - quite useful.

regards

 

[sck0006]

On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:05:06 +0200, Stefan Huebner


Thanks for the inputs everyone. At least now I have a few brands to
go off of. I'll try to find out if they'd rather save money with a
Willem or get something a little more universal.

Thanks again
Steve

 

[Matt J. McCullar]

I really like the devices made by BP Microsystems. I own a CP-1128 that
handles everything from 2716 up to 27512, without a problem. Everything is
handled on-screen so there are no jumpers or switches to worry about. It
uses a parallel port connection. This particular unit is about 10 years
old, though; I bought it on eBay.