EPROM Programming Woes...
Heya Folks... I have had a need to program a bunch of EPROMs lately (27128 varieties) and Im not sure if there are sunspots or something, but I can't seem to program anything on either my 29B OR my Intronics USB Programmer... I have successfully programmed like 4 EPROMs out of like 40 attempts. My EPROM's are old pulls from either Atari boards or other used ones I have acquired over the years in storage sticks. They are either ST 27128A Fujitsu 27128 SEEQ 27128 TI TMS27C128 Im being fairly careful about the programming voltages and the 29B identifies the IC before programming it. On the 29B I just get an Error #22 Programming Error right away. Sorta the same thing on my Intronics.... Set it up, verify blank, program, error right away. Are these just too old? Anyone have any good tricks? The strange part is that I was having this exact same issue last night, then all of a sudden my 29B programmed 3 in a row just fine... today, nothing. Thanks Jess _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
Jess! The "tricks" I have is: Make sure that the window of the EPROMs are thoroughly/perfectly cleaned so the UV light can penetrate properly. Make sure the erasers UV light is good, if you have another UV eraser try that one as well and also set it for a longer time/period. Make sure that you position the EPROMs properly inside the eraser. Make sure that the set voltages are 100% correct for the specific EPROM you're programming and the programming speed and algorithm used as well. If you don't know 100% that you can trust the software of the EPROM burner then take a look at the datasheet for the specific EPROM you're programming. Also, take another EPROM that you have (known good) and just test/isolate with that (if you only have one eraser it's essential that the light is doing the job properly (I know that some EPROMs erase very easily/quickly but the ones you're trying now may be more difficult to erase perhaps?)). I also own a 29B but I don't have much experience working with it. The programmer I use and have used for like 25 years is the All-07 (Hi-Lo Systems), in short, it's very good and reliable but was extremely expensive back in the day. The All-07 is DOS based but the software for it is good and professional and I've yet to come across wrong values of voltages etc. Apart from that I also have a TL-866A (cheap USB programmer) but that is not as reliable and trustworthy as the good old All-07. Regarding the fault you're getting (that it stops immediately when you start the programming) I would say that from my experience that would indicate that the EPROM is not properly erased. Since you have so many EPROMs it's unlikely that they are all defective. Good luck! /Martin! -----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Jess Askey Sent: den 28 mars 2018 07:01 To: Technical Tools Mail List <techtoolslist@flippers.com> Subject: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes... Heya Folks... I have had a need to program a bunch of EPROMs lately (27128 varieties) and Im not sure if there are sunspots or something, but I can't seem to program anything on either my 29B OR my Intronics USB Programmer... I have successfully programmed like 4 EPROMs out of like 40 attempts. My EPROM's are old pulls from either Atari boards or other used ones I have acquired over the years in storage sticks. They are either ST 27128A Fujitsu 27128 SEEQ 27128 TI TMS27C128 Im being fairly careful about the programming voltages and the 29B identifies the IC before programming it. On the 29B I just get an Error #22 Programming Error right away. Sorta the same thing on my Intronics.... Set it up, verify blank, program, error right away. Are these just too old? Anyone have any good tricks? The strange part is that I was having this exact same issue last night, then all of a sudden my 29B programmed 3 in a row just fine... today, nothing. Thanks Jess _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/ _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
Hi Martin.... Thanks for the feedback, that is very helpful for sure. I am blank checking my EPROM's on my USB programmer, the 29B has a cryptic if not completely useless 'pre-burn' blank check (Im using PROMLINK 3.4 BTW because I have a 29B but just a plain UNIPAK and not a UNIPAK2, PL 6.1 doesn't like that combination because the device or family codes are longer I think on the Unipak2) Perhaps I will post my specific challenges with the 29B+UNIPAK on the DataIO mailing list. I may need to just look into a more modern USB programmer which is slightly affordable for doing the bigger EPROM's... Maybe I should have written new Win64 software for the DataIO 29B Promlink rather than the Fluke900 software. 😊 I will go pull datasheets for my EPROM's to verify programming voltages... my USB programmer seems to be non-supported these days... https://secure.transtronics.com/EPROM_Programmer.html Thanks again! Jess -----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Martin Olsson Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 12:39 AM To: Technical Tools Mail List <techtoolslist@flippers.com> Subject: Re: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes... Jess! The "tricks" I have is: Make sure that the window of the EPROMs are thoroughly/perfectly cleaned so the UV light can penetrate properly. Make sure the erasers UV light is good, if you have another UV eraser try that one as well and also set it for a longer time/period. Make sure that you position the EPROMs properly inside the eraser. Make sure that the set voltages are 100% correct for the specific EPROM you're programming and the programming speed and algorithm used as well. If you don't know 100% that you can trust the software of the EPROM burner then take a look at the datasheet for the specific EPROM you're programming. Also, take another EPROM that you have (known good) and just test/isolate with that (if you only have one eraser it's essential that the light is doing the job properly (I know that some EPROMs erase very easily/quickly but the ones you're trying now may be more difficult to erase perhaps?)). I also own a 29B but I don't have much experience working with it. The programmer I use and have used for like 25 years is the All-07 (Hi-Lo Systems), in short, it's very good and reliable but was extremely expensive back in the day. The All-07 is DOS based but the software for it is good and professional and I've yet to come across wrong values of voltages etc. Apart from that I also have a TL-866A (cheap USB programmer) but that is not as reliable and trustworthy as the good old All-07. Regarding the fault you're getting (that it stops immediately when you start the programming) I would say that from my experience that would indicate that the EPROM is not properly erased. Since you have so many EPROMs it's unlikely that they are all defective. Good luck! /Martin! -----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Jess Askey Sent: den 28 mars 2018 07:01 To: Technical Tools Mail List <techtoolslist@flippers.com> Subject: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes... Heya Folks... I have had a need to program a bunch of EPROMs lately (27128 varieties) and Im not sure if there are sunspots or something, but I can't seem to program anything on either my 29B OR my Intronics USB Programmer... I have successfully programmed like 4 EPROMs out of like 40 attempts. My EPROM's are old pulls from either Atari boards or other used ones I have acquired over the years in storage sticks. They are either ST 27128A Fujitsu 27128 SEEQ 27128 TI TMS27C128 Im being fairly careful about the programming voltages and the 29B identifies the IC before programming it. On the 29B I just get an Error #22 Programming Error right away. Sorta the same thing on my Intronics.... Set it up, verify blank, program, error right away. Are these just too old? Anyone have any good tricks? The strange part is that I was having this exact same issue last night, then all of a sudden my 29B programmed 3 in a row just fine... today, nothing. Thanks Jess _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/ _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/ _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
Jess! Just want to add that I've had a few EPROMs which I've had problems with and some of those were programmable with a higher voltage but wouldn't take the original voltage specification. I've only done this as a last resort though, can't hurt to try if you reach that point yourself! :-) Anyway good luck with it! BTW, a (x64) Windows version of PromLink would be awesome but much work I presume unless there are old chip definition/configuration files that comes with the original DOS version which could be used as a base for such a project perhaps. /Martin! -----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Jess Askey Sent: den 28 mars 2018 17:33 To: Technical Tools Mail List <techtoolslist@flippers.com> Subject: Re: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes... Hi Martin.... Thanks for the feedback, that is very helpful for sure. I am blank checking my EPROM's on my USB programmer, the 29B has a cryptic if not completely useless 'pre-burn' blank check (Im using PROMLINK 3.4 BTW because I have a 29B but just a plain UNIPAK and not a UNIPAK2, PL 6.1 doesn't like that combination because the device or family codes are longer I think on the Unipak2) Perhaps I will post my specific challenges with the 29B+UNIPAK on the DataIO mailing list. I may need to just look into a more modern USB programmer which is slightly affordable for doing the bigger EPROM's... Maybe I should have written new Win64 software for the DataIO 29B Promlink rather than the Fluke900 software. 😊 I will go pull datasheets for my EPROM's to verify programming voltages... my USB programmer seems to be non-supported these days... https://secure.transtronics.com/EPROM_Programmer.html Thanks again! Jess -----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Martin Olsson Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 12:39 AM To: Technical Tools Mail List <techtoolslist@flippers.com> Subject: Re: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes... Jess! The "tricks" I have is: Make sure that the window of the EPROMs are thoroughly/perfectly cleaned so the UV light can penetrate properly. Make sure the erasers UV light is good, if you have another UV eraser try that one as well and also set it for a longer time/period. Make sure that you position the EPROMs properly inside the eraser. Make sure that the set voltages are 100% correct for the specific EPROM you're programming and the programming speed and algorithm used as well. If you don't know 100% that you can trust the software of the EPROM burner then take a look at the datasheet for the specific EPROM you're programming. Also, take another EPROM that you have (known good) and just test/isolate with that (if you only have one eraser it's essential that the light is doing the job properly (I know that some EPROMs erase very easily/quickly but the ones you're trying now may be more difficult to erase perhaps?)). I also own a 29B but I don't have much experience working with it. The programmer I use and have used for like 25 years is the All-07 (Hi-Lo Systems), in short, it's very good and reliable but was extremely expensive back in the day. The All-07 is DOS based but the software for it is good and professional and I've yet to come across wrong values of voltages etc. Apart from that I also have a TL-866A (cheap USB programmer) but that is not as reliable and trustworthy as the good old All-07. Regarding the fault you're getting (that it stops immediately when you start the programming) I would say that from my experience that would indicate that the EPROM is not properly erased. Since you have so many EPROMs it's unlikely that they are all defective. Good luck! /Martin! -----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Jess Askey Sent: den 28 mars 2018 07:01 To: Technical Tools Mail List <techtoolslist@flippers.com> Subject: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes... Heya Folks... I have had a need to program a bunch of EPROMs lately (27128 varieties) and Im not sure if there are sunspots or something, but I can't seem to program anything on either my 29B OR my Intronics USB Programmer... I have successfully programmed like 4 EPROMs out of like 40 attempts. My EPROM's are old pulls from either Atari boards or other used ones I have acquired over the years in storage sticks. They are either ST 27128A Fujitsu 27128 SEEQ 27128 TI TMS27C128 Im being fairly careful about the programming voltages and the 29B identifies the IC before programming it. On the 29B I just get an Error #22 Programming Error right away. Sorta the same thing on my Intronics.... Set it up, verify blank, program, error right away. Are these just too old? Anyone have any good tricks? The strange part is that I was having this exact same issue last night, then all of a sudden my 29B programmed 3 in a row just fine... today, nothing. Thanks Jess _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/ _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/ _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/ _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
You might want to verify the voltages actually ON the chip. Old capacitors inside and all... On 3/28/2018 11:33 AM, Jess Askey wrote:
snip
I will go pull datasheets for my EPROM's to verify programming voltages... my USB programmer seems to be non-supported these days... https://secure.transtronics.com/EPROM_Programmer.html
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Jess, I have an EE Tools Top Max and I often have the same problem. What I have noticed (and I could be way wrong here), is I think my cable between my programmer and PC is suspect. It seems like for short/quick things (verify an EPROM is blank, or do a read of an EPROM), it works fine. But for anything longer, something hangs up and the programming effort of that EPROM is screwed up. But then if I have the cable as straight as I can, or just one nice large smooth curve, it will work fine and I can program 20 EPROMs in a row with no problem. But then I bump or move the cable and the programming will abort or hang up. Just sharing my experience. It would seem obvious to me to try a new cable, but as yet, I haven't done that (go figure). Joe -----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Jess Askey Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 12:01 AM To: Technical Tools Mail List Subject: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes... Heya Folks... I have had a need to program a bunch of EPROMs lately (27128 varieties) and Im not sure if there are sunspots or something, but I can't seem to program anything on either my 29B OR my Intronics USB Programmer... I have successfully programmed like 4 EPROMs out of like 40 attempts. My EPROM's are old pulls from either Atari boards or other used ones I have acquired over the years in storage sticks. They are either ST 27128A Fujitsu 27128 SEEQ 27128 TI TMS27C128 Im being fairly careful about the programming voltages and the 29B identifies the IC before programming it. On the 29B I just get an Error #22 Programming Error right away. Sorta the same thing on my Intronics.... Set it up, verify blank, program, error right away. Are these just too old? Anyone have any good tricks? The strange part is that I was having this exact same issue last night, then all of a sudden my 29B programmed 3 in a row just fine... today, nothing. Thanks Jess _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/ --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
Hi, Have you tried smaller Eproms to see if they have they same issue? It could be a number of issues: - Does the 29B use the fast programming method (or similarly named) process for those particular eproms? Or the slow default method? If the former, can you manually change it to use the early slow method to see if the problem persists? - If it supports and uses fast programming, it's worth taking a measurement of VCC to make sure it's increasing it from 5v to 6, 6.25 or 6.5v (depending on the chip) correctly. Some programmers claim to support fast programming, but don't actually increase the VCC voltage as per the datasheet. This still works on eproms in reasonable condition, but on older ones it often doesn't work. If it was a communication problem, I would imagine it would fail in the blank check test sometimes too. Andy On 28 March 2018 at 17:33, Joe Magiera <joemagiera@ameritech.net> wrote:
Jess,
I have an EE Tools Top Max and I often have the same problem. What I have noticed (and I could be way wrong here), is I think my cable between my programmer and PC is suspect. It seems like for short/quick things (verify an EPROM is blank, or do a read of an EPROM), it works fine. But for anything longer, something hangs up and the programming effort of that EPROM is screwed up. But then if I have the cable as straight as I can, or just one nice large smooth curve, it will work fine and I can program 20 EPROMs in a row with no problem. But then I bump or move the cable and the programming will abort or hang up.
Just sharing my experience. It would seem obvious to me to try a new cable, but as yet, I haven't done that (go figure).
Joe
-----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Jess Askey Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 12:01 AM To: Technical Tools Mail List Subject: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes...
Heya Folks...
I have had a need to program a bunch of EPROMs lately (27128 varieties) and Im not sure if there are sunspots or something, but I can't seem to program anything on either my 29B OR my Intronics USB Programmer... I have successfully programmed like 4 EPROMs out of like 40 attempts. My EPROM's are old pulls from either Atari boards or other used ones I have acquired over the years in storage sticks.
They are either
ST 27128A Fujitsu 27128 SEEQ 27128 TI TMS27C128
Im being fairly careful about the programming voltages and the 29B identifies the IC before programming it.
On the 29B I just get an Error #22 Programming Error right away.
Sorta the same thing on my Intronics.... Set it up, verify blank, program, error right away.
Are these just too old? Anyone have any good tricks? The strange part is that I was having this exact same issue last night, then all of a sudden my 29B programmed 3 in a row just fine... today, nothing.
Thanks Jess
_______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
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So, I have this working fairly consistently now... in the end, my 29B with a Unipak2 is pretty solid.... I made the jump to Promlink 6.1 now that Im running DOSbox and things are much more predictable. I can also run at 19.2 Baud which is making the file transfer for these files (32KB) much better albeit, still quite slow. After going through dozens of EPROM, I found that some of mine just wouldn't program at all anymore, they would start and then fail, I could erase them, but they just wouldn't ever program again, so my thoughts are that 1. They were bad to start 2. My other USB programmer fried them by programming them incorrectly, I'm junking this now (Xtronics PPUSB-2), anyone want it? (free) I ended up ordering a TL866 off Ebay for $58 to do my larger EPROM's... the 29B is solid, but the PROMLINK UI is painful enough and the files slow enough, that it will be nice to have two options. The 29B is obviously the best choice for the BIPOLAR PROMs or other oddities. PS - Also, still looking for Unipak2 version 23 Firmware if anyone has those images (two EPROMs)... mine is already at v21, so I won't have any PAL issues! Thanks all! Jess -----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Andy Raven Sent: Monday, April 9, 2018 7:59 AM To: Technical Tools Mail List <techtoolslist@flippers.com> Subject: Re: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes... Hi, Have you tried smaller Eproms to see if they have they same issue? It could be a number of issues: - Does the 29B use the fast programming method (or similarly named) process for those particular eproms? Or the slow default method? If the former, can you manually change it to use the early slow method to see if the problem persists? - If it supports and uses fast programming, it's worth taking a measurement of VCC to make sure it's increasing it from 5v to 6, 6.25 or 6.5v (depending on the chip) correctly. Some programmers claim to support fast programming, but don't actually increase the VCC voltage as per the datasheet. This still works on eproms in reasonable condition, but on older ones it often doesn't work. If it was a communication problem, I would imagine it would fail in the blank check test sometimes too. Andy On 28 March 2018 at 17:33, Joe Magiera <joemagiera@ameritech.net> wrote:
Jess,
I have an EE Tools Top Max and I often have the same problem. What I have noticed (and I could be way wrong here), is I think my cable between my programmer and PC is suspect. It seems like for short/quick things (verify an EPROM is blank, or do a read of an EPROM), it works fine. But for anything longer, something hangs up and the programming effort of that EPROM is screwed up. But then if I have the cable as straight as I can, or just one nice large smooth curve, it will work fine and I can program 20 EPROMs in a row with no problem. But then I bump or move the cable and the programming will abort or hang up.
Just sharing my experience. It would seem obvious to me to try a new cable, but as yet, I haven't done that (go figure).
Joe
-----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Jess Askey Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 12:01 AM To: Technical Tools Mail List Subject: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes...
Heya Folks...
I have had a need to program a bunch of EPROMs lately (27128 varieties) and Im not sure if there are sunspots or something, but I can't seem to program anything on either my 29B OR my Intronics USB Programmer... I have successfully programmed like 4 EPROMs out of like 40 attempts. My EPROM's are old pulls from either Atari boards or other used ones I have acquired over the years in storage sticks.
They are either
ST 27128A Fujitsu 27128 SEEQ 27128 TI TMS27C128
Im being fairly careful about the programming voltages and the 29B identifies the IC before programming it.
On the 29B I just get an Error #22 Programming Error right away.
Sorta the same thing on my Intronics.... Set it up, verify blank, program, error right away.
Are these just too old? Anyone have any good tricks? The strange part is that I was having this exact same issue last night, then all of a sudden my 29B programmed 3 in a row just fine... today, nothing.
Thanks Jess
_______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
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_______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
_______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/ _______________________________________________ Techtoolslist mailing list Techtoolslist@flippers.com https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/techtoolslist FTP site is: ftp://ttl.arcadetech.org/TTL/Test_Equipment Archive site: http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/techtoolslist/
On 2018/04/09 7:09 AM, Jess Askey wrote:
So, I have this working fairly consistently now... in the end, my 29B with a Unipak2 is pretty solid.... I made the jump to Promlink 6.1 now that Im running DOSbox and things are much more predictable. I can also run at 19.2 Baud which is making the file transfer for these files (32KB) much better albeit, still quite slow. After going through dozens of EPROM, I found that some of mine just wouldn't program at all anymore, they would start and then fail, I could erase them, but they just wouldn't ever program again, so my thoughts are that I find that about 10% of older EPROMs are toast, I have a couple of different burners (Xeltek 610P and Data I/O 29B) and they just refuse to reprogram these. Some even refuse to erase...
29B also does 2708s which can be handy. I have a couple of burners (Andromeda Research - reading, or Pro-Log - burning) for 1702s as well, but those are only used in a few games (Zaccaria and ?) so pretty rare to pull those out. John :-#)#
1. They were bad to start 2. My other USB programmer fried them by programming them incorrectly, I'm junking this now (Xtronics PPUSB-2), anyone want it? (free)
I ended up ordering a TL866 off Ebay for $58 to do my larger EPROM's... the 29B is solid, but the PROMLINK UI is painful enough and the files slow enough, that it will be nice to have two options. The 29B is obviously the best choice for the BIPOLAR PROMs or other oddities.
PS - Also, still looking for Unipak2 version 23 Firmware if anyone has those images (two EPROMs)... mine is already at v21, so I won't have any PAL issues!
Thanks all! Jess
-----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Andy Raven Sent: Monday, April 9, 2018 7:59 AM To: Technical Tools Mail List <techtoolslist@flippers.com> Subject: Re: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes...
Hi,
Have you tried smaller Eproms to see if they have they same issue? It could be a number of issues: - Does the 29B use the fast programming method (or similarly named) process for those particular eproms? Or the slow default method? If the former, can you manually change it to use the early slow method to see if the problem persists? - If it supports and uses fast programming, it's worth taking a measurement of VCC to make sure it's increasing it from 5v to 6, 6.25 or 6.5v (depending on the chip) correctly. Some programmers claim to support fast programming, but don't actually increase the VCC voltage as per the datasheet. This still works on eproms in reasonable condition, but on older ones it often doesn't work.
If it was a communication problem, I would imagine it would fail in the blank check test sometimes too.
Andy
On 28 March 2018 at 17:33, Joe Magiera <joemagiera@ameritech.net> wrote:
Jess,
I have an EE Tools Top Max and I often have the same problem. What I have noticed (and I could be way wrong here), is I think my cable between my programmer and PC is suspect. It seems like for short/quick things (verify an EPROM is blank, or do a read of an EPROM), it works fine. But for anything longer, something hangs up and the programming effort of that EPROM is screwed up. But then if I have the cable as straight as I can, or just one nice large smooth curve, it will work fine and I can program 20 EPROMs in a row with no problem. But then I bump or move the cable and the programming will abort or hang up.
Just sharing my experience. It would seem obvious to me to try a new cable, but as yet, I haven't done that (go figure).
Joe
-----Original Message----- From: Techtoolslist [mailto:techtoolslist-bounces@flippers.com] On Behalf Of Jess Askey Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 12:01 AM To: Technical Tools Mail List Subject: [Techtoolslist] EPROM Programming Woes...
Heya Folks...
I have had a need to program a bunch of EPROMs lately (27128 varieties) and Im not sure if there are sunspots or something, but I can't seem to program anything on either my 29B OR my Intronics USB Programmer... I have successfully programmed like 4 EPROMs out of like 40 attempts. My EPROM's are old pulls from either Atari boards or other used ones I have acquired over the years in storage sticks.
They are either
ST 27128A Fujitsu 27128 SEEQ 27128 TI TMS27C128
Im being fairly careful about the programming voltages and the 29B identifies the IC before programming it.
On the 29B I just get an Error #22 Programming Error right away.
Sorta the same thing on my Intronics.... Set it up, verify blank, program, error right away.
Are these just too old? Anyone have any good tricks? The strange part is that I was having this exact same issue last night, then all of a sudden my 29B programmed 3 in a row just fine... today, nothing.
Thanks Jess
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participants (6)
-
Andy Raven -
Dave Riddle (Technical Dept.) -
Jess Askey -
Joe Magiera -
John Robertson -
Martin Olsson