EPROM Programmer/Copier Advice?

Hi all, I am new to this forum--I collect and sometimes repair vintage synthesizers, mostly analog, but some digital ones with EPROMS and am currently looking for a EPROM copier (standalone) to copy old (ranging from about 1982-1995, old in computer years) EPROMS of synthesizers that have become obsolete. I know very little about EPROMS/Programmers and their use.

I need it to be standalone (I have a mac, no PC), simple to use and be able to handle many different types of EPROMS from that era.

I see many different units out there but I am unsure if they will be able copy all the EPROMS that I come across. As far as what types, well for example one type I have recently replaced is a 27C256, but there are others which I don't know ahead of time..

I've looked at a couple units around $700-$1000, it seems like one has to spend this much for a standalone unit that covers many different types of chips. Needless to say it's a lot of dough for a basic device like this.

Here are a couple I am looking at:

http://www.logicaldevices.com/Products/chipkopier.htm

http://www.xeltek.com/SuperPro-501S-product-17207

I am wondering if you all have any suggestions or experience with these types of units?

It's still far cheaper, IMOHO, to pick up a junker PC and get something like a Genius 540 programmer--and you can do far more with a PC attached than relying on the limited intelligence of a standalone unit.

Thanks for you comments. That is true, it would be a lot cheaper to use a PC, and cost is surely a factor. I have also thought about the possibility of running a virtual PC app like VMWare on my mac (but I'm not sure that would work.)

The things I am most concerned about however are reliability, and minimal possibility of user error; I really need a unit that will be as reliable as possible. Reading about this and some other USB devices gets me a little worried as I read about people struggling with them, and given my limited knowledge and confidence in this realm I am most likely to become one of them. Still, it is tempting to try it out given the cost.

Well, UVEPROMs are pretty much "old technology", so you may be best off looking for a used model, such as a Data I/O. That being said, I still use a 20-year old parallel-port programmer for my EPROM work and have had no problems with it at all.

Vintage EPROMs aren't all that "plug and play", particularly in the 2764 era and earlier. There was no "Silicon Signature" for automatic identification and manufacturers had varying programming voltages and algorithms.

Sinewave said:

...am currently looking for a EPROM copier (standalone) to copy old EPROMS of synthesizers that have become obsolete.

Click to expand...

Note that even a 'stand-alone' unit needs to be hooked up to a PC to download binary images of EPROM data when a working master EPROM is not available.

I bought myself one of these a couple of years ago for christmas. Best present I've gotten in years.

http://www.mcumall.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4312

Handles tons of devices and works with 64bit windows.

Over the years I've collected old computers and arcade games, and dabbled using pics and avrs, and this programmer handles 99% of what I need one to do. I used to borrow a parallel programmer from a friend, and had to keep an old machine handy to run it, but with this thing I've used it with xp laptops, and my main work and home machines running windows 7 64bit.

27c512 only takes a few seconds to program.

Later,
dabone

Dabone, it looks interesting, but it essentially is a Willem-based design.

I got the Genius because it supports programming bipolar GALs. I'd be happier if it also supported programming TTL fuse-link PROMs also, but no such luck.

I wonder if anyone's put an SMT Flash PROM on a DIP adapter and included a JTAG header as a replacement for the 27xxx EPROMs...

dabone said:

I bought myself one of these a couple of years ago for christmas. Best present I've gotten in years.

http://www.mcumall.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4312

Handles tons of devices and works with 64bit windows.

Over the years I've collected old computers and arcade games, and dabbled using pics and avrs, and this programmer handles 99% of what I need one to do. I used to borrow a parallel programmer from a friend, and had to keep an old machine handy to run it, but with this thing I've used it with xp laptops, and my main work and home machines running windows 7 64bit.

27c512 only takes a few seconds to program.

Later,
dabone

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Thanks Chuck, dabone, dave.

dabone--one thing I like about the one you mention here is that there is a good support forum on the retailer's site.

The more I read about this stuff, and given recommendations here for PC based over standalone.. Getting a PC is looking like a better solution. The software doesn't look too complicated. I was looking on ebay at used PCs, 10 inch netbooks for like $150 (looking at Asus Eee PC 1000HD); I didn't realize how cheap I could get one.. Coming from mac of course so any PC seems cheap in comparison.

I know these units are bus powered--do you recommend using an AC adapter; do the power requirements of some EPROMS exceed USB bus power limits?

If the burn writes bad data, will the software verification process reveal that? 100% of the time?

I see other 1 socket USB units on that site that are a lot more expensive--do they just burn a wider variety of /esoteric devices?

And one other question, if you don't mind, sorry I am new to all of this, thanks for everybody's help so far--is there any reason for me not to get a laptop with Windows 7 starter? (MCUMall says the GQUSBprog software supports Win 7 32bit so I think its ok) It will be cheaper, and the only thing I will be using it for is running software to program EPROMS. Seems ok but I have not very familiar with PCs.

You can probably pick up a P3-based PC as curbside recycling or through your local Craigslist for next to nothing. They don't really make good XP-and-greater systems, but they'll run Win2K or Win98SE just fine and should be fine for most programmers.

I'd stick with the external power supply for the reason you mentioned.

Sinewave said:

If the burn writes bad data, will the software verification process reveal that? 100% of the time?

Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with the unit Dabone referenced, but most EPROM programmers will load their RAM from a 'golden unit' EPROM (or transfer a file from a PC), then you place a blank EPROM into the unit and copy (program) the RAM contents to the EPROM. There is usually a verify mode where the EPROM data is compared to RAM as a check. There is also a sumcheck calculated for reference.