@Tom_Servo welcome to the forum! You’ll definitely fit in well here, with a collection like that.
As far as EPROM programmers go, there’s lots of available choices, but they fall into only a few categories:
1) high-voltage capable programmers
- these can program 1702 EPROMs and others that require -48V to program
2) traditional parallel port programmers
- these can program almost any device that is present in their databases, but can be cumbersome to use with modern machines, as USB to parallel adapters can’t control these units. they need a real hardware parallel port, as they require real-time control.
- I have one of these, an
Advin Pilot MVP
- they are extremely flexible, but don’t necessarily have all the most recent devices in their databases. Mine has new device updates through 2012.
3) modern hobbyist USB programmers
- there are many of these, often based on the Willem design, or the
TL866
- I have one of these, a quality unit called the
GQ 4x4 By MCUmall
- these can program almost any device that doesn’t need high voltage, or has other special requirements. They can also program modern microcontrollers and logic devices.
4) modern professional USB programmers
- a good example of these is the
Xeltek SuperPro 610P
- these are significantly more expensive than hobbyist programmers but are also more capable, and more to the point, get continuous database updates so that they can always program new devices
- they also have company support to call on, if something goes wrong
For general vintage hobbyist use, I do like my GQ 4x4, if you don’t need high voltage. It’s fairly inexpensive, and fairly flexible. It’s also made by a Canadian company, so I can get some degree of support. It is a Chinese design knocked off from the original Willem design, but it’s capable enough.
You’ll get a _vast_ number of opinions on what is the ”best” programmer.
- Alex