harper@convex.com (David Harper) (02/01/90)
In article <467@phcoms.seri.philips.nl> techwrit@phcoms.seri.philips.nl (SERI Tech Writer) writes: >We are looking for an EPROM Programmer capable of copying to 8 >512 Kbit EPROMS at one time. > >Does anyone have any recommendations for a cheap programmer that can do >this? > >We have some information from a company called Needham's Electronics in >Sacremento. They have a thing called the SA-20 for $750 which seems to >do the things we want. Does anyone know anything about the company and >the programmer. Any info would be welcome. > >Thanks. > >-- >Mike Casey, Philips Components, Building BC136, Eindhoven, The Netherlands >Tel: +31-40-723159 Fax: +31-40-723846 >UUCP: ..!hp4nl!phcoms!techwrit techwrit@phcoms.seri.philips.nl Can't help you with Needham's but there are several other companys that you might take a look at. The ones described below manufacture/distribute a 'universal' programmer. What this means is that rather than being a dedicated (ie: hardwired) EPROM programmer or PAL programmer, etc., they are a 'pin' programmer. Each pin is basically controlled by a Digital to Analog converter and software drives the DAC to perform the necessary programming algorithm. The big advantage to this type of approach is that when new devices come out it is pretty much just a software effort to upgrade the programmer to handle them. About the only thing that can obsolete this approach is a change in device package styles. Most of the programmers come equiped with with a 40 pin DIP socket and can program anything in a DIP package up to 40 pins. All of the ones described below use a PC (or compatible) as a host. 1) JDR Microelectronics 110 Knowles Drive Los Gatos, CA 95030 (800) 538-5000 JDR distributes the MUP universal programmer ($499.99) which requires a host adaptor card ($29.95). Not a bad little programmer - I personally own one and have been fairly happy with it. The library of devices is somewhat limited (it does not do some of the devices I would like) but the Taiwaneese company that makes it does issue periodic updates. The host adaptor card generates the high voltage programming voltage and runs *very* hot - I added an extra fan to my PC and directed the air flow directly to this card. My biggest gripe is that JDR simply distributes the thing and I can't get through them to the manufacturer and thus cannot find out enough about the thing to perhaps be able to create my own device library. One nice additional thing it does is to test 74XX type devices and some memory devices. 2) XELTEK 473 Sapena Ct. #26 Santa Clara, CA 95054 (800) 541-1975 Do not know anything about this company - I simply saw the add in the back of EDN magazine. They have a universal programmer for $585 (U.S. only). It also will test TTL/CMOS/DRAM/SRAM. 3) B&C Microsystems, Inc 355 West Olive Ave, Sunnyvale CA 94086 Again, I know nothing about this company - I saw their add in EDN also. Their programmer starts at $595 and includes one device library. Additional librarys are $95. One nice thing in the ad - library updates can be received either on floppy or through a Customer Support BBS. 4) Jameco Electronics 1355 Shoreway Road, Belmont CA 94002 (415) 592-8097 They have an ad in EDN for a JE680 Universal Programmer for $1799.95. I know nothing about the programmer, however, I have been dealing with this company for about 15 years and have always been quite happy with them. The ad says that an 80 page catalog of supported devices is available upon request. The ad also says that the programmer is capable of standalone operation, as well as, being connected to the PC through either serial or parallel ports. 5) Logical Devices, Inc. 1201 N.W. 65th Place Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 (305) 974-0967 I used the ALLPRO programmer at a previous job and was very happy with it. It supports just about every device I've ever seen and the folks at Logical are great to work with. The only drawback I can think of is that the unit is a little pricey - about $5K for the full blown unit which puts it out of the range (for me at least) of a personal programmer. The thing is built like a tank and will probably out last the PC it's connected to, as well as, most of the devices it programs. For anything other than home use this is the one I would recommend. Dave Harper - Convex Computer Corp. E-mail address: 3000 Waterview Pky. Richardson, TX 75081 harper@convex.COM (214) 497-4525 (W) (214) 727-4206 (H)