EPROM programming (27c160's)

[Alexandre Souza - Listas]

> I use an old Needham's PB-10 EPROM programmer. Best device programmer 
> ever, as far as I'm concerned. It's fast, reliable, and the software is so 
> nice and easy to use. Only problem - it's old, and doesn't support 16 bit 
> devices. I really need to be able to program 27c160 and 27c322 devices.

    I had one, and it was excellent...15 years ago :)

> So, I built an adapter. I bought a 16bit adapter intended for those cheap 
> and nasty Willem programmers. I made some minor modifications to use it 
> with my Needhams, and added toggle switches for the upper address lines. 
> Now, I can program larger devices in chunks. This worked perfectly for the 
> couple of chips I had at the time - two 27c160's and two 27c800's.

    IF the program algorythm (wow, I forgot how to spell it!) is right for 
the bigger devices! :oO

> On chips with a date code before about 2000, the die is larger, and none 
> of these want to program. On chips with a date code after 2000, the die is 
> smaller, and some of them program perfectly, others get most of the way 
> through before erroring out.

    Had the same problem here in Brazil. To the point I had to specificaly 
ask the supplier the '160 with "4 squares" (the smaller die is divided in 4, 
the bigger in 6). This is **very common** to happen if you don't have a GOOD 
programmer.

    The only  programmer that worked was a Beeprog+ I had access. Now I use 
a Wellon VP-280 (china!) and it works with both kinds of memory, like the 
beeprog.

> Now, I'm stumped. I *really* want to make this programmer program these 
> chips. It does everything else properly, including

    Redo the DOS program? :)

> Basically, I am wondering if any of our resident gurus have seen behavior 
> like this with EPROMs, and if there may be anything I can do to shorten 
> pulses, buffer, or something to get this to program... or, if anyone just 
> *happens* to have the source code to the EMP software laying around 
> somewhere...

    I believe it will be cheaper to buy a new/good programmer. VP280 costs 
less than a hundred bucks and it outperforms anything you can think of in a 
PB-10.

> Failing that, does anyone have a suggestion of an EPROM programmer that I 
> can buy that will program 27c160's. Preferably something that can be 
> operated from DOS over a parallel or serial port, or better yet, an ISA 
> card.

    :o\

    Though question! :o)

    Greetings from Brazil,
    Alexandre Souza, PU1BZZ