EEPROM burners (was Re: [SunRescue] Bootroms)

[Dave McGuire]

On January 14, James Lockwood wrote:
> >   The vast majority of "external" EPROM programmers available nowadays
> > connect via a PeeCee parallel port...apparently a last-ditch effort to
> > lock firmware development into the PC world.  Programmers with serial
> > ports can be found, but you have to do some serious looking.
> 
> I've never found them to be that rare.  I count at least 3 on Ebay right
> now, and they regularly go for under $100 (an older serial one has a "buy
> now" option for $65).

  For older machines, yes, I agree 100%.  But they'll seldom deal
with larger EPROMs like 27010s and the like.  This conversation
started in the context of duping EPROMs for Sun3/80s, which are
27512s.  I've got about four serial EPROM programmers in my basement
(some of which came from eBay! 8-) ) that don't go that high.

  I'm strictly talking about recent equipment that will deal with
serial EEPROMs, various microcontrollers, PALs, etc etc.  If I need to
burn a 2716 or something, I'll go straight for my old Heathkit ID4801
serial/console programmer.

  We really are arguing the same point, James... :-)

> That said, I built my first programmer out of an S-100 prototyping board
> for an MP/M box.  Still used it as recently as 2 years ago.  If you're at
> all skilled with digital logic they're a snap to build.

  Very cool!  S-100 stuff rocks.


        -Dave McGuire