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From: rstevew@armory.com (Richard Steven Walz)
Subject: Re: EPROM, ser-par-EEPROM, PIC programmer damn near FREE!!
Organization: The Armory
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 1995 13:05:58 GMT
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>In <3ea4sp$jcg@eis.calstate.edu> wmoyes@eis.calstate.edu (William A Moyes)
>writes: 
>>	I am looking for recomendations for a EPROM programer to be used 
>>for PIC 16C5x microcontrolers, and EPROM chips (it is for hobby use).  I 
>>want to get one that is under $200 (I am on a budget), but I want to get 
>>a good one, not one that will break a week after I get it.
-----------------------------------------
A reminder for the home/hobby user: The Microchip Databook '94, has all the
programming algorithms not only for each and every PIC in existence in
section three, but that company also makes EPROM's as well as serial
EEPROMs and parallel EEPROMs, and they ALL have the very simple specs for
programming them yourself!!! Unless a hobbyist is so completely software
bound that they become terrified when doing any hardware, I would think you
could read the book like I have and make all your own programmers for onesy
-twosey stuff! Almost everything takes a pulse generator of the same pulse
length, consider the 74LS123, or doing it with a counter and crystal, and
the only other thing you have to supply is an adjustable and fairly accurate
Vdd source that varies between 4.5 and 5.5 volts, and up to like 6.25 for the
newer finnicky CMOS EPROMs, and then an adjustable supply for the Vpp
programming voltage as well up to about 13.5 volts, (the old ones use the
two old voltages, 21V and 12.5V). The rest of it is knowing what
programming with an address and data line IS, and the ability to read an
idiotically simple flow chart programming algorithm, I mean it's AWFULLY
simple. They wrote it down to the level of trained orangutans, (no offense
to our poor relation, guys, just keep banging the rocks together!) And if
you build up a kind of prototyping board from your parallel port to send
bytes to several 74LS374's for data and address, and use another one for
maybe the control functions, then set the voltages right and wire up some
well labeled function plugs, and write your software in shitty BASIC, and
you've got a working programmer!!! It really IS that simple! I have
programmed a few bytes into serial EEPROMs with a couple toggle switches
and a voltage supply by hand!! It worked fine! They just want you to verify
most of this technology's cells at 4.5 and 5.5 volts now to guarantee the
specified data life, which is nominally on the order of 100 years and
100,000 reprogramms for the EEPROM stuff! And it doesn't even NEED a Vpp!
Most of these devices can be programmed from 0 Hz to 20 MHz!!!! It doesn't
CARE!!! You can flip all the stinking switches on a big piece of PLYWOOD if
you want and accomplish as good a program as a factory made job if you just
follow the recipe! That's all the algorithm is is a simple recipe for each
data byte or word!! Anybody interested in programming ANYTHING and for
FREE??? I've even got the specs for three types of GAL's from four
manufacturers! They're so easy the book makes you wanna puke!! You can
write a GAL program really easy, because you are MAKING a FEW connections
instead of blowing all the REST of them, like in a PAL!!! Just look at the
fuse map and the book and it gets obvious!! Just a thought. Anybody who
wants to do that and work your way up, maybe we should start another group;
sci.electronics.pld.diy (for do it yourself) or .gdi (for goddamned
independents)!! Oh well, probably everybody thinks a programmer will make
them rich, when everyone else is asking for a cheap programmer! Lotsa luck!
The programmer industry is going to be in big trouble soon, because a lot
of newer devices are becoming more and more standard and more algorithm
than pulse generator-voltage supply oriented. Take EEPROM's. Their not
going away soon!!! NOPE! Quartz windows and other than logic level voltages
are!!! Learn how to demand the algorithms and make them sell you their
chips now, or else they'll want to just sell you their software for your
parallel port and a minimal cable next and for a fortune, because they will
know you've got the money you won't be spending on obsolete programmer's
anymore!!! So they'll write a huge software that does all their stuff
virtually the same way AND takes up 13 MB and IT'LL be $700 US!!!!
Suckers.
-Steve Walz   rstevew@armory.com

