[time-nuts] OT favorite chip programmer/favorite ROM emulator

Chuck Harris cfharris at erols.com
Fri Apr 10 12:36:20 UTC 2009



Mark Sims wrote:
> By far the best programmer on the planet is still the Data I/O Unisite (followed by the 3980, 3900, and 2900
> prorgrammers).  If a Unisite can't program it,  you are in bad shape... it probably can't be programmed.

That is really kind of a silly statement.  Data I/O is known as the
cadillac of programmers, but mostly because of its high price.

Advin makes a programmer that will program everything the Data I/O will,
using the same algorithms, for 1/10th the price.  Further all of their
software is available on their website for free download.

Their intro model has 44 drivers, and will program devices up to 128
pins.  Their top of the line model has 128 drivers and will program
devices up to 304 pins... costs $3295.

Used Advin programmers are a mixed bag.  When the 3.3V devices came out,
the voltage references on the pin driver DAC's got changed, so that obsoleted
them for 3.3V devices.  However, the software for every machine they ever
made is available on their website.  Also, their programmers use the
host computer for much of the programmer's power, and there is an issue
with some of the earlier machines and too fast PC's, so there might be
a need to buy an older throttled down PC to host your Advin programmer.

-Chuck Harris
> 
> Bad news is a refurbed Unisite will set you back $25,000 plus the cost of socket adapters and software.  Good news is
> with a little shopping around on Ebay,  you can possibly snag one for around $100.
> 
> The trick is to find one with the socket adapters you need.  Also the more pin driver cards it has installed, the
> better (a full load is 17 cards/68 pin drivers).  Also,  one with the internal hard drive (aka MSM,  aka Mass Storage
> Module) is very desirable.  Booting from a (720Kb only) floppy can take several minutes.
> 
> I have purchased several machines just because they had an adapter that I did not have.  Also you need to make sure
> it comes with a full set of programming software (generally,  the later the version better) because a current
> software set from DIO will set you back over $2000...
> 
> For more info,  check out Bruce Lane's guide to DIO machines on Ebay: 
> http://reviews.ebay.com/Data-I-O-Device-Programmers-A-Condensed-Reference_W0QQugidZ10000000001698682?ssPageName=BUYGD:CAT:-1:SEARCH:3
>  ----------------------------------------
> 
> 
> _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail®: Get quick friend updates right
> in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates1_042009 
> _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
> 



More information about the time-nuts mailing list