EEPROM burners (was Re: [SunRescue] Bootroms)

[Chris Powell]

I spent some time recently looking for a decent IC programmer (to burn
programmable logic GALs in addition to EPROMs). I failed to find either
a sensibly priced commercial one with a serial interface (except the
stand-alone programmers) or an electronics project.

I finally plumped for a Xeltek (www.xeltek.com) SuperPro L programmer
which cost me a very reasonable $185 (refurbished). It copes with a
wide variety of ICs - most EPROMs to 27080, GAL programmable logic
etc. It attaches to a printer port. It's not exactly a heavy production
programmer, but it does the job.

I've not been able to get anywhere with getting programming information
from Xeltek to use the programmer on my Sun (so I have to use it with
a PC - yuk!).

One problem writing programming software for a Sun is that some of the
programming algorithms (particularly the programmable logic) are
proprietary and you need an NDA to get them from the chip manufacturer.

Also sort of on this topic, anyone in the UK come across a cheap supply
of used EPROMs (27C010 and above), EEPROM and GALs?


Chris.