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Recommendations for EPROM programmers with an RS-232 interface

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Stanton

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I'm thinking about "burning" some new EPROMs for my GridLite, but I would need something with an (old) serial interface...because the ROMBUILD program only runs on my Grid (won't run in a DOS command prompt on my Windows PC). I used (expensive) Data I/O programmers back in the day (like 30+ years ago), but I'm thinking there must be something "cheap" to program single chips these days (except they probably have a USB interface).
 
If you were interested in buying a genuine Retro programmer with software which can run under modern Windows, using a USB to serial interface lead, consider finding an old STAG with an RS232 interface.

Some beautiful person has packaged the original DOS software for them in a Windows 'wrapper' which allows the original software to run under Windows and use a USB to RS232 interface lead for the connection to the programmer. I know someone who uses a STAG PP39 that way, but you would need to look at the software I mention and make sure it covered whichever STAG model you had in mind.

Another approach you might consider is to use pin-for-pin EEPROM (28C or 27E) equivalents of the EPROMs you have in mind because there are various ways of programming those, including with an Arduino.
 
I'm not sure what rombuild is, or if it has special requirements for serial eprom programmers, but I'm pretty happy with my BP Microsystems EP-1. It's serial, but all self contained, so you don't even really need the software, you can just use a terminal and xmodem to transfer the files. They routinely come up on ebay for less than $100.

There are newer programmers from the same company, but I think even the ones that user "vintage" ports, like a parallel port, still require special software.
 
Stanton said:
I'm thinking about "burning" some new EPROMs for my GridLite, but I would need something with an (old) serial interface...because the ROMBUILD program only runs on my Grid (won't run in a DOS command prompt on my Windows PC). I used (expensive) Data I/O programmers back in the day (like 30+ years ago), but I'm thinking there must be something "cheap" to program single chips these days (except they probably have a USB interface).
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Why not transfer the Intel hex file created by ROMBUILD to a PC, and use the PC to burn the EPROM using any of the many inexpensive USB interface programmers currently available.

Serial interface EPROM programmers are no longer easy to find. I have not seen the BP Microsystems EP-1 (described above) on eBay for many months. Those expensive Data I/O programmers are also no longer easy to find, and because they are still very useful they are still expensive. Many vintage EPROM programmers used a parallel interface (which won't help you) and as you pointed out all "modern" programmers have a USB interface. There is one exception, which is the "build it yourself" ME27000 orphan EPROM programmer which requires nothing more than a serial terminal to communicate with it and transfer files - the board is sold by VCF forum member "mfeberhard".
 
I haven't seen an EPROM programmer in decades that can't "burn" from binary, intel hex, S1-S9 and many others.
Serial hasn't been needed for a long while.
 
jlang said:
I haven't seen an EPROM programmer in decades that can't "burn" from binary, intel hex, S1-S9 and many others.
Serial hasn't been needed for a long while.
Click to expand...
We are referring to the interface between the EPROM programming device and the computer used to control and send/receive programming data to/from the programming device. That interface is independent of the programming data file formats you are referring to.
 
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The HEX files from rombuild work just fine with my almost vintage TL866a which has USB interface and supports all possible EPROM chips. And should work with modern cheap xgecu. Much simpler and easier to use.
Also, I use 128KB ATMEL flash for my ROMs, no need to mess with UV erasers.
 
0xDEADBEEF said:
The HEX files from rombuild work just fine with my almost vintage TL866a which has USB interface and supports all possible EPROM chips. And should work with modern cheap xgecu. Much simpler and easier to use.
Also, I use 128KB ATMEL flash for my ROMs, no need to mess with UV erasers.
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Good to know! I still have some (old) 27C010 chips I can use, but I have thought about alternatives (now that they are so cheap).
 
hmb said:
Why not transfer the Intel hex file created by ROMBUILD to a PC, and use the PC to burn the EPROM using any of the many inexpensive USB interface programmers currently available.
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Excellent point, and one that I can consider now that I can transfer files between my Grid<->PC.
 
all this talk here made me click buy it now on digelec 824 that popped on ebay today. curse you guys ;-)
 
the one i bought seems to have serial port and what it seems you upload files using xmodem protocol using serial terminal
 
0xDEADBEEF said:
all this talk here made me click buy it now on digelec 824 that popped on ebay today. curse you guys ;-)
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That Digelec 824 looks to be a pretty good solution if you require a serial-interface EPROM programmer. With the standard programming pak yours came with, it seems to support all the common EPROMs from the 2716 up to the 27C1024.
 
Hello! Are you using "71_Rombuild.exe" from RuGRID yahoo group to make EPROM images for GRiD? I think that I can write C equivalent for that utility for use with modern computers.
 
yes, that is what i use.
i am considering writing something like that in Rust because I need to learn Rust.
It would need to embed some GRiD boot sectors I think.
BTW, 1520 support has been merged into 86Box so you can always boot up bios and grid dos 3.3 in 86box and do everything there.
 
If you have a parallel port on that Grid, I've gotten good service out of my Chipmaster 6000 (not 6000U) and Needhams EMP-20 (as long a you have the right silly programming simms). They periodically show up on ebay for reasonable-not-cheap.
 
0xDEADBEEF said:
yes, that is what i use.
i am considering writing something like that in Rust because I need to learn Rust.
It would need to embed some GRiD boot sectors I think.
BTW, 1520 support has been merged into 86Box so you can always boot up bios and grid dos 3.3 in 86box and do everything there.
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According to GRiD EPROM programming document from in yahoo group, there are 256 byte "header" at the end in EPROM. I want to call it footer :-D . Can somebody share working EPROM images/dumps so I can research contents and try to write my own C program for EPROM image generation/packing.
 

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JDat said:
According to GRiD EPROM programming document from in yahoo group, there are 256 byte "header" at the end in EPROM. I want to call it footer :-D . Can somebody share working EPROM images/dumps so I can research contents and try to write my own C program for EPROM image generation/packing.
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Just look into the romable dos thread, I posted several there. they are all bootable as well. I have few more, and some are available on archives of yahoo rugrid, ari services and so on.
Ping me on private messages if you need more.
 
JDat said:
Hello! Are you using "71_Rombuild.exe" from RuGRID yahoo group to make EPROM images for GRiD? I think that I can write C equivalent for that utility for use with modern computers.
Click to expand...
No: I'm using the (original) Grid "Rombuild.exe" that runs under DOS. However, I might checkout that RuGRID program.
I'm finding that a lot of the old (serial) EPROM programmers that show up on eBay do not support the 1M version (27C010), and some don't even support the 512k version. :mad:
 
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