EPROM Programmers

For DIL Chips

EPROM Programmers expect the user to program the actual chip using the supplied Zero insertion force (ZIF) socket.  This means that as long as the EPROM Programmer can program

• A29F040A    - 512K Flash
• AM29F040B - 512K Flash

DIL chips, they can be used.

For 512K/512K Flash RAM Cards

An adapter is required made from the Z88 Extender Card to program Z88 Cards..

It uses the same 32 pin DIL footprint as the 512K Flash devices.

The switch is set to the Right - 512K H

For 1M Flash Cards

The Am29F080 1M Flash chip can be programmed two ways.

Using a 32 pin EPROM Programmer

the Flash card may be programmed twice,

The switch is set to

• the Right - 512 DIL - for the upper half
• the Centre - 512 L -  for the low half

Using a 40 pin EPROM Programmer

If the programmer has it on its list using a TSOP40 adapter with these connections

• using the active signals in the ZIF socket and the additional address line, A19 it can be used.

If all the pins are expected to be connected to the TSOP40 device, it cannot be used.

A small piece of wire or ribbon cable is used to connect the A19 signal to the programmer either to

• a single socket in the ZIF connector or 
• an 8-way header on the Programmer. There are two pins that are marked, the 2nd pin from either end.

If you are using a different programmer, find out where the A19 pin is and connect the wire to that point.

Testing the EPROM Programmer

Use an existing Flash card to read the data and then verify it. If any data errors are encountered

• make sure that the switch is on the correct setting
• all the soldered joints are good

as bad ones will produce errors when testing the card as well as testing your patience.

Broken wires

Unfortunately, just reading and verifying the chip is not a good test where broken wires are concerned

Using the same device to write and then verify the Z88 flash card with a faulty adapter will only reflect the same written data with the read data and will record no errors..

To test the EPROM Programmer's wiring, use the Z88 to blow the image to the Z88 card with either RomCombiner or ROMupdate, (using the .63 .62 files) then compare the same image on that card with the EPROM Programmer (using the .epr or .bin file). That way there will be one device that writes the data and another one to read it. Once this test is successful, verifying the card after writing it with the EPROM Programmer may be used.

GQ-4X EEPROM FLASH CHIP PROGRAMMER

SUPPORTS ALL WILLEM ZIF ADAPTERS

This uses a single USB connection for Power and control. It has a 40 pin ZIF socket which allows it to program the 1M and 512K Flash Cards.

This item works with the 1M and 512K/512K RAM/Flash Cards.

Operating Systems

 8.1 10

Batronix BX32 Batupo II

This uses a single USB connection for Power and control. It has a 32 pin ZIF socket which allows it to program the 512K Flash Cards.

Operating Systems

 8.1 

Willem Universal EPROM Programmer

This was the first programmer to be used. It used two connections to the Desktop computer

• USB for Power
• Parallel Cable from the LPT1 printer port.

Instructions are given for this programmer and can be used as a guide to using other programmers.

Modern computers do no longer support the parallel post.

Alternative programmers have been found.

Operating Systems

 xp

GQ-3X EEPROM FLASH CHIP PROGRAMMER

SUPPORTS ALL WILLEM ZIF ADAPTERS

This uses a single USB connection for Power and control. It has a 40 pin ZIF socket which allows it to program the 1M and 512K Flash Cards. This is a cheaper and older alternative than the GQ-4X above. This has not been tested.

Operating Systems

 7

TL866A UNIVERSAL EEPROM Programmer

This uses a single USB connection for Power and control.

It has a 40 pin ZIF socket which allows it to program the 1M and 512K Flash Cards.

This has not been tested as it tests whether all the pins have been connected.

Operating Systems

 8