Hi all,
Would a Needhams EMP-10 or PB-10 also work for the 29C256? I may have misunderstood, but I got the impression that some modifications were needed with the Needhams, that were not required with the Pocket Programmer.

Thanks!!

 

I cannot answer about those programmers, but you definitely can use the Pocket Programmer with the AT29C256.

 

Thanks for your reply Glenn!

I think that this flash capability for the older PCM's will prove to be a very significant step forward. If it is just a glich in the Pocket Programmer's windows software that is causing the incompatiblity with this chip, I would be very suprised / disappointed if it were not fixed very soon. I guess until then, the DOS software will just have to do.

 

You may wish to read the post by the people from Xtronics regarding using the AT29C256. I cannot comment on the Windows verison because I use FILEPROM.EXE and I find it works very reliably with the AT29C256.

I have an older laptop dedicated for PROM burning and Diacom. So I have no need for Windows on it. The DOS based system works very well for me. The only "glitch" I found was that I had to initialize my AT29C256 with Hex FFs and then write the BIN on it.

Others don't seem to have this problem so it may well be my old laptop. It takes only 15 seconds to initialize the AT29C256 with Hex FFs and then another 15 seconds to write the BIN, so this isn't a big deal for me. It sure beats having to wait for my UV Eraser and I love the fact that the AT29C256 can be reprogrammed hundreds (if not thousands) of times.

 

Hmm.. I know we were programming 256Kbit EEPROMs on the PB-10 a few semesters ago at school.. Can't remember if it was the 29C256 or maybe something else like a 28C256. I'll see if I can dig up the datasheet on the chip we were using. The Needham's website doesn't have the 29C256 on their list for the PB10, so who knows..