Well, after 6 weeks of waiting I got my Futurlec Eprom programmer today. Someone else posted about it a few weeks ago:

www.futurlec.com/EPROMProg.html

The reason it took so long to get to me here in Texas is because it shipped directly from Thailand.

I had to buy an AC-DC power supply for it, so I got a 10v 850mA power adaptor from Radio Shack (273-1614). Be aware that the center tip on the power supply connector should be negative. I had to take the programmer apart to make sure I had the polerity correct. You'll also have to buy one of Radio Shack's Adaptaplug thingies, The "N" model, which is stock number 273-1717. None of the 3 plugs that came with the power adaptor fit.

As far as I can tell, it is exactly the same as the Pocket Programmer. The Windows software that comes with it looks exactly like the Demo software for the Pocket Programmer. In fact you can download the software from here:

www.etteam.com/downloadd.html

Download the "SPEP For Windows" stuff. Half that site is written in Thai, so don't freak out.

Even though the Futurlec site doesn't say this, it looks like it can program all the same proms as the Pocket Programmer (including 29c256), but I've only programmed 27c256 so far.

I used it to download some programs from prom to file and to load programs from file to 27C256's tonight. It worked and was very fast and easy to use.

For $79 plus $16 for the power supply, it wasn't a bad deal. If you're willing to wait 6 weeks.

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1991 Chevy C2500HD 5.7L HD. 16147060 ECM
Mods: Crane PowerMax 2030 cam 204I 214E @ .050 and 423I 446E lift, Jacobs Pro Street Ignition System. Using DataMaster and TunerCat with $85 ECM files.

 

And what do you do for product support?.
There are lots of things that there are knock offs of that look the same on the outside but are vastly different internally. Not saying is the case here, just something to be aware of.
If it is, a PP just hope you get as many chips out of as I have with my PP

 

That's a good point. I doubt I'll get anywhere near the support that Xtronics provides for the PP.

It looks as though the two programmers came from the same Thai factory, which is not uncommon. Many of the different brands of VCR's come out of the same factory. The big difference is in the support you get.