Thanks for the review. I'm using the eeTools Tomax and like it a lot as well. I'm currently using it Windows XP but I just noticed in the RUclips link you provided for "Bytek Chipburner Universal programmer a.k.a. TopMax from EETools" someone posted in a comments a method to get it to work with Windows 10. I may try that when I have time. Cheers!
Hi, I made that video. Based on the comments I make my TopMax working under Win10. I am planning to make a video how to do so, havent found time to do so yet 😞
@@jacklick Yea.. I've been doing a lot of repair work and I provide a video of the working equipment. So It was time to at least change the name to match. Somehow it picked up a few subscribers - even though it's really short clips.. Odd - but ok.. :P
I have a dedicated EPROM simulator and for retro games development on poorly emulated platforms, this thing is essential! (also lacking a programmer that can program BPROMs, I looked at the datasheet and built my own programmer for the Harris 7603 of which I had 6, using a 555 and two CD4017s and another simple logic IC. I might have to build one for the 74188 too as I have two of those)
That is awesome. I couldn't think of the term but EPROM Emulator is probably the correct way of describing the optional add-on feature for this unit. I wouldn't even know where to begin to design my own programmer but that is super cool.
@@jacklick So the datasheet says you need a something µS pulse to program a single bit and then the same length of reconvalescence (is that the right word?) time before you can program another and you must not program multiple bits at a time... so I set up a 555 timer to create the pulses of the specified length. Now I need to sequentially go through all 8 bits per byte. What IC which I also have almost a hundred of does that? The CD4017. Unfortunately, after every pulse, it needs to stop a little. That time is the same as for every pulse. So we need 16 outputs. Luckily the internet has a schematic on how to daisy-chain CD4017s. By the way I haven't mentioned the current needed to blow the fuse. But guess what? It's within the specification of what the CD4017 can source. Now all I need is a little bit of logic to get the VCC to 11,5V whenever it's in programming mode. Problem with that design: You can only program one address at a time using a dip switch bank. Luckily there's only 32 addresses to program. Of course you can just use an Arduino and a ULN2804 or something.
@@jacklick You want the circuit diagram? (and yeah, my homebrew programmer sometimes does require to burn a single address multiple times until it takes the data, or you have to run it at 12.5V instead of 12V to work, but hey, I got a Galaxian palette ROM programmed just fine - an original NAMCO Galaxian... running Triple Draw Poker and the palette ROM had the blue channel inverted so +5V during blanking->no blue at all on most monitors and the values made no sense. The ROM wasn't bad, it just had the completely wrong file on it)
I emailed eetools asking for the 4.8 version of maxloader. This is the answer I got: "I am pretty sure that was a typo. Our engineer consolidated everything for Final 4.7 version."
Thanks for the update. Interesting though that they had a 4.9 version and a 5.0 version but skipped 4.8? They also had two versions of 4.8 listed on wayback machine as supporting topmax ( 4.8e and 4.8h I think). unlikely to make the same typo on public website twice.
@@jacklick Hello I was researching about the different models from this device programmer, and I found your video, anyway I just wanted to let you know I have a collection of files from Eetools, I saved over the years. I do have the version ml4.8n saved but I can give you a more interesting news. version ml5.0x and ml5.1o are the lastest that works with TopMax 1. In case you don't find those versions in archive let me know I can send to you if needed.
This programmer is in a very nice condition. I could use another toy to play with:). Please let me know, if it's still available. I've been swamped this year, so not much time for arcade stuff, but hope to do some arcade tinkering next year. Still have to encode and upload a bunch of Omega Race replays to my empty channel first. Where is my free time to do all the fun stuff? lol
@@jacklick Bummer, that thing was in a really nice condition. Yeah, I think I would need 5 lives to do everything I wanted lol. Maybe I should stop looking for "toys" to play with, as I have a limited space here, and start streamlining my hobby workflow hehe. It's better for me to move on and get a modern tester/programmer. I kept it on the backburner, as I wanted this thing to get more mature, but I decided to pull the trigger on the Retro Chip Tester Pro next year. I believe you have one of these as well? I think I saw it in one of your videos. How do you like it? Just watched this new Heathkit video: ruclips.net/video/XvT-Gk3PXw0/видео.html&ab_channel=ArtifactElectronics (more parts coming). He also mentions that his NE EMP-20 starts to fail more and more (sign of bad things to come).
@@Omega_Mark Thanks for the youtube vid link of the heathkit. I will add that to my playlist. I don't have the retro chip tester pro but agree it would be a worthy addition to the tech tool arsenal. I have researched it and might add it down the road.
@@jacklick This is not supposed to be a programmer, but about 7 months ago they added adapters that allow programming of old arcade EPROM chips that require 25V that I need. The project is very active, so they constantly add tons of stuff. There are also links to buy a better LCD screen. You can get OLED in yellow, green or blue, but it costs almost $40. You can add microSD adapter and add CRC database for all the MAME roms, so you can verify everything in one place. Also, they changed the menu and added "back" button in recent firmware update. They are definitely worth supporting. Would be great, if you made a bunch of videos discussing it, building, using and comparing with the old testers/programmers.
@@jacklick Oh, that was added 10 months ago now (time flies): The RCT supports programming of 2564 EPROMs now. Following EPROMs can be programmed (TMS2716 and 2564 require upcoming firmware v.22): - 2708 - 2716 - 2732 - TMS2716 - 2532 - 2564
Are you saying the parallel port programmers have a higher test voltage for ROM, PROM, PAL/GAL chips? What other advantages of using parallel port programmers?
No i didnt say that or mean to insinuate that. It more likely has to do with the era of programmer supporting older chips where newer ones are more likely to sunset support of those chips for newer chips
@@jacklick yes I have notice that new programmer only test new chips part numbers and don't test gal/pal chips very limited library or algorithms. As a tech you have to collect a lot of different programmers because they all use different testing algorithms and have different libraries to test various IC chips part numbers.
@@jacklick for the pulse with modulation or the pulse width of the edit menu for the IC chips in the programmer how do you know what to set the pulse would to and if you do adjust it differently what what is that do to the programming I don't I don't understand what the pulse with does to the programming of the IC chip if it reads it differently you have to have a different post with for the reading and you have to have a different pulse with for the right writing I don't think that all data sheets specify the programming pulse with for the reading and the writing if they have different post wises maybe you could clarify that
Most EPROM data sheets will state the programming algorithm required. I am fairly certain the pulse width is how long VPP is applied to program a cell. It is not used to read the eprom just program. The shorter the time (pulse), the faster a chip can be programmed.
@@jacklick the pulse width duration is to program the eprom chip and the pal chip and the gal chips too right I think the the pulse width is also applied to the pallet chips when programming them and the gout ships I'm not sure I'm not sure if that's in the in the data sheets of the Palo and gal chips also the pulse with programming but the shorter you make the programming a speed of the of the pulse with that kid not that kid cause corruption or data loss so that's why it's best to use the longer pull switcheration so the the bits are being stored into the cells as I believe because some type of glitching and errors might happen if you go too short with the pulse width is that correct?
Thanks for the review. I'm using the eeTools Tomax and like it a lot as well. I'm currently using it Windows XP but I just noticed in the RUclips link you provided for "Bytek Chipburner Universal programmer a.k.a. TopMax from EETools" someone posted in a comments a method to get it to work with Windows 10. I may try that when I have time. Cheers!
I didnt see the windows 10 link. That would be nice. Good luck.
Hi, I made that video. Based on the comments I make my TopMax working under Win10. I am planning to make a video how to do so, havent found time to do so yet 😞
Please link to your vid here when you get around to it. Thanks for your video btw.
Haven't watched yet - but you do love your programmers. I may need to invest at some point so I can do PROMS.. You will be my expert :P
You changed your channel name. Yea I keep my eye out for new ones to test and pass along. I definitely have my favorites at this point.
@@jacklick Yea.. I've been doing a lot of repair work and I provide a video of the working equipment. So It was time to at least change the name to match. Somehow it picked up a few subscribers - even though it's really short clips.. Odd - but ok.. :P
I have a dedicated EPROM simulator and for retro games development on poorly emulated platforms, this thing is essential!
(also lacking a programmer that can program BPROMs, I looked at the datasheet and built my own programmer for the Harris 7603 of which I had 6, using a 555 and two CD4017s and another simple logic IC. I might have to build one for the 74188 too as I have two of those)
That is awesome. I couldn't think of the term but EPROM Emulator is probably the correct way of describing the optional add-on feature for this unit. I wouldn't even know where to begin to design my own programmer but that is super cool.
@@jacklick So the datasheet says you need a something µS pulse to program a single bit and then the same length of reconvalescence (is that the right word?) time before you can program another and you must not program multiple bits at a time... so I set up a 555 timer to create the pulses of the specified length. Now I need to sequentially go through all 8 bits per byte. What IC which I also have almost a hundred of does that? The CD4017. Unfortunately, after every pulse, it needs to stop a little. That time is the same as for every pulse. So we need 16 outputs. Luckily the internet has a schematic on how to daisy-chain CD4017s. By the way I haven't mentioned the current needed to blow the fuse. But guess what? It's within the specification of what the CD4017 can source. Now all I need is a little bit of logic to get the VCC to 11,5V whenever it's in programming mode.
Problem with that design: You can only program one address at a time using a dip switch bank. Luckily there's only 32 addresses to program.
Of course you can just use an Arduino and a ULN2804 or something.
Sounds like my harris chips will stay unprogrammed. Lol. Thanks for the details though.
@@jacklick You want the circuit diagram?
(and yeah, my homebrew programmer sometimes does require to burn a single address multiple times until it takes the data, or you have to run it at 12.5V instead of 12V to work, but hey, I got a Galaxian palette ROM programmed just fine - an original NAMCO Galaxian... running Triple Draw Poker and the palette ROM had the blue channel inverted so +5V during blanking->no blue at all on most monitors and the values made no sense. The ROM wasn't bad, it just had the completely wrong file on it)
I emailed eetools asking for the 4.8 version of maxloader. This is the answer I got:
"I am pretty sure that was a typo. Our engineer consolidated everything for Final 4.7 version."
Thanks for the update. Interesting though that they had a 4.9 version and a 5.0 version but skipped 4.8? They also had two versions of 4.8 listed on wayback machine as supporting topmax ( 4.8e and 4.8h I think). unlikely to make the same typo on public website twice.
@@jacklickI agree, it sounds odd.
@@jacklick Hello I was researching about the different models from this device programmer, and I found your video, anyway I just wanted to let you know I have a collection of files from Eetools, I saved over the years. I do have the version ml4.8n saved but I can give you a more interesting news. version ml5.0x and ml5.1o are the lastest that works with TopMax 1. In case you don't find those versions in archive let me know I can send to you if needed.
This programmer is in a very nice condition. I could use another toy to play with:). Please let me know, if it's still available. I've been swamped this year, so not much time for arcade stuff, but hope to do some arcade tinkering next year. Still have to encode and upload a bunch of Omega Race replays to my empty channel first. Where is my free time to do all the fun stuff? lol
Unfortunately,i listed and sold the programmer already. Time is something we all need more of.
@@jacklick Bummer, that thing was in a really nice condition. Yeah, I think I would need 5 lives to do everything I wanted lol. Maybe I should stop looking for "toys" to play with, as I have a limited space here, and start streamlining my hobby workflow hehe. It's better for me to move on and get a modern tester/programmer. I kept it on the backburner, as I wanted this thing to get more mature, but I decided to pull the trigger on the Retro Chip Tester Pro next year. I believe you have one of these as well? I think I saw it in one of your videos. How do you like it?
Just watched this new Heathkit video: ruclips.net/video/XvT-Gk3PXw0/видео.html&ab_channel=ArtifactElectronics (more parts coming). He also mentions that his NE EMP-20 starts to fail more and more (sign of bad things to come).
@@Omega_Mark Thanks for the youtube vid link of the heathkit. I will add that to my playlist. I don't have the retro chip tester pro but agree it would be a worthy addition to the tech tool arsenal. I have researched it and might add it down the road.
@@jacklick This is not supposed to be a programmer, but about 7 months ago they added adapters that allow programming of old arcade EPROM chips that require 25V that I need. The project is very active, so they constantly add tons of stuff. There are also links to buy a better LCD screen. You can get OLED in yellow, green or blue, but it costs almost $40. You can add microSD adapter and add CRC database for all the MAME roms, so you can verify everything in one place. Also, they changed the menu and added "back" button in recent firmware update. They are definitely worth supporting. Would be great, if you made a bunch of videos discussing it, building, using and comparing with the old testers/programmers.
@@jacklick Oh, that was added 10 months ago now (time flies):
The RCT supports programming of 2564 EPROMs now.
Following EPROMs can be programmed (TMS2716 and 2564 require upcoming firmware v.22):
- 2708
- 2716
- 2732
- TMS2716
- 2532
- 2564
Are you saying the parallel port programmers have a higher test voltage for ROM, PROM, PAL/GAL chips? What other advantages of using parallel port programmers?
No i didnt say that or mean to insinuate that. It more likely has to do with the era of programmer supporting older chips where newer ones are more likely to sunset support of those chips for newer chips
@@jacklick yes I have notice that new programmer only test new chips part numbers and don't test gal/pal chips very limited library or algorithms. As a tech you have to collect a lot of different programmers because they all use different testing algorithms and have different libraries to test various IC chips part numbers.
@@jacklick for the pulse with modulation or the pulse width of the edit menu for the IC chips in the programmer how do you know what to set the pulse would to and if you do adjust it differently what what is that do to the programming I don't I don't understand what the pulse with does to the programming of the IC chip if it reads it differently you have to have a different post with for the reading and you have to have a different pulse with for the right writing I don't think that all data sheets specify the programming pulse with for the reading and the writing if they have different post wises maybe you could clarify that
Most EPROM data sheets will state the programming algorithm required. I am fairly certain the pulse width is how long VPP is applied to program a cell. It is not used to read the eprom just program. The shorter the time (pulse), the faster a chip can be programmed.
@@jacklick the pulse width duration is to program the eprom chip and the pal chip and the gal chips too right I think the the pulse width is also applied to the pallet chips when programming them and the gout ships I'm not sure I'm not sure if that's in the in the data sheets of the Palo and gal chips also the pulse with programming but the shorter you make the programming a speed of the of the pulse with that kid not that kid cause corruption or data loss so that's why it's best to use the longer pull switcheration so the the bits are being stored into the cells as I believe because some type of glitching and errors might happen if you go too short with the pulse width is that correct?
Oh no, you didn't! ;)