Relatively Universal ROM Programmer Makes Retro Tech Hacking Accessible | Hacker News Reader

Relatively Universal ROM Programmer Makes Retro Tech Hacking Accessible

hackaday.com

59 pointsrcarmo7 comments

Extending credit where credit is due, let's not forget the ubiquity of counterfeit 3M Textool ZIF sockets[1] littered across grey markets; an authentic, active production, functionally equivalent 32-pin ZIF socket as depicted in the video will set you back[2] a lot more than $9.

[1] https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b00035241/

[2] https://www.trustedparts.com/en/search/232-1287-00-0602J

Somewhat related is the PicoROM developed by Martin Donlon of MiSTerFPGA fame. "PicoROM an 8-bit ROM emulator in a DIP-32 compatible form factor. It's main use case (the reason I made it) is for rapid iteration when experimenting with arcade hardware. The PicoROM can emulate ROMs up to 2MBit (256Kbytes) in size and speeds of 100ns." Rather that flash an EPROM, you connect via USB to the Pico to upload your code. You can use multiple PicoROMs in a design if need be.

https://github.com/wickerwaka/PicoROM

Nice, I was just building my own board to program classic GALs, PALs, and PLDs. I'll just get this board and contribute code.

I have be hesitating to buy a PROM programmer.

Now I dusted off a couple of old Arduino Unos and a ZIF socket and I will get one of these.

What could I build....?

TL866 are cheap if sourced in China. (e.g. aliexpress)

But annoyingly closed.

The great open source minipro app has to fight the manufacturer and reverse engineer, and then the maker discontinues the 866, and it's replacement is no longer compatible. They only just recently got partial t48 support working after years, and t56 I think not at all yet.

The 866 was a great run for several years but what we really need is an open source 866, not just illegal 866 clones and open source driver software that only works by reverse engineering and luck as long as you can still buy the old hardware.

But you're right that right now it's probably still the most practical programmer is to try to find new old stock, used, or clone tl866 (any variant) while they are still available.

Setting aside the problem of trusting any clone makers to use good components and good pcb design and produce good firmware.

>The great open source minipro app has to fight the manufacturer and reverse engineer, and then the maker discontinues the 866, and it's replacement is no longer compatible.

Ouch. I use the open source minipro with the (non-clone, actual) TL866 I have had for a long time.

It should be possible to design something actually better and open source. I think this story's effort is a decent start. Not quite there, but it can be built on.

Meanwhile, best to get clones and use minipro.

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