Data I/O Unipak2 Prom Help

QuartrArcade

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Didn't realize I even still owned this until I dug it out today. I've never used this before and could use some advice / help. I just thumbed through the instructions online but are they any other good resources on how to use it?

I really just want to use it program Proms. I guess I'm confused by the number of sockets on it for ICs. Which one do I want to use?

Do you normally copy the file from a good Prom to the Unipak's Ram and then put in another Prom or do you put your good Prom and blank prom in at the same time and copy from the good prom directly?

Thanks in advance for any info on this,

Anthony
 
Well I use Promlink under a dos window for XP. You can copy know good proms, or load the prom file from your computer. Once you set the device you are going to burn the Data I/O will light the LED for the socket that it will be using.

The hard part is getting it set up to work with promlink.

As for using it standalone, I've never done that.
 
I have a 29b. I think what your asking is do you copy with a master in one socket and the blank in another socket. Your answer is no it does not work that way.

There 29b Copies the master prom or master EPROM image into it's ram.

You can than copy the image into another prom or EPROM or save the file.

Some issues you might want look out for..
Clearing the memory before reading in the master prom or EPROM.
If your doing 4 bit proms you will get garage reading of the other 4 bits that you are not using.
Make your own serial cable. I have seen a few 29b who serial port were bad due to plugging in the wrong cable. It uses 1488 and the 1489 serial chip and yes you have to practically take it all down to get to those two chips.
The baud select switch is socketed. Using too much pushing forces will tend to make that swtich ride up and not make contact with the pcb.

If you still have an issues you might want to search out Jaunup and ask him about his 29b. He has more practical experience with the 29b.
 
If you have a known good PROM, you can copy it to the Data I/O's RAM and then copy it to a new PROM.

You have to know the family code of the type of PROM you are using. You do that by looking up the IC part number in one of the DATA I/O reference list. I don't have a link handy but I am sure someone has a link to a PDF of one of these lists.

Then with the known good PROM hit COPY+DEVICE+RAM it will ask you for the family code, enter the family code, it will light up the LED on the socket to put the PROM into, then hit START.

Then with the new similar PROM, you hit COPY+RAM+DEVICE enter the family code (if different) and put the new PROM into the socket that has the LED lit.

If you build the cable to use Promlink, it's somewhat similar except you are in a DOS GUI window and you use the drop down menus to perform the selection and program options. It would take a bit more of a writeup since there is some setup the first time you hook up to a PC using promlink.
 
I either copy from a known good chip, use the file from mame or one of my files I dumped from a known good chip. Either way the process is not much different.
If you want to use the unit as a stand alone your going to need the manual on the table while your doing it. It would probably take alot of experience to be able to remember all the commands and which buttons to use. I use a Promlink software and a 29B with UniPak 2B on windows 7. Custom made cable and added a serial port to my pc with an add in card. DO NOT try to use one of those serial to usb adapters, I dont know of anyone who has had any success with them.
Oh, when you run promlink you will select the device type. Next you select which function you want to do such as 'program and verify'. When that function is selected the light next to the socket you need to use will light up. Which socket you use depends on what type of device your working with.
 
Riptor is right about the troubles with USB to serial cables.

Two years ago I wired this up before for a client with an old odd serial protocal..
http://www.ftdichip.com/
Because the client had to have a serial port that worked properly with his USB port. It was not cheap nor easy.
The cheap and easy solution is just getting a real serial card for your pc.
I haven't had much luck with a serial port cards that slides into a laptop.
Ftdi did not have a ready made solution with the chip I needed to at the time.

They might have a solution now that might work.
A quick call or email to thier technical site might give you an answer before you decide to chase down the USB to serial solution.
 
I use my Data I/O for Proms and it works great.

- You need to have the custom serial cable
- You need a computer with a real serial port.

I use my Windows 7 laptop with a serial card in the express card slot. USB adaptors don't seem to work.

I mainly load the RAM of the Data I/O with the MAME files then burn them. The programmer will light up the appropriate chip location to use.
 
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