Pocket Programmer III help with burning ROMS

Spyridon

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Anyone have a Pocket Programmer III? I'm having trouble burning some ROMS and Tech support told me to add the extra power jumper. I'm assuming they are referring to the pin 34,35, and 36 jumpers described below?

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If that is correct, which are pins 34, 35, 36 and what do I use as a jumper. A paper clip?
 

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I made up a piggyback pcb with a zif socket and a row of headers that I can slide jumpers on and off as needed.
Is it the 27C256 part your having problems with? You should not need jumpers for that part. In fact, I have never seen a need for jumpers on any parts. I can burn 2532 without jumpers.
I can tell you I have had major issues with my PP lately and recently bought a new willem because I got tired of fighting the PP. Their tech support is crap also. They are quick to blame your problems on bad eproms. He couldnt give me a solid answer when i told him they were NOS and they burn fine with several other programmers. Long story short, I have sent a couple tubes of sample roms to them on two occasions for "testing" and never heard back either time.
FYI, the first time I had an issue it ended up being a bad usb cable. Honestly, I think my current issues are software problems as it will program some type chips no problem and refuses to do a couple types.

I circled the pins that need to be jumpered in the pic. You should really only need jumpers for the older chips if any. All the "C" parts program at much lower voltage.
 
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Is it the 27C256 part your having problems with?


Yes, they are 27C256 (NOS).

Honestly, I think my current issues are software problems as it will program some type chips no problem and refuses to do a couple types.
That's the same issues I'm having. First I couldn't program (or even read) 2764 chips, but was fine with 2716 and 2532 chips. I finally sent it back to them and got a new unit. Now this one won't burn 27512 or 27C256.

One time I got it to work on a 27C256 but nothing since. I'm not having fun! :(
 
I think its a problem with the latest software revision. Although I have flashed the bios back to a real old version that I know worked and it still has issues. Maybe something is getting left behind in the registry, not sure. Mine will no longer do 27C256 either and I used to have zero problems with them. I can tell you, dont waste your time with those jumpers because its not going to solve your problem. I think he is aware of the problem and is stalling until he comes up with a solution.
Willem GQ-4X, best bang for the buck.

"One time I got it to work on a 27C256 but nothing since. I'm not having fun!"
Funny you say that because if I remember right I could burn one 27C256 after reverting back to old software and then none after that. Went back the other way but couldnt reproduce it.
 
Try a USB hub with a plug into the wall 5v power brick. Sometimes the computer just can't source the full 500ma of current that the USB spec allows for.

The old programmer I used to have had a "power" check that would rate the port from 1 to 10 to let you know how much power was coming. The higher the number the better it worked with the older chips.

RJ
 
Try a USB hub with a plug into the wall 5v power brick. Sometimes the computer just can't source the full 500ma of current that the USB spec allows for.

The old programmer I used to have had a "power" check that would rate the port from 1 to 10 to let you know how much power was coming. The higher the number the better it worked with the older chips.

RJ

The programmer itself has its own external power source do it doesnt rely on usb power. Do you think this can still be an issue?
I have had the same issues on three different pc's and also a couple different hubs.
 
Not if it's using external power.

Sounds like a design issue. :(
 
Willem GQ-4X, best bang for the buck.

I'm also getting fed-up with my Pocket Programmer III.....erroneous checksums, adding bad bits into a program, refusal to program some EPROMs, etc.

Does this Willem run in Windows?....does it do 2532s?

Edward
 
I'm also getting fed-up with my Pocket Programmer III.....erroneous checksums, adding bad bits into a program, refusal to program some EPROMs, etc.

Does this Willem run in Windows?....does it do 2532s?

Edward


It does TMS2532 no problem. Im running it on Win XP, not sure if it will do vista.
The only thing I have had a problem with is 2532A. It did a couple of them and havent been able to burn any since. Its making me mad because the 2532A is the main reason I bought it. I have a bunch of NOS 2532 I want to use. Anyways, have a DATA I/O 29B on the way and hope I will be done with buying programmers for a while.
 
Man.... I love my eeTools.com programmers.

I started with a TopMax that I picked up at Fry's for $500 on clearance... Next was the small ChipMax for $50 off of eBay... Then another TopMax new in the box off of eBay for $169 shipped.

I use that TopMax so much I just had to have a backup unit. ;) These things just WORK... (knock on wood)

I'm tempted to sell the ChipMax, but it's tiny so I can carry it with my old laptop and use it on site when checking lots of boards with ROMIdent.
 
I gotta get something new pretty soon. I have a PPII, and it's been great, but I need to burn bigger chips than it will support without an expensive adaptor.

I also arent' thrilled with their customer service. When I asked them about something, they basically said that my parallel port one was junk buy the new USB one.
 
It does TMS2532 no problem. Im running it on Win XP, not sure if it will do vista.
The only thing I have had a problem with is 2532A. It did a couple of them and havent been able to burn any since. Its making me mad because the 2532A is the main reason I bought it. I have a bunch of NOS 2532 I want to use. Anyways, have a DATA I/O 29B on the way and hope I will be done with buying programmers for a while.

I have the GQ-4X and it runs just fine with vista,so far it's a great programmer.
 
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