I was looking around and saw that a Canadian distributor had really cheap eprom burners available. $30 bucks

http://cgi.ebay.com/AC-DC-USB-.....ZphotoQQcmdZViewItem



It's parallel and not USB but for $30 and being shipped from Canada for $15, it looked like a good unit for personal use.

I know that many of the guys are using the Xtronics PP2 USB, but $249 for hobby use seems prohibitive for most just to have one to play with.

Can anyone comment?

I bought the TOP2004 from this seller a few years ago and I'm very happy with the programmer.  I don't know anything about this Willem programmer though...  Seems like a good deal..

The programmer is only half the problem..  Getting an inexpensive eraser is sometimes difficult..

Mike

Quoted from MrMikeman

I bought the TOP2004 from this seller a few years ago and I'm very happy with the programmer.  I don't know anything about this Willem programmer though...  Seems like a good deal..

The programmer is only half the problem..  Getting an inexpensive eraser is sometimes difficult..

Mike

Well I have (had) one. I loaned it to Menace.....

Hey Doug, you using that eraser lately?

I have a Willem from that vendor and I have never had a problem with it. If you're getting it for hobby use (obviously)  make sure you get the dual-power version. The USB power only version will not have the juice to program the the older chips that require 21 and 25 volts to program. And if you're planning on doing 16-bit chips (1meg or larger), get the adapter at the same time and save yourself some shipping.

James

Quoted from Grauwulf

I have a Willem from that vendor and I have never had a problem with it. If you're getting it for hobby use (obviously)  make sure you get the dual-power version. The USB power only version will not have the juice to program the the older chips that require 21 and 25 volts to program. And if you're planning on doing 16-bit chips (1meg or larger), get the adapter at the same time and save yourself some shipping.

James

Good point. I overlooked the fact the power supply wasn't in the box, and yes you need the various voltages. Is yours this particular parallel model?

I've never used a Willem,
but I have heard of problems if using only USB power.
Definately get the AC adapter if available for that model.

I'll also heard that "some" eprom types are not supported
(...although I don't know if that's true )

One of the important eprom types you'll want are 2532 eproms.

I wrote a small summary on RGVAC awhile back.

http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.video.arcade.collecting/msg/3192413964f3aac9

--

As for UV erasers, sometimes you get lucky on eBay

http://www.spectroline.com/PC-1100A.gif
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260147258082

[ Granted, this is probably WAY bigger than most people need,
but some good deals do come around once in awhile... ]

Cheers,
Steph

Quoted from Steph

One of the important eprom types you'll want are 2532 eproms.

Hmmm. Not on the list of the $30 one. It appears on the USB units list though. $90 for that unit.

http://www.mcumall.com/comersus/store/mcumall_TrueUSBWillemsupportICs.asp

http://cgi.ebay.com/Newest-Gen.....ZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I do have one , it is the dual power one (usb and ACadapter) , i have use it twice only !!!, i have it as a spare unit in case of all my other programmers would fail at the same time  !!!

it is ok for new type eprom\flash eprom  but lack of current drive even for some 2732 !!!!, on some forum you can find mod to upgrade the current drive a bit !!!!

as usual you get what you pay for !!!!

With the actual EPROM chips being $3-8 retail each, then having to buy the programmer, and then the eraser. Plus all the time I would waste trying to program them....

I'll just order them from Steph. Fast service and great prices.  

Dan

Quoted from Bally Boy

I'll just order them from Steph. Fast service and great prices.  

Dan

( NB.  This was an unsollicited plug....   )    

Dan,
...  your freebies are on the way !    


Steph

Quoted from Bally Boy

With the actual EPROM chips being $3-8 retail each, then having to buy the programmer, and then the eraser. Plus all the time I would waste trying to program them....

I'll just order them from Steph. Fast service and great prices.  

Dan

Yeah I'd recommend that too!!  I only bought a burner 'cause I was modyfing the sounds on my WWF and there was a lot of trial and error.

Mike

Quoted from Bally Boy

With the actual EPROM chips being $3-8 retail each, then having to buy the programmer, and then the eraser. Plus all the time I would waste trying to program them....

I'll just order them from Steph. Fast service and great prices.  

Dan

Where is the fun in that though? It's a hobby, you got to try and do things that are going to be cost ineffective.

Quoted from Steph

( NB.  This was an unsollicited plug....   )    

Dan,
...  your freebies are on the way !    


Steph

I'm going to have to second that one as well.  Great guy to deal with.  Thanks Steph, chips work great.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Well I have (had) one. I loaned it to Menace.....

Hey Doug, you using that eraser lately?

  Yes yes, I am the guitly one!  I actually haven't required the use of the eraser for a bit, but it definately helped me out when I needed it.  Let me know when I can drop the eraser off, or we can just wait until we meet next.

And speaking of that Willem programmer, that's the one I bought.  It's programmed all the chips I've thrown at it so far, so no complaints.

D.

Ok since your shamelessly plugging Steph. I am going to have to also plug Dave Astill.

http://stores.ebay.com/pinball-roms

Not only can Dave do a great job at a great price and quick turn around, further he has a genius on hand for the coded work around for WPC-S PIC chips.

Beat that one Steph!

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Ok since your shamelessly plugging Steph. I am going to have to also plug Dave Astill.

Not only can Dave do a great job at a great price and quick turn around, further he has a genius on hand for the coded work around for WPC-S PIC chips.

Beat that one Steph!

Yes, Dave is another stellar eprom resource,
... and he apparently has smarter friends too !    


Steph

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Where is the fun in that though? It's a hobby, you got to try and do things that are going to be cost ineffective.

I think this is one of the best thing said on MAACA so far

Quoted from Steph

Yes, Dave is another stellar eprom resource,
... and he apparently has smarter friends too !    

Steph

Your judged by the company you keep. You might want to start looking for some new friends. On that note this place for the mostpart isn't going to yield you any MIT graduates.

I bought this Willem Enhanced Version last year & before I received it a PP2 came up on
eBay for 110.00 BIN. I did test it & it works fine but it is no where as friendly as the pp2.
If you want it you can have it for 35.00 shipped

Quoted from TANMAN

I bought this Willem Enhanced Version last year & before I received it a PP2 came up on
eBay for 110.00 BIN. I did test it & it works fine but it is no where as friendly as the pp2.
If you want it you can have it for 35.00 shipped

Hey, what the heck, I will give it a shot. What's the worse thing that could happen? It isn't like my games will start to play in German....

Now that's a set of swear roms! or at least it kind of sounds like swearing to my untrained ear.

Quoted from Bally Boy

With the actual EPROM chips being $3-8 retail each, then having to buy the programmer, and then the eraser. Plus all the time I would waste trying to program them....

I'll just order them from Steph. Fast service and great prices.  

Dan

I'm going to out in a plug for Steph as well  ... great price, fast service for my BK2K upgrade ROMs.