Are the EPROM Programmers of any use?

[Jossi]

Hi Everyone,
I'm was thinking of burning some Kickstart roms until I saw the cost of the EPROM Programmers plus I'd need an adapter as well.
It turns out my father-in-law has 2 pic programmers that both take 40pins. 1 is a DIY K149 and the other is a PIC Start Plus.
Has anyone used either of these to burn Kickstart roms or is it even possible to do so with them?
I'm guessing we might need an adapter.

Cheers

 

[rimmer]

I use an older, parallel port driven Galep 3 programmer. Cost me 50€ and works out of the box, no converter needed, and the device still has downloadable software

 

[marksealey]

I have a TL866 and Adapter but have not used it for a few years or so....My PiStorm can use .rom files

 

[quantum8]

I bit the bullet and bought a GQ 4x4 and it works great for my use. Alternatively you could get EEPROM based ROMs and program them a bit easier.

I see you're in VIC; you could hit up the guys at Melbourne Amiga User's group, or people in Amiga Brisbane Retro who could burn the ROMs for you if you didn't want to go down the path of buying a programmer.

 

[PRS]

I’m using a very low budget Willem burner, also parallel port driven (no usb to parallel converter).
It works fine to burn kickstart Roms and extended roms for the CDTV. I even burned flash chips to be used on a drop-in replacement for a kickstart.

For all chips you’ll need an adapter though.

But a willem burner will costs new around $ 25,-

 

[Jossi]

Sorry for the late response.
I ended up buying a TL866 II Plus.
Only issue was the unit sent to me was a TL866CS. Seller is dodgy as
Luckily I used PayPal and got my money back.
I couldn't get it to work then noticed the model name on the back. Download the correct software and managed to burn a diag rom and a couple of others but I didn't intend on buying something that outdated without knowing.
@quantum8 I haven't had the chance to get to the local user group. I tend to forget about the meet up until it's too late.
A local retailer sells the GQ-4x4. I may just buy one even though they aren't cheap. My fil and bil are likely to get use out of it as well.
Re: Dodgy programmer seller
I should have gone direct to the manufacturer but at least I got my money back.

I've noticed there seems to be a few dodgy seller in Aus when it comes to retro gear
I stupidly got stung twice. Once in a private sale then again by a retro retailer based in South Australia. In the end it turned out good and has given me 2 projects to work on.

Anyway,
I'm hunting a second hand programmer but may just buy the GQ-4X4.

Thanks everyone.

 

[supaduper]

The GQ 4x4 is a great programmer, make sure you get the adapter that will burn 27Cxxxx eproms, you can normally buy it as a bundle

 

[Hirsch]

I've got a Galep-5 USB programmer. It is very good and as versatile as a Swiss Army knife. It has a 48-pin DIP socket and works with cheap 3rd party adapters which route pins 1:1 from whatever to DIP.

 

[scrappysphinx]

I have a GQ-4x4, TL866, Top3000 and T48 programmers. I use them for kickstart roms and console region free bios such as saturn, dreamcast, mega cd etc. I've had the GQ-4x4 the longest and then upgraded to the T48 but found it couldn't program my flash based kickstart roms so bought the TL866 with adapter to do those. Each one has served me well so far

 

[mkl]

I have a TL866 and Adapter but have not used it for a few years or so....My PiStorm can use .rom files

If you will use it again, you may need to download latest software from autoelectric. The old version software complained because it is so old and refused to work, you could start it but it wouldn't program chips.