Reading PALs

From: Bruce Lane <kyrrin_at_jps.net>
Date: Sun Jun 28 10:53:02 1998

At 15:40 28-06-98 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Though perhaps not strictly on-topic, is there any way to read PALs, short of
>buying a hugely expensive "universal" device programmer?

        <snip>

        None that I'm aware of. The other possible issue is that most PALs have
what's called a 'security' fuse. If that's been popped during programming
(there is an option in most programmers to do so, including my UniSite),
then the PAL's fuse pattern is rendered completely unreadable. All it will
do is function as programmed.

        How many do you have? If you don't mind mailing one or more to me, I'd be
happy to try and read them, and store the map image (if readable -- see
above) on a floppy for you, then send the chips and floppy back to you.

        FWIW, I've seen Data I/O 29 series programmers turn up fairly
inexpensively (around the $100-$150 range) on the used market. I don't know
where you're located, but if you can get hold of a 29B, with the LogicPak
plug-in, you'd be able to read most of the PALs that were used in 'classic'
equipment at least.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
(Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin_at_jps.net)
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
Received on Sun Jun 28 1998 - 10:53:02 BST

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