In message <3.0.6.32.20040729163620.00934e70_at_pop-server.cfl.rr.com>
"Joe R." <rigdonj_at_cfl.rr.com> wrote:
> >There is nothing wrong with equipment that's no longer in production (in
> >fact I think just about every instrument I use is discontinued), but you
> >can't _depeend_ on a supply of them. I've not seen these units in the UK,
> >for example.
>
> I'm surprised. They're very common here in the US and very popular.
Apparently the ELNEC programmers are very popular in mainland Europe. I'm
guessing the fact that they're "Made in Slovakia" has something to do with
that. Yes I did flip my Preprom over to find that out...
It works, it was cheap, what more could you want? ?165.09 according to the
invoice, with a 3-year warranty. It's heavy considering its size - I guess
the case is pretty thick. I think BK Precision rebadge some of the ELNEC
programmers - they seem to use the same software (PG4U).
The only reason I actually *bought* an EPROM programmer was because I had no
end of trouble getting my DIY programmer working. After three weeks playing
with the hardware and the firmware, I gave up and bought the Preprom. At
least it wasn't as expensive as the programmers Farnell were selling at the
time (Micromaster, Dataman48, Dataman S4, GALEP4, ...)
> >I watch _very_ little TV, and wouldn't bother at all if I had to pay for
> >the license (as opposed to watching my parents' set). UK TV is pretty
> >darn awful....
>
> Same here but we now get enough channels that you can USUALLY find
> something worth watching. The Discovery, Wings and History channels are
> actually coming out with some pretty good stuff.
Stuck with the normal BBC and ITV channels here. ?40 a month is a bit
excessive for what basically amounts to kids channels and imported American
crap. About the only channels I ever watched regularly were the Discovery
channels (and occasionally National Geographic).
Then again, there's always the Internet and friends with video recorders.
> I have nothing against building something like an inovative crystal
> radios (in fact, I'm working on one now) or vaccum tubes but I just don't
> see the point in building a common, readily available and cheap device like
> an EPROM programmer. I build that kind of thing when I was a kid and I just
> don't see that I'd get anything out of building another one.
So far, I reckon I've reinvented the wheel at least a dozen times. I've built
an "Acoustic Probe" from an EPE article, a 198kHz frequency standard to
calibrate my frequency counter and oscilloscope (EPE again) and my homebrew
6502 system. As far as the 6502 system is concerned, I've built:
- 1x 6502 CPU / RAM / ROM card. 32kbyte RAM, 16kbyte ROM.
- 1x RS232 interface with 16C550 UART. Perfect for hooking up to a
terminal. What could be more fun than playing with EhBASIC (one of Lee
Davison's creations, a 6502 BASIC interpreter) on a rainy Sunday
afternoon, playing the original version of "Star Trek"? Actually, that's
not a bad idea...
- 1x Eurocard (DIN41612 Form C, 64W) backplane with ATX power connector.
After building that, I never want to see a sheet of Press-n-Peel again.
Ever. I spent four hours cutting short-circuits with an Xacto and
repairing broken tracks with bits of wiring-pencil wire. Never again.
Next on the list:
- IDE hard drive interface - 80MB.. *drool*
- 40x24 video (Teletext) and I2C
- 6502 bus -> HP analyser interface. Perfect for spying on a misbehaving
computer. I would buy an ICE, but I'm a cheapskate (and none of the
commercially available ICEs seem to support the WDC opcodes).
Of course, this is well off topic since my 6502 computer's oldest component
is the CPU.. which carries a 1999 datecode... [fx: flameproof clothing ON]
Later.
--
Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem_at_dsl.pipex.com | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice,
http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/ | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI
... Hard work never killed anyone but why take a risk?
Received on Thu Jul 29 2004 - 18:04:39 BST