Mini Review TL866 Programmer
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 1:33 pm
Up until recently I've been using a Willem PCB3 clone eprom programmer, but finally decided I needed to upgrade.
The PCB3 uses an LPT port plus a separate power supply and needs a bunch of hacks to get it to talk to win7, but mainly I was sick of having to flip DIP switches and move jumpers every time I changed chips.
After a bit of research, I ended up with a TL866 Mini Programmer for roughly $70 delivered, including a bunch of adapters for PLCC, ZIF SOIC etc.
I couldn't find much discussion on this forum about these programmers, so I'm posting my thoughts on them.
There's two models available - the TL866CS and the TL866A. The A includes ICSP support, the CS does not. Apart from the unpopulated ICSP header, the only difference is the firmware (and price).
The software and firmware are being actively improved, with more chips supported with each release. There's something like 14,000 supported chips claimed, but they count every variation of a chip so in reality there's a lot less.
This is what $70 will get you from any one of the ebay sellers who stock them:
A lot of the smarts is done in firmware, so when you first install the program and connect the programmer you'll probably be prompted to update the firmware. And don't bother installing the windows program from the supplied CD, it will be a few versions behind so better to download the latest version from the start.
It doesn't need external power, just a single USB cable.
The GUI is pretty reasonable, but a few minor complaints. First, when you click "read" it opens a window with a few options, and two buttons - "read" and "cancel". Click read to read, but once that's complete you then have to click cancel to close the window. This is a common theme across the program, and a little annoying but not a huge issue.
My second gripe is that it IDs the chip prior to a read, and if you've selected the wrong variation of a chip it fails with an incorrect ID. It shows the ID bytes and you can then consult google to work out exactly what chip you have, but it would be handy if the program said "chip type xxxxxx detected". You can also skip the ID check, but still....
This is the interface - it has all the features you'd expect like read, blank/blank check, verify, pattern fill, file and buffer offset, serial number increment, auto-ID serial flash etc. It can also program a variety of Atmel and PIC MCUs, and test 4000 and 74 series logic ICs.
So I threw every ROM I could find at this thing, ranging from 93xx and 24/25xx serial eeproms, 27/28/29/49 series DIP and PLCC flash, old eproms from 64k to 4mbit, and every NVSRAM I could track down.
The only chip that it didn't support was the infamous CAT2444 from the VN Level 3 clusters but I wasn't expecting it to.
2020 update: the 2444 16 bit serial NVRAM is now supported!
I also tested my collection of dead DS1245s and it managed to program two of them. One failed to verify an hour or so later, but the other one is still going. I'd suspected the PCB3 might not have been doing a very good job with the NVRAMs.
One very surprising thing I found - this chip below still works perfectly. I pulled it from a decommissioned medical robot 5 years ago, but check the date code - they don't make 'em like that anymore
Oh - and the CS vs A thing... there's a easy to use tool available that 'upgrades' a CS device to an A model, so you then just need to solder the ICSP header on and you're away.
My verdict so far: Great little programmer for the money, pocket sized so perfect for taking to the track.
The GUI is easy enough to navigate, the device is fast at reading and writing, and supports all the chips we commonly use.
The PCB3 uses an LPT port plus a separate power supply and needs a bunch of hacks to get it to talk to win7, but mainly I was sick of having to flip DIP switches and move jumpers every time I changed chips.
After a bit of research, I ended up with a TL866 Mini Programmer for roughly $70 delivered, including a bunch of adapters for PLCC, ZIF SOIC etc.
I couldn't find much discussion on this forum about these programmers, so I'm posting my thoughts on them.
There's two models available - the TL866CS and the TL866A. The A includes ICSP support, the CS does not. Apart from the unpopulated ICSP header, the only difference is the firmware (and price).
The software and firmware are being actively improved, with more chips supported with each release. There's something like 14,000 supported chips claimed, but they count every variation of a chip so in reality there's a lot less.
This is what $70 will get you from any one of the ebay sellers who stock them:
- TL866.jpg (66.6 KiB) Viewed 30557 times
It doesn't need external power, just a single USB cable.
The GUI is pretty reasonable, but a few minor complaints. First, when you click "read" it opens a window with a few options, and two buttons - "read" and "cancel". Click read to read, but once that's complete you then have to click cancel to close the window. This is a common theme across the program, and a little annoying but not a huge issue.
My second gripe is that it IDs the chip prior to a read, and if you've selected the wrong variation of a chip it fails with an incorrect ID. It shows the ID bytes and you can then consult google to work out exactly what chip you have, but it would be handy if the program said "chip type xxxxxx detected". You can also skip the ID check, but still....
This is the interface - it has all the features you'd expect like read, blank/blank check, verify, pattern fill, file and buffer offset, serial number increment, auto-ID serial flash etc. It can also program a variety of Atmel and PIC MCUs, and test 4000 and 74 series logic ICs.
- TL866_sw.jpg (237.06 KiB) Viewed 30557 times
The only chip that it didn't support was the infamous CAT2444 from the VN Level 3 clusters but I wasn't expecting it to.
2020 update: the 2444 16 bit serial NVRAM is now supported!
I also tested my collection of dead DS1245s and it managed to program two of them. One failed to verify an hour or so later, but the other one is still going. I'd suspected the PCB3 might not have been doing a very good job with the NVRAMs.
One very surprising thing I found - this chip below still works perfectly. I pulled it from a decommissioned medical robot 5 years ago, but check the date code - they don't make 'em like that anymore
- DS1230.jpg (44.69 KiB) Viewed 30557 times
Oh - and the CS vs A thing... there's a easy to use tool available that 'upgrades' a CS device to an A model, so you then just need to solder the ICSP header on and you're away.
My verdict so far: Great little programmer for the money, pocket sized so perfect for taking to the track.
The GUI is easy enough to navigate, the device is fast at reading and writing, and supports all the chips we commonly use.
