[dorkbotpdx-blabber] OpenTechSpace list

[Paul Stoffregen]

That certainly looks like a nice eprom programmer, probably nicer than 
the Needhams one I have... and Needhams' website is down, which makes me 
wonder if they're is still in business (and if I have a copy of their 
windows-only software archived somewhere?!)

But really, I'm wondering if anyone really uses eprom programmers 
anymore?  Mine's been collecting dust for years.  Certainly a lot of 
older chips like the original PIC, 8051, HC11, low density PLDs, 
parallel eproms and flash need to be programed on an eprom programmer.  
But those are all pretty old parts and even now the newer versions in 
common use usually have JTAG or proprietary in-circuit programming 
interfaces.  Virtually all programmable chips made nowadays (and for the 
last several years), especially microcontrollers and programmable logic, 
all have ISP.  If fact, many of them support 2 or 3 different ISP 
formats (the AVR, for example, has SPI-based ISP and also debug-wire and 
larger chips have JTAG too).

Maybe there are still modern chips that need such a programmer, but I'm 
just not familiar with them?  The only chips that come to mind are 
parallel flash, but even those nowadays are usually programmed 
in-curcuit via JTAG boundary scan access to the processor or FPGA or 
whatever other chip they're connected to on the board.

So I'd advise carefully considering the budget for an eprom programmer.  
If one is purchased, do be sure to get a reasonable collection of the 
many SMT-to-DIP adaptors.  I have a small collection (also collecting 
dust), some home-made, others purchased.  They quickly add up to as much 
or more than the programmer itself.


-Paul