Re: GLB (Eprom, Prom and Diode Matrix IDer's)
> >Can anyone burn a 2716 Prom chip for a GLB ID-1 Ide'er? > >Not a standard hex file. have some docs. > Actually it's is a standard hex file. It's just created > a bit weirdly. There seems to be two different themes followed by a number of Eprom ID units. One method is what below is interestingly called the bit stream method and the other is more of a programming table look-up method. The former seems to be much more common for the popular Eprom Models/Brands. > The binary pattern in it contains the call sign as a 1-bit stream. > You could have multiple call signs as data bit 0 was one call > sign, data bit 1 was another, data bit 2 was a third, etc. > > I forget if a "1" programmed bit was tone off or tone on, but > location 0 had to be programmed with the tone off. > > Just read the old chip, map the bits on a piece of graph paper, > and it will all fall into place. In most cases the pattern will thankfully fall into place. > Just map out what you want as a new call sign (or several > call signs) as a string of bits, then map them as two digit > hex characters, then program the PROM accordingly. If he/you can't find a programming source, I and a number of other group members can do it easily enough. > While Hex Workshop makes it a lot easier, I've used Notepad > to do the editing and the calculator in windows (in Scientific mode) > to do the binary to hex (and back) conversions. > Hex Workshiop is available at <http://www.bpsoft.com> Hex Workshop is very nice... > I've only seen one of these IDers, and it was wired with a > couple of extra mods... > 1) it had a 5vDC wall wart transformer so that if the AC > power failed it would change from one call sign to another > that had a trailing "/DC" at the end of the ID sequence > 2) the switch on the rack door changed the ID to a > trailing "/DO". There are "address tricks" to change the message when something happens. Easy enough to do in Eprom, Prom and Diode Matrix ID boards. > When you come right down to it, the GLB IDer was a good > product 20-25 years ago, but a $20 ID-O-Matic kit that you > can program with a computer serial port is a helluva lot less > hassle these days (and it supports two messages - you can > connect a 5vDC wall wart or a door open switch if you want to). > See <http://www.hamgadgets.com/product_info.php?products_id=64> > And there is no fancy software - hyperterminal will do. While I agree... I will also make a case for going through the hassle of reprogramming the original unit if there's not a lot of involved grief in getting it done. You will learn quite a bit if you do even the most simple home-work. The problem with many people not getting much in-depth experience in electronics is because the cost of doing x-task is often so much less with newer replacement electronics than the time most people would consider putting into repairing or refurbishing an older circuit. You lose valuable exposure and hands on experience. In this case, reprogramming the Eprom using the resources of the group members might actually be less than replacing the unit. cheers, s. ps: I'd like to have a diagram of the ID'er if it's available anywhere.
