Oh and in addition to all that, I just remembered we probably don't have an image of what goes on the flash chip. You might have to program a completed rex the normal way, desolder it's flash chip, and use the programmer to dump it. Then that would be your image to write new flash chips.
So, no. -- bkw On Oct 5, 2017 9:40 AM, "Brian White" <[email protected]> wrote: > You can get programming adapter sockets for both chips for about $9 each. > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/271973284613 > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/152444697107 > > And for the cpld, it would be easy to wire up the programmer and a 5v > supply via breadboard. > > That leaves the flash. > > Instead of the bare tsop adapter above, which would require another > adapter to the programmers dip40 zif socket, there are other kits for $30 > that adapt to dip40 to go into programmers. And/or there are programmer > kits that already include a tsop48 adapter too. > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/331991622286 > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/232365429018 > > So it's easy enough to make the physical connection to program both chips. > > But I don't know off-hand if the TL866 programmer happens to support this > flash chip. > > If your programmer does support the flash chip, then it would be easy > enough to do. > > I would not trust the data in a writeable chip that has been handled > loose, soldered no less, while not part of a circuit that kept the write > enable pin nailed to the gnd pin. > > You couldn't test the final result, which makes a problem when it doesn't > work for the buyer. Did they corrupt it with static while handling or > soldering? Or overheat while soldering? Is their M100 100%? Did you > actually send out a corrupt chip? That can result in some bad feelings on > one or both sides. > > Then again, you could program and mail out bare chips for little more than > the cost of the chip. A couple bucks. There is practically no labor > involved once you have the programmer set up the first time. So if someone > claims it doesn't work and it seems to be the programming, you could just > send them, even expect them to buy, another chip. > > Same as when you buy the blank new chips. If one doesn't work, you just > have to buy another. They can't warranty them. > > So really it might be fine. > > Then the problem is just, do enough people want kits to justify setting up > this alternative workflow? If it's one guy, you could simply build a > complete rex in less time and effort than getting those programming > adapters, figuring out how to use them the first time. > > Also, simply packaging that tsop chip so that the legs survive mailing is > tricky. They came to me in a huge fiberglass tray. You could maybe saw out > chunks of that tray to hold one or a few chips? Or you would have to > actually make some kind of special packaging by hand. Unless you managed to > get your chips in cut-tape packaging instead of trays. The cpld you could > probably get away with simply taping it to a card. But those tsop legs have > to basically be suspended so nothing touches them on all sides. That could > end up being some labor right there. Mailing the complete rex is trivial. > > -- > bkw > > On Oct 4, 2017 9:18 PM, "Josh Malone" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Programmed kits are not an option, since you have to assemble the board >> to program it :) A standalone flash and cpld programmer would be >> prohibitively expensive for such a small run. This would be for assembled, >> programmed, and tested units only. >> >> On Oct 4, 2017 6:28 PM, "Lee Olivares" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Personally interested in a kit of parts and a flashed ROM if such an >>> option were to present itself. >>> >>> I hit the form for a pair of units, since that's what I'd originally >>> wanted from the M100 store ages ago. >>> >>> On Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 2:41 PM, Daryl Tester < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> On Wed, 4 Oct 2017 13:18:56 -0400, Josh Malone wrote: >>>> >>>> I'll send the form URL one more time in case it's gotten buried in >>>>> peoples' email >>>>> >>>>> https://goo.gl/forms/Kr4YgaskVhMCuzxz1 >>>>> >>>> >>>> +1'd. (and thanks for that Josh, it saved me having to find it). >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Regards, >>>> Daryl Tester >>>> Handcrafted Computers Pty. Ltd. >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> - Lee >>> - 909.437.0250 <(909)%20437-0250> >>> - Destroying technology problems. >>> >>
