EEPROM Programmer for Repros/Unreleased games

[wildbil52]

Lately I've been considering picking up an EEPROM programmer and some PCBs and EEPROMS to try making carts for unreleased games that I'd like to have in my collection.  I could just buy the repros from people who already make them, but I really enjoy doing things myself.

Can anyone suggest a good EEPROM programmer?  Preferably one that doesn't require power apart from USB?  The Willem GQ-4X seems to be the "go to" programmer that most repro producers use.  (http://www.mcumall.com/co...comersus_dynamicIndex.asp)

Anyone have any other suggestions, input, or experience with EEPROM programming?

[Duke.Togo]

No clue, but VERY interested to hear how this goes.

[ApolloBoy]

Willem programmers are pretty good, that's the one I would go with. I need to get one myself as I got a bunch of EPROMs from my dad and I'd like to use them for BIOS replacements and mods.

[wildbil52]

Willem programmers are pretty good, that's the one I would go with. I need to get one myself as I got a bunch of EPROMs from my dad and I'd like to use them for BIOS replacements and mods.

Where do you get EEPROMS apart from buying them off ebay?  Do they have to be brand new/unsoldered or can you remove EEPROMS from a random PCB, wipe them and re use them?

[Shadow Kisuragi]

You can reflash EEPROMs all you want, though I believe they have a set limit before they're unusable.

Serial ones can be found here, which are likely what you're looking for:
http://www.microchip.com/..._GET_PAGE&nodeId=2697

[wildbil52]

You can reflash EEPROMs all you want, though I believe they have a set limit before they're unusable.

Serial ones can be found here, which are likely what you're looking for:
http://www.microchip.com/..._GET_PAGE&nodeId=2697

Good info!

That's what I thought too but one of the repro guides I found (http://www.callanbrown.co...le-projects&Itemid=61) suggests using an EEPROM eraser which I guess just bombards the EEPROMS with UV light for 15 minutes which wipes the chip clean.  I figured that even though an EEPROM is read only, if you have an EEPROM programmer, you would be able to reprogram it.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Wait...wouldn't the UV light be an EPROM, not an EEPROM? EEPROMs use electricity to erase them.

[wildbil52]

Wait...wouldn't the UV light be an EPROM, not an EEPROM? EEPROMs use electricity to erase them.

Didn't realize there was a difference until now.