Needing to clear up some confusion about the TL866II (minipro??)?? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2020, 06:24:57 am
content: So my birthday is coming up next week and I am really thinking a TL866II would be a nice edition to my bench, but after researching the thing I am more confused about it than I was before the research. I know there is a thread on Daves review but that covers a lot of the older TL866A/TL866CS model, and its 40 pages to dig through which are mostly unrelated to my specific questions.#1 Is this thing open source (hardware/software), i have found some schematics and what seems to be 3rd party pc programs floating around, and I thought I read it was open source but reading info at AutoElectric (the designers right?) Im thinking it is not an open source product..#2 If it is not open source are there ways to use the programmer to write chips that are not specifically listed in there supported chip list? The main reason im am looking at this thing is I think it will be really useful for a retro computer project I have been doing on the side from time to time. I need to be able to easily write standard EEPROMs, ATF16v8, ATF20v10, parallel NVSRAMs, and I know these chips are supported along with the oodles of 16F-18F series of pics and 8 bit AVRS I have laying around. I need to know if it can write older not ATF gals though, like the PALCE1620 series? Also I want to be able to write too some chips I know are not supported, mainly PIC24fj64 (the chip used in the bus pirate), and the AtMel 1502ASl series of 5v TTL compatible CPLDs. I just ordered six of these CPLDs for implementing larger glue logic than GALs in my retro computer design... I chose this particular chip because it is still being made, can be programmed using Verilog/VHDL/CUPL (depending on tool chain used) and that makes it very flexible for an HDL newb (I have been working on a phase coherent SDR with four $100 LT2177 ADC's and would like to process them with an FPGA instead of PC eventually), the ATF1502 also seems to be pretty flexible programming wise compared to other older CPLDs it supports ISP/Jtag on top of whatever the normal way to program it is. Here is and excerpt from the programming guideQuoteSo is getting thing to do pic24 and ATF1502 a possibility or am I barking up the wrong tree? If it is can make the standard software do it, or will I be needing write a custom program?#3 Somewhat ties in to the first two questions, if the TL866II is not open source is there some sort of API or documentation on driver communication out there?#4 Is the TL866II and the Minipro the same thing? I'm led to believe it is but I just need to be sure im buying the right thing.#5 Lastly I read on autoelectrics site there are counterfeits out there, and there not upgrade able, how do I know im not buying one of thecounter-fits? I see programmers that look like the tl866 called sofi-sp8 for about the same price im guessing these are not related to the TL866II

author: Helix70
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2020, 01:00:39 pm
content: It is not open source in any way. It is a tool made for profit, and it is supported buy the designer. Don't buy it for something you wish it would do, buy it for what it does, and does really well. If you need to use stuff not on the vast list of devices supported, this will probably not be the solution, but you could always ask.To ensure you do not buy a fake, buy it from one of there dealers,http://www.autoelectric.cn/en/TL866_Dealer.htmlThe top one is an ebay shop, easy to buy from.Minipro is the software, TL866 II plus is the hardware. The II Plus supports variable pin voltages and some other cool stuff that would stop me buying an older model if I didn't already own one.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2020, 01:34:48 pm
content: Large existing thread here is where you should be posting.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-411-minipro-tl866-universal-programmer-review/There is custom software and firmware by eevblog member radioman, I don't know how current it is. The manufacturer has made security measures against cloning so make sure you are up to date on any issues before going open source to avoid it becoming a paperweight.Edit:Contrary to what some people think, asking questions where people have already been actively talking about the TL866 models including the II Plus (I checked) is actually good idea. It's not a huge leap that Radioman may update his custom versions for the II Plus if significant demand arises.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2020, 09:09:18 pm
content: Quote from: Shock on February 09, 2020, 01:34:48 pmThat's the thread the OP is referring to in his original post, and the thread is indeed mostly talking abot the old version of the programmer, not the II plus model .I believe that no custom software/firmware is available for the II plus so far. Radioman's (great!) development is only for the original version to my knowledge, as is the independently developed Android (?) software.

author: YetAnotherTechie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2020, 11:35:22 pm
content: I've seen a github with a complete FOS replacement, including for the II version.

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2020, 12:43:57 am
content: would you mind posting a link?

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2020, 05:28:20 am
content: Indeed, Google finds this one:https://gitlab.com/DavidGriffith/minipro/Hadn'been aware of this development, and I have not tried it.Linux and MacOS versions only.