how to program these cards - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 09:52:56 am
content: I have 2 off 32kb wavetek si 4015 memory cards ordered , Is there a way to program them with a bin file?, ie using a pickit 3 or an arduino or usb to rs-232 converter etc ?.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 10:21:20 am
content: I think those might be intended for old laptops that had a PCMCIA slot.That's what they look like anyway.If so they're likely a parallel interface. So designed to plug onto the 8/16bit ISA bus.Easiest way to read/write them would be to find an old, but working, laptop with that slot (assuming my assumption is correct).

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 10:24:16 am
content: I have been told they are not those and they have 1 row of 32 pins., these are for the wavetek si4015 communications monitor.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 10:25:31 am
content: Quote from: ME on August 27, 2025, 10:24:16 amHm.. yeah, not PCMCIA then, it's two rows.Looks like they have a lithium battery in them, might be SRAM based.Have you checked the battery is ok, not leaked everywhere.Need to know what chip/chips are inside, might just be a raw ram chip connected to the pins, plus the backup battery circuity.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 03:09:53 pm
content: It's kilo Bytes.Bottom right of manual page 52/314, top left of 52/314 also, is memory card connection.So seems to be a direct memory chip access, maybe EEPROM, so data + address + control + power pins needed, so 8 + 15 + 3 + 2 pins.

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 07:13:33 am
content: will a usb to rs-232 do it or a pikit3 work?.

author: SteveThackery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 08:14:08 am
content: Quote from: m k on August 27, 2025, 03:09:53 pmActually it's kilobytes or kB.

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 11:30:37 am
content: So cutting to the chase what programmer is needed for these?,i can write using the 4015 but need to get the bin on the card first so need some type of standalone programer to get the bins onto the cards firstly.sort of a chicken and egg situation!.

author: xvr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 12:23:46 pm
content: Interface to these memry cards described in Wavetek 4015 Service manual (https://www.scribd.com/document/737620778/Wavetek-4015-Service-Manual-Vol-1)You should have custom (but very simple) hardware to write to these memory cards. PicKit can't be used

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 01:22:34 pm
content: have you read section 8.6 on this :https://docs.ampnuts.ru/eevblog.docs/Wavetek/4015/stabilock_4015_operators_manual.pdf

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 02:59:29 am
content: Looks like the equivalent of a 62256 with a backup battery. You'll need something with roughly 26 GPIOs to read and write them.

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 07:43:58 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on August 28, 2025, 01:22:34 pmYes i read that a few days ago,why cant someone give me a programer model number that i can buy to read and write to these cards?,why say 5 words when a million will do!.

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 08:11:55 am
content: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226941548171?_skw=T48+Programmer+XGECU+for+BIOS+EPROM+EEPROM+NAND+EMMC+AVR+MCU+PLCC+DIP+TL866-3G&itmmeta=01K3TDWF6162B4BEVNS2KN5DW4&hash=item34d6c5368b%3Ag%3AkMMAAeSwiVhorZAJ&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABEFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cNazeKTE2yUpM%2B25hsf%2BzjFyDGQs0U%2FaFaT5s2HW%2F16zfSghAQr%2BZ4HwABL6EonjE%2BHoPuPFfBf8rcTGdR8YLwC4AmYqxTQjAS%2B0WMYYZCR8vCFFmJplBU%2BtTuGJqZ6nFnDzAH0Ln6Vr4tMr8p06L0zNxUoEug8bdU21YgOYXrZwO5lUIRVHTrCiPv8m5qFToF71Wj6FhJ8dY6uL9tAClJzBgc8QvYBVl2TqxNdfCHEn9EDeLePwjlja5KDlSaKkIalR%2F0hQ0btlhDo1SA96ICxtrtgM7k5XbfqcNtd8yWyd%2FnTu%2BgnI9GjJViMjeOLdnFcaER93qv%2FZsofPFoUUBC%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6Tz8c2eZg&var=526094615820Would this work with suitable cables made up?.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 09:46:01 am
content: Quote from: ME on August 29, 2025, 07:43:58 amProbably because a simple answer doesn’t exist. (And getting all pissy is not going to encourage people to be helpful, I might add.)I doubt many, if any, programmers for those cards existed outside of Schlumberger.But surely “the guy” whotold you what card to buy(and/or the person who gave you the bin file you want to write) can tell you how to write said bin file?You have a card now, right? Then open it and see what chip is inside.

author: xvr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 01:01:15 pm
content: QuoteBecause it doesn't exist at all. It's a very specific target to implement on any industrial programmer.You can build it yourself (for example, on Arduino).

author: squadchannel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 02:55:19 pm
content: It's really simple: just make a pcb or use wires connect to the TL866, then select the AM27C256.nah too much addresses.okay.., so it can address up to 256KB(2megabits) maximum.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 03:36:12 pm
content: Quote from: SteveThackery on August 28, 2025, 08:14:08 amActually it's not semantics, it's 7 pins more.

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 05:26:09 pm
content: Quote from: xvr on August 29, 2025, 01:01:15 pmcan you explaine how i can do that then please?

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 05:43:00 pm
content: Quote from: ME on August 29, 2025, 05:26:09 pmBy developing the S/W to use Arduino GPIO pins to access the card.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 07:16:30 pm
content: Quote from: m k on August 29, 2025, 03:36:12 pmYou were trying to correct OP by explaining that kb is not the same as kB (that is, that kilobits are not the same as kilobytes). SteveThackery understands that kb and kB are not the same thing. What he was trying to tellyouis that “kilo Bytes” is not a correct way to write it, but rather that it’s written “kilobytes” (or “kB” for short).

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 07:01:23 pm
content: No, I was emphasizing the significance of a difference.Correction part is obviously included, but only as a side effect.The rest is nitpicking.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 08:00:39 pm
content: Quote from: Gyro on August 29, 2025, 05:43:00 pmJust the data + address lines for 32k x 8 will take up 23 pins. Looks like most Arduinos don't have anywhere near that many GPIOs.

author: Testtech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 11:02:38 pm
content: Need a picture of the connector end, but I think these are Mitsubishi MELCARD memory cards. If so, perhaps a search for that will help.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 07:30:20 am
content: Quote from: Testtech on August 31, 2025, 11:02:38 pmCan't be, the MELCARD has two rows of pins, and the slide-in section is way shorter.However, this looks like a winner:https://www.tecsys.de/en/products/storage-solutions/memory-cards/older-card-typesPart number (likely) BN-032MCEAnd I even found you a read/writer:https://web.archive.org/web/20080305080822/http://www.tecsys.de/de/speicherkarten/panasonic-34-pin.htmlhttps://www.tecsys.de/fileadmin/user_upload/PDFs/LaufwerkeDBs/Panasonic_Laufwerke_DBs/RW-MULTI8-PANA_DB_EN_20180101_RH.pdfWhich, of course, is now obsolete and completely Unobtainium(Though one might ask Tecsys, if they have a used one somewhere in storage...)Pinout herehttps://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic366826.html

author: squadchannel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 08:59:07 am
content: previously attached the schematic. #15if you simply want to read and write data, just build an EPROM reader using an Arduino Mega and wire it to read as a 27256 (32KB). connect the cards using jumper lines.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 03:29:32 pm
content: I guess MiniPro and adapter is the easiest.No programming and possibly no soldering.Four columns of long legged female pinheaders and one male, jumper wires, three pin shorts and a proto PCB.Edge columns go to MiniPro socket from under side.Center columns are shorted and center one is for the memory card.Finally jumper wires do connections.

author: HighPrecision
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 02:36:51 pm
content: I've built an universal programmer adapter from attached schematic.Best rgds