EEtools device programmer vendor TopMax/ChipMax/etc gone zombie / defunct? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: AK6DN
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2024, 02:00:28 am
content: EEtools.com (https://eetools.com/) used to update their MaxLoader software every few weeks. No software has been updated on their site since May 2023.I sent them an email a week ago now (on the 7th) asking if they were still actively in business and still no response. Nada. Nothing.Their physical location is not EEtools per se but it shares the office space with a consulting manufacturing tools developer.eetools.com internet name was first registered 1996-12-19, last renewed 2023-05-26, expiration 2024-05-25. Guess we'll see what happens this May ...Of major US distibutors, only Mouser still lists their device (TopMaxIII) and has stock available.Jameco does not list EEtools as a vendor, but does have a TopMaxIII page that says no stock, product is discontinued.DigiKey has no references to EEtools or TopMax any more ... gone from their site.Same with TestEquipment.net, listed on EEtools as one of their authorized distributors.Ref:https://www.tequipment.net/programmers-ic-and-ram-testers/They actually show a picture of a TopMaxII on that page, but they have no listings for any EEtools programmers any more.In fact, under their Programmers and IC Testers link, they have NO programmers / IC testers listed. None. Nada. Zip.Just wondering. I have a TopMaxII, really like it, one of the few devices around that has full support for legacy silicon PALs, BipolarPROMs, PLA/PLSs.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2024, 03:47:47 am
content: I asked on Twitter if anyone knows.

author: atulravi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2024, 01:41:55 pm
content: Did some generic google searching. I suspect that the company has changed hands sometime around 2019. This can also be said by looking at the copyright footer text which has remained at 2019. And the documents from the UK Gov registrar show an ecommerce business registered in the UK specialising in the products that they sell.New company owners/directors looks like. They might be operating from a virtual office in the US.Read More:https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12112962/filing-history

author: AK6DN
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2024, 08:31:41 pm
content: Quote from: atulravi on January 16, 2024, 01:41:55 pmAfter reading thru the documents posted, I have no reason to believe that 'EETOOLS LTD UK' is the same entity as the company 'EETOOLS.com US',other than they both have the string 'EETOOLS' in their names...The corporate entity that has the EEtools.com website is listed on the California Secretary of State database as 'E. E. Tools, Inc' incorporated January 4, 1993.Last active filing on corporate status was March 22, 2023.Listed at the same street address 881 Sycamore Dr, Milpitas, CA is 'IST Engineering, Inc' which also has the same individual listed as the owner of that entity also.

author: cyberwillis
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 22, 2025, 02:28:05 pm
content: Regarding the company, I don't think ever EETOOLS have or had a HQ on US may be a reseller office?In the past when I purchased some adapters for my Universal Programmer (nostalgic Topmax I - parallel port), some manuals used to arrive with the brand Compass21. Those guys hold the patent for the TopMax and ChipMax product line and others.The updates of MaxLoader doesn't come from software development side to support new devices, but instead from IC Designer or engineering that can use EDA Software to produce new algorithms before listing new devices on it. From 2 decades the maxloader has kept basically the same GUI interface and the only things that changed over time was: the database of new devices supported and the deprecation of older units that couldn't be controlled by MaxLoader software anymore.If you ever get the opportunity to open the unit you'll find an older FPGA Spartan (from XILINX or compatible) as it's main core processor that is considered obsolete today and may be "unlisted/deprecated" in modern EDA Software. Every EDA tools that deals with FPGA/ASIC is licensed for a period of time (1 year, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years) and the cost involved is high as the license periods is longer.Regarding MaxLoader , every new memory device to be listed in it need to pass through a process of: generate an algorithm to access it through TopMax hardware (how the FPGA control the unit).As you may know if you be familiar with FPGA programing, in order to control the unit an IC Designer or FPGA Engineer should make a code (in VHDL, or Verilog, or SystemC), Synthesize it and generate a BitStream to upload or program the FPGA with it. The fact the Spartan FPGA inside a unit has mostly 20K gates available (Chipmax 2) will not allow to generate all the algorithms for all memory devices (millions of chips that MaxLoader can support) and put inside that FPGA, instead the max loader have many algorithms in some sort of a database that every time you select a new device in the list and the unit is proper connected to the PC, the MaxLoader upload that specific algorithm (made in the worse case to that specific memory device), uploaded to the unit in order to change how the FPGA operates to control all blocks of the system hardware and access properly the memory on the ZIF48 (reading or writing).The algorithm is complicated in some sense because it has to control power source lines, writing frequency pulses, writing width pulses, and other stuffs as well communication with the PC, all this requires an specific professional/expert instead just a software developer to do it and as well the cost of a the license to extend the usage for a new period (modern period) can be impractical if the generation of unit is not being welcomed in the market.What I am trying to say is that "if" the company is having a hard time in sales that doesn't justify extension the license for their EDA Software or even "if" the EDA Software they used to use, gets retired and become obsolete, (license extension would be impossible) then we can start expect to see only see small improvements in new devices list because eventually if some new memory devices come around and they already have the pre compiled algorithm inside the MaxLoader database it wont require much effort to just to fit this new memory device into the list.I have detected that of the last years they have made available one or two releases per year.