MiniPro TL866CS programmer from Aliexpress, is it ok? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eev_fan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 04:33:47 pm
content: I'm repairing old 80's digital equipment and sometimes have to burn UV-erasable eproms. 2716, 2764 etc.Up to now I have used a vintage Advantest SE4943, but bought aMinipro from Aliexpress. I've realized these are probably counterfeit products...After a couple of weeks a computer failed and it turned out that the eprom was blank.Are these IC's chips starting to feel the age or are cheap programmers a waste of time and money?I tried to reduce programming delay from 500 to 1000 us, but still chips have turned blank.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 05:44:15 pm
content: Old UV EPROMs are very unlikely to feel their age (unless they have been erased many times or been abused, ESD damage etc), they live in nice cozy hermetic cerdip packages so are not subject to moisture for instance - although you should check that the pins are clean. Back in the day, programmers had as many programming algorithms and VPPs as there were EPROM manufacturers, often more. I wouldn't be surprised if modern cheap programmers had lost a lot of the subtleties of programming these old devices.I'd stick with your vintage Advantest (for these devices).

author: pqass
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 05:45:42 pm
content: I had an issue with an old EPROM (from the '80s) which didn't verify after programming.I applied a fresh 20min UV erase cycle before re-programming. It's fine months later.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 07:01:41 pm
content: Quote from: eev_fan on April 10, 2025, 04:33:47 pmConfusing post, since 2016 and 2064 are SRAM part numbers.Anyway, the TL866 II Plus (what is Minipro?) that you linked only has 18V VPPand is not suitable for 21V or 25V vintage EPROMs. Stick with a vintage programmer or use a service.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 10:10:28 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on April 10, 2025, 07:01:41 pmminipro = TL866xx software (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/needing-to-clear-up-some-confusion-about-the-tl866ii-(minipro)/)The newer Xgecu T48 and T56 support up to 25V VPP:http://www.xgecu.com/EN/index.htmlhttps://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832777409293.html(dont know if this is the right store just first one I saw)

author: eev_fan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2025, 01:58:34 pm
content: Many thanks!Quote from: Gyro on April 10, 2025, 05:44:15 pmYes, but the Visual Basic programs I wrote around 1995 does not work any more. Also it has serial-i/f.Anyone who is aware of software that works with this burner and a USB-Serial adapter?Quote from: edavid on April 10, 2025, 07:01:41 pmSorry, should have been 2716/2764. Have corrected the initial post.Quote from: edavid on April 10, 2025, 07:01:41 pmMine is called Minipro, bought a few years ago. But I think it's a clone.The software allows 21V VPP.Quote from: thm_w on April 10, 2025, 10:10:28 pmThanks, I'll read through this.

author: eev_fan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2025, 06:18:32 pm
content: Read that the original manufacturer has taken measures, using new software on counterfeit will brick it.Circuit board looks ok to me, but that microcontroller...

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2025, 07:43:24 pm
content: I can't say anything about TL866CS but I use RT809H and there is no competition regarding price point, you can find adapters in very affordable price.I successfully programed some UV erasable eproms.I used xeltek U3000 (very good programmer BTW), galep 4 and 5 but I couldn't afford adapters (price tag).