ftp.barnyard.co.uk/2015.02.ftp.barnyard.co.uk.tar/ftp.barnyard.co.uk/robot-pd/19127.ZIP/19127B.DSK/20

Text File | 1998-08-04 | 9KB | 165 lines

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                        MICROGENICS ROM BLOWER TEST
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Having just acquired this peripheral cheaply from a MICRO COMPUTER MART advert I
couldn't wait to check it out. Problem! The lumpy blue electrolytic capacitor is
sited too low down on the PCB to enable direct coupling to the CPC6128 expansion
port. Solution! De-solder it, and re-solder it on the reverse side of the PCB. A
quick check reveals MICROGENIC assumed any buyer also had a MICROGENIC ROM BOARD
at the back of which this item was to be attached.

But first, what does the package consist of? Herewith the details:-

 1. An anti-static bag containing the Rom Blower.
 2. A 15v PSU wall wart.
 3. An Eprom bearing the software.
 4. An Ultra Violet Eprom eraser.
 5. Instructions.

The seller also sent a number of Eproms (blank) and an art package, EASIDRAW, on
one, which is a PD program taken from one of the CPC magazines. Drawings from it
can be loaded into BRUNWORD.  Great, I haven't got that program. (Quick rethink,
Yes I have, got it from Simon Warford down at the Elephant and Castle. Never use
it though).

A few wise words, this programmer, when not in use, should always be returned to
the anti-static bag and never plug it in while the CPC is on.

The PCB comes with it's own RESET button and bears two LEDs, marked "SAFE" green
and "LIVE" red. Eproms can only be inserted into the the ZIF socket when a green
light is showing.  Attached, it stands vertical and is a bit too wobberly for my
liking. This peripheral is for all types of CPC.  The software Eprom must be put
into your ROM box in any position except 0 or 7. It's a background Eprom, Code 1
version 1.11 located at &A4A7 accessed by !BLOW.

Once attached you can couple up, via the through connector, your ROM box and any
other expansion port peripherals. On the CPC464 it goes on the drive port making
the add on the DD1 interface.  The wall wart PSU cable attaches at the top right
of the PCB. On firing up one sees on the screen:
                " MICROGENIC SYSTEMS EPROM PROGRAMMER
                                c 1989 ACJ           "
and the red LED's active. Type !BLOW and you are presented with the intro screen
(the program beeps at you, which can be annoying) offering the option to program
1.) 2764 (8k) or 2.) 27128 (16k) Eproms. As mine were 27128's it was option 2. A
new screen appears, two choices - 1.) 50ms pulse or 2.) IT - algorithms. Why two
options?
          1. the programming voltage is applied for the duration of 50ms.
          2. the programming voltage is applied for the duration of programming.

Simpler - 2. is fast but some Eproms can't handle it so 1. is for those Eproms.

Now the SAFE green LED glows so an Eprom can be ZIF socket fitted. Safety first,
so use option 1. now met on the third menu. This tests that he Eprom is blank. A
message appears pretty quickly reporting it blank or otherwise.  You are limited
to blowing only blank Eproms, unlike PC Flash Eproms which can be overwritten.

There are a number of ways to load data into the Eprom. These are:-

2. Blow ROM to EPROM
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   a. Where the Eprom to be copied is on your expansion board.

      Enter "Y" in response to whether the ROM is on a board.  Enter it's socket
number, then three consecutive hex  addresses - program start, end and location.
Usually, for a 16k Eprom, these will be &C000, &FFFF and &C000. Once entered the
program takes over and you have a programmed Eprom in about 18 seconds.

   b. Where the Eprom to be copied is not on your expansion board.

      Here the ROM data must be placed into RAM, the ROM removed, the Eprom then
      fitted to the ZIF socket.  On inserting the ROM, you must tell the program
      if it is 8k or 16k,  then enter a RAM destination address for the contents
      of the ROM, use a screen location of &4000, the start and end addresses of
      the data. For a 16k - usually &C000, &FFFF - 8k - usually &C000, &DFFF.

      Remove the ROM, insert the Eprom and reply "Y" to prompts.  If you want to
      see the evidence of programming on screen, again press "Y". Programming is
      again quickly completed.

3. Blow RAM to EPROM
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   This is where the ROM image is on tape(?) or disc.

      You load, in this instance, the on disc ROM image via a short programme:-

       1. MEMORY &3FFF
       2. LOAD"[filename]",&4000
       3. !BLOW

       Start address is then &4000, end address &7FFF (16k) or &5FFF (8k), &C000
       is the typical Eprom location address. Once verified, programming starts.

Now we meet the programmers utilities sites, useful for ROM contents inspection,
4. COPY EPROM TO RAM, and once in memory, the image can be saved to tape or disc
for later use - back up.  5. EPROM Dump to screen, as it says, look at the ROM's
contents on screen.  6. CHANGE SETTINGS - allows reconfiguration of the previous
options set for programming. 7. QUIT - obvious - RAM's content is unaffected, so
saves of data can be effected - SAVE"[filename]",b,&4000,&4000 - standard binary
file save routine.

Well that's the theory, now the practice.  Armed with a 27128, I copied an image
of a ROM in my ROM box onto disc, I doubt Brain Watson will mind me checking the
ease of copying *******, as an example for you. I then coupled up the ROM BLOWER
and intended first to go from the ROM box to the Eprom.

A. Entered "2" for 27128.
B. Entered "2" for Intel Intelligent Algorithm (fast programming).
C. Put the Eprom in the ZIF socket.
D. Entered "Y" for OK to proceed.
E. Pressed "1" to blank check.
F. On getting back to the menu pressed "2" for ROM to EPROM.
G. Entered "Y" as it was in the ROM box.
H. Entered "&36" as it was in slot 6.
I. Entered &C000, &FFFF, &C000.
J. Entered "Y" to confirm OK.
K. Voila, ****** copied.
L. Put it in the ROM box and tested it. All worked fine.

Now to copy that Eprom, now taken out of the ROM box, to another Eprom.

A to F. as above.
G. Entered "N" as it wasn't in the ROM box.
H. Inserted the ****** Eprom into the ZIF socket when prompted.
I. Specified it was a 27128.
J. Entered destination (&4000), start (&C000) and end (&FFFF)
K. Data moved into RAM.
L. Removed ****** Eprom, inserted blank Eprom on prompts.
M. Confirmed OK by "Y".
N. Pressed "Y" to watch the programming.
O. Programming addreses appear on screen, then programming safely completed.
P. Put the copies copy into the ROM box and check it. It worked.

Now to copy the disc image taken from the original ****** to another Eprom.

Used the little program mentioned above to get the image into RAM.

A. to E. as above.
F. On getting back to the menu pressed "3" for RAM to EPROM.
G. Entered start (&4000), end (&7FFF), location (&C000).
H. Confirmed OK with "Y".
I. Pressed "Y" to watch the programming.
J. Voila, another copy.
K. Put it in the ROM box and tested it. All OK.

Right, I've no need to check out the utilities and take it for granted that they
work fine.  Adequate explanations, I feel, were made on them all earlier. As the
UV EPROM ERASER takes a while I won't wait to write here the results. The ondisc
image I just erased.

The Verdict
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For ease of use this ROM BLOWER gets top marks. I found it very uncomplicated in
it's actions, easily learnt how to copy ROMs from images, etc. Reservations only
on the upright stance of the PCB,  making it easily corrupable if you accidently
touch it when programming. If you find one going for ú10.00, get it. Elsewise, a
plan for making your own ROM BLOWER is on this ATM#3 disc. The advantage of that
is the multiplicity of ROMs cated for, and the various programming speeds allied
to adaptability for many machines -  any allowing expansion port peripherals via
an RS232 interface.

Note: "!" is used to represent the BAR command as the font produces "|" if shift
       + @ are pressed. I just can't be bothered to change it.
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