EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review

[Folxs]

Can I replace AT27C010 OTP with AM27C010 EEPROM? I think it is just a difference in branding right? AMD vs Atmel

Correct.

Except that these are EPROM not EEPROM.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

You are right - EPROM
Thanks!

[hwarin]

Hi

I've lost the entire evening of yesterday fighting with my (upgraded some time ago) TL866 and the "new" 6.82 that I was trying to setup on my new laptop ... Symantec Protection was complaining  !

As I had not already read this thread, I've passed into the "protection hole" of this AV's protection and got it installed in my embedded test VM ... All worked as expected (FW upgrade then piracy messages and so on) but I was happy as everything seemed "normal" except that none of the components that I was inserting appeared to be okay !

After hours or search and mess between v6.82 and my old 6.5 FW version, I've finally found this thread.

==> THANKS RADIOMAN - With your help, your new tool, and your clear instructions, I've "repared" tonight my TL866 in less than 10 minutes.

Hervé

[GarouSP]

Hi, I'm new here and  got here after search for some answers about TL866CS.
I never had any trouble burning 27c322 or 27c160 with this burner using an adaptor but yesterday I had to burn some 322 and 160.
The question is that I burn the 322 with no problem but the 160 I can't anymore, always got a error burning 160.
Today I tried to burn the 160 in another burner from a friend of mine and all was burned w/o problems.
Could this be a problem from my burner or from the adaptor?
I'm using the latest firmware 6.82, maybe this firmware colud be causing this problem?
I will attach a picture of my adaptor.
 

[Eruil]

to radioman:

 first of all i apologize about my bad english. it´s not my mother language and i seldom practice it. got a question for you. i converted my TL866CS (original device) into a TL866A. everything worked perfect but i made a mistake installing minipro 6.82 (obviously the result was a bricked device) i made a backup .hex file first.  i thought that the posible solution was changing the serial number and i made the "resistor method" (now i got the bad serial error but tl866 works fine)

 how can i restore my original device serial ? (your tool doesnt have a "load serial from hex file" option) . i will thank any information that you can provide me . thanks 

[radioman]

how can i restore my original device serial ? (your tool doesnt have a "load serial from hex file" option) . i will thank any information that you can provide me . thanks 

Indeed,  there's no load serial from hex option.
If you have the original hex and if you want your serial back (why?) you have two options:
1. Reflash your device using an external programmer (like pickit) with your original hex and convert it again using the last version of my firmware updater.
2. Send the hex file to me to decrypt your original serial and I'll give you back your serial to put in the advanced window.

Another option is to generate a new serial code using the last version of my firmware updater. This is the most simple option to have a compliant serial code.

[Southerner]

Radioman this has been a very useful thread.  I came into the thread late.  I bought a TL866CS clone.  I found it hard to sift through the 54 pages of this thread.  I wonder if it would be possible to occasionally pot the/a link to a web page somewhere that lists or outlines the latest method of updating  the firmware?  I know you have a zip file stored at:
http://bit.ly/YaJYDq
that has your latest version updater and a schematic of the TL866. 

This message is quite useful:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-411-minipro-tl866-universal-programmer-review/msg1704092/#msg1704092

What I am a little confused about is how to implement the update.  I assume that I need a PicKit and either pull the PIC or use an ICSP cable to reflash the pic in the TL866.  Correct?
Thank you.

[radioman]

I wonder if it would be possible to occasionally pot the/a link to a web page somewhere that lists or outlines the latest method of updating  the firmware?

Sure! but where? there's a wiki page here: https://minipro.txt.si/index.php?title=Main_Page and here: http://proghq.org/wiki/TL866 but needs to be updated.

Regarding to the:

What I am a little confused about is how to implement the update

this is easy!
If your device bootloader is still intact use the firmware updater to update it with any version you want! if the device is totally bricked then yes, you'll need a PicKit to program the PIC. The J1 connector is for this scope. This is how the manufacturer burns the initial firmware, thru J1 connector. And yes, you'll need an ICSP cable for this, no need to pull the PIC.

[Eruil]

wrote by radioman :

" 1. Reflash your device using an external programmer (like pickit) with your original hex and convert it again using the last version of my firmware updater.
2. Send the hex file to me to decrypt your original serial and I'll give you back your serial to put in the advanced window."

To Radioman:

thanks dude. im going to send you my .hex file . i dont have any pick it or other 18F87J50 programmer device to reflash my original serial number (you said before that minipro software can detect generated serials , thats the why im trying to leave it the most "stock mode " possible . you rock dude: 

[radioman]

you said before that minipro software can detect generated serials , thats the why im trying to leave it the most "stock mode " possible . you rock dude: 

The software detects non compliant generated serials. This was the case for older version of my firmware updater. My last versions (V2.4/V2.5) will generate compliant serial code.
Actually the algorithm is very simple! there is a crc16 of the dev code embedded into serial code like in the attached image.
Who want to play here is the online crc calculator: https://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/info/crc-calculation.html

[RSistem]

Hi gay s plese help me i need programing this chip but i had problem programing beacose this chip is wrong ID chip,can you help me.I need progrming SPI chip mx25l12845e can't write and bin is DIR636LA1_FW105B09 for router. PS: sory for mi language 

[Eruil]

From radioman:

The software detects non compliant generated serials. This was the case for older version of my firmware updater. My last versions (V2.4/V2.5) will generate compliant serial code.
Actually the algorithm is very simple! there is a crc16 of the dev code embedded into serial code like in the attached image.
Who want to play here is the online crc calculator: https://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/info/crc-calculation.html

To Radioman:

i love ya dude. everything its working perfect. thanks a lot for your help 

[Southerner]

Do all of the TL866's use the Pic18FJ50 including the clones?  I went to the autoelectric.cm web site and looked at the "Fake TL866" compared to the genuine autoelectric TL866's and mine is not like the fake one or the real one.  Also the PIC has had its identifiers removed so I can't tell what the chip is.

[radioman]

Do all of the TL866's use the Pic18FJ50 including the clones?

Yes, all of them use the PIC18F87J50. Changing the controller will require changing the firmware and the firmware comes from autoelectric and is written only for this type of controller.

[karpinto]

I do not understand anything, my tl866a programmer on one of my computers does not work at all when I start the program minipro always tells me ANTIQUE SOFTWARE PUT THE MODERN AND LAST and nothing works (I speak of any version before 6.82) and on another computer I put any Minipro software before v6.82 and with the same programmer does not appear that label, I do not understand anything, where is the problem ?

[radioman]

where is the problem ?

The problem is the software version.  If the firmware is older than required by minipro then you are advised to upgrade the firmware. If the firmware version is newer than required by the minipro then you are advised to upgrade the minipro version.
In your case you have different versions of the software.

[karpinto]

you mean the computer software ?? 'windows , if I put the miniprog program 6.82 it will spoil the programmer or that I think, please clarify it to me, the firmware is the programmer .
thanks radioman for the clarifications

[PA0PBZ]

Are you using the same version of the minipro program on both computers?

[radioman]

you mean the computer software ??

That's right, the computer software aka minipro.exe.

if I put the miniprog program 6.82 it will spoil the programmer or that I think, please clarify it to me

It will not 'spoil' your programmer. If you have a converted CS->A one just use my firmware updater to correct the bad checksum if applicable and update to the last firmware version.

The Firmware is the software running inside your programmer.
For example: minipro version 6.82 requires firmware version 3.2.85; minipro version 6.70 requires firmware version 3.2.81 and so on. When the two version mismatch, then you get a warning as i said above.

[Southerner]

Does someone have a decent picture of the ICSP header coming out of the TL866A?  The one picture I saw was here:
http://atariage.com/forums/topic/246355-minipro-tl866-upgrade-instructions/#entry3412521
but it is so out of focus that I can't tell if it is one row of 6 pins as in the PIC standard or if it is 2x5.  I assume single row of 6 but can't tell for sure.  Does anyone have a link to the right angle male header that goes on the board?

Thank you.

[radioman]

Here:
and here is the connector.

[Southerner]

Does J1 use the PIC standard single row 6 pin connector (straight)?  Or is it's function not to act as a ICSP header for the onboard PIC?  I had seen someone suggest to program the onboard PIC using the ICSP header you have pictured so I was wondering if J1 had the same function.  I realize it would be hard to access but only wondered if it was put there to easily reprogram the cpu.

Here:

[radioman]

Yes the J1 connector is only for reprogramming the onboard PIC18F87J50. Don't solder any connector here; if you need to reflash your onboard pic just insert the icsp connector from the pickit in the J1 pcb holes (they are metallized so there's no contact problem) and reflash. This case is for total brick.

[karpinto]

THANKS RADIOMAN, I'M UNDERSTANDING EVERYTHING.
My programmer was tl866cs and I converted it to tl866A.
I have started the program minipro v6.82 and when plugging in the programmer recognizes me the tl866A v03.2.82, effectively I will have to do a REFLASH FIRMWARE and it will become V03.2.85., But it will not be damaged and everything will work, I already made the reflash yours with the resistance of 100 ohms, tell me if it works with this version and if it breaks I'll do the reset again.

[radioman]

But it will not be damaged and everything will work, I already made the reflash yours with the resistance of 100 ohms, tell me if it works with this version and if it breaks I'll do the reset again.

Please do the update if you want so. You can revert to any previous version anytime if you want. By updating the firmware you can't physically damage your programmer.   

Even if you brick the programmer you can easily restore it with the help of another pic programmer.

[BrianG61UK]

I see V6.85 of the software has been released.

Anyone tried it?