Author Topic: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review  (Read 1446065 times)

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Offline Quarlo Klobrigney

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1700 on: August 25, 2019, 09:14:09 am »
Much like quantum entanglement I see... It could be a 1 or a 0 depending on whether I was looking at the check box when I clicked on it.
If there was only a manual for the Minipro, things would be much easier.
Voltage does not flow, nor does voltage go.
 

Offline mcovington

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1701 on: August 26, 2019, 03:42:56 am »
Anyone selling the Mk II version should be OK. It has not been cloned yet.

I got my TL866 from Dalbani in Florida. If you want to buy from a USA seller, I can recommend them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/141978692525

I just got a TL866 II from Amazon.  The Amazon listing said "Minipro" but this one calls itself "XGecu" and says to download the latest software from xgecu.com, not autoelectric.cn.  That *looks* like the same company (I had to have the web page translated from Chinese).  Should I be concerned?  Where should I download from?
 

Online ebastler

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1702 on: August 26, 2019, 05:01:11 am »
I just got a TL866 II from Amazon.  The Amazon listing said "Minipro" but this one calls itself "XGecu" and says to download the latest software from xgecu.com, not autoelectric.cn.  That *looks* like the same company (I had to have the web page translated from Chinese).  Should I be concerned?  Where should I download from?

Same company, and actually the same web page which can simply be reached under two different domain names. So it does not matter which one you use. The web page can be switched to English (links in the upper right), you don't have to use an external translator.
 
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Offline electro1q

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1703 on: August 31, 2019, 06:26:54 am »
Hello,
Guys i'm new here and have an problem
want to program pic16f876a with minipro 6.85
but not successfully,
I think that need the right config bytes
 

Offline Quarlo Klobrigney

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1704 on: August 31, 2019, 11:41:42 am »
Show the setting under the config tab please.
Voltage does not flow, nor does voltage go.
 

Offline electro1q

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1705 on: September 03, 2019, 11:46:24 am »
Sorry,
was away.
 

Online ebastler

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1706 on: September 03, 2019, 12:08:09 pm »
You are setting the „copy protection“ bit CP, so the contents of the EEPROM cannot be read back. I assume you get a verification error message? That would be the expected behavior.
 

Offline electro1q

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1707 on: September 03, 2019, 12:37:49 pm »
If i set verify after programming it gives error config.no matter if cp are selected or not.
br.
 

Offline Quarlo Klobrigney

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1708 on: September 03, 2019, 02:32:10 pm »
Try a FULL ERASE first and then program the memory and config bits. If you save the whole thing as a hex file, the config bits will be save with it. If it's saved as a bin file, no config bits will be saved.
Voltage does not flow, nor does voltage go.
 

Offline electro1q

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1709 on: September 03, 2019, 05:29:19 pm »
Thks,
but always the same.
On verify gives error.
When turn off verify then writes ok.
 

Offline james38

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1710 on: September 03, 2019, 06:21:22 pm »
Maybe a bug.

What did you get when you programm only the Data-Section?
Uncheck Con.FUSE Bit when you programming the chip.
Erase all before programming.

Programm it with verify enabled.
The only way to check the programmed content is to verify it. ;-)
If the result is positiv you can programm the config bits seperatly in the final step.
 
« Last Edit: September 03, 2019, 06:25:25 pm by james38 »
 
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Offline Quarlo Klobrigney

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1711 on: September 04, 2019, 12:26:09 am »
Also make sure that the chip ID is correct by looking in the datasheet for the chip you have and compare it to what the MiniPro thinks it is, even if you have to read it in non-check ID mode.
Try https://www.microchip.com/forums/download.axd?file=0;901120
It shows: PIC16F876A.dev 30: m1 id=0xe00, not what I see in your photo.
« Last Edit: September 04, 2019, 12:39:06 am by Quarlo Klobrigney »
Voltage does not flow, nor does voltage go.
 
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Offline clip

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1712 on: September 08, 2019, 06:49:12 pm »
Hello,
I read the whole thread and didn't find a satisfactory answer to my problem. Hopefully, over the time, there will be a way to restore my programmer. I bought the TL866II plus programmer. After installing the software from the manufacturer's website there was a requirement to upgrade the software. It was done and one evening everything worked normally. The problem occurred the next day when the programmer stopped being detected by the laptop and only the red LED lights. Unfortunately, the programmer manufacturer does not respond. Up untill this point I did not know about this forum and because I needed to work I bought the same programmer just from another vendor. I installed the software from the supplied CD but there was still a problem with the USB driver failures. Therefore, I installed the latest software from the manufacturer's website and had the firmware updated. Everything went well up untill to almost 100 percent. Suddenly the installation firmware was terminated and the programmer has not been detected by the laptop since then. Only the red LED on the programmer is lit and the yellow LED flashes quickly as if no USB driver is available. But it is installed. I tried to install the entire operating system again, but the result is the same. I use W7 32bit. I'll be grateful for any idea ...
« Last Edit: September 08, 2019, 08:32:19 pm by clip »
 

Offline radioman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1713 on: September 08, 2019, 07:28:21 pm »
Quote
Everything went well up untill to almost 100 percent. Suddenly the installation was terminated and the programmer has not been detected by the laptop since then
This is a bit unclear. What was almost 100 percent? software installation or firmware update?
And btw welcome to the forum!
 

Offline clip

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1714 on: September 08, 2019, 08:20:43 pm »
Quote
Everything went well up untill to almost 100 percent. Suddenly the installation was terminated and the programmer has not been detected by the laptop since then
This is a bit unclear. What was almost 100 percent? software installation or firmware update?
And btw welcome to the forum!

Firmware update
 

Offline radioman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1715 on: September 08, 2019, 08:33:54 pm »
Looks like a failed firmware update to me. Can you try it on another PC? smells like a bad usb communication. Also can you boot a linux distro on that laptop? even a live cd is good.
 

Offline clip

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1716 on: September 09, 2019, 06:08:51 pm »
Looks like a failed firmware update to me. Can you try it on another PC? smells like a bad usb communication. Also can you boot a linux distro on that laptop? even a live cd is good.
Tested on another laptop. With W10 and Linux Ubuntu. The programmer was not detected
 

Offline radioman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1717 on: September 10, 2019, 04:41:58 pm »
Quote
The programmer was not detected
The yellow led is still blinking? I don't know what to say, seems like a hardware failure but the same thing on both devices is very strange.
 

Offline clip

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1718 on: September 10, 2019, 09:01:26 pm »
Quote
The programmer was not detected
The yellow led is still blinking? I don't know what to say, seems like a hardware failure but the same thing on both devices is very strange.
Yes on one device number 1 permanently lit red LED diode.
On the other device, the red LED is permanently lit while blinking. Video here device 2  https://mega.nz/#!Nl5UDCLL!VPQEA9qA_3bFtXymfVsDM3OmtojZWw1fBvmBQRxDdTE

 

Offline radioman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1719 on: September 10, 2019, 10:13:30 pm »
Quote
it is impossible to damage the programmer
This is what the manufacturer says. Well true no doubt, they are damaging itself. Right Mr. Wang?
There's a serious issue with the quality control with these programmers.

I remember couple of months ago someone had a strange issue with his device. The yellow led was randomly blinking and something usb error message saying that device usb error bla bla.
After couple of hours with no result i had the idea to clean the pcb with IPA. That was the cure!

In your case i don't know what the problem is. Can be a  hardware issue; have you tried another USB cable? just saying. That yellow led is rapidly blinking when the device is in unconfigured state. Also this can be a firmware issue (a boot loop or something). When you are in linux that yellow led still blinks?
Here: https://github.com/radiomanV/TL866/raw/master/docs/TL866II.pdf is the schematic diagram for the TL866II+ if someone needs it.
My advice is to return both programmers if you can. Or perhaps the manufacturer will provide us something to restore bricked devices.
 

Offline clip

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1720 on: September 11, 2019, 07:07:53 pm »

My advice is to return both programmers if you can. Or perhaps the manufacturer will provide us something to restore bricked devices.
[/quote]
The manufacturer is not communicating. I'm trying to return the device
 

Offline Dwaine

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1721 on: September 19, 2019, 05:23:56 am »
I've had my MiniPro TL866 programmer for about a year.    I have been using it to make copies of my snes and Sega game carts so I have backups.   I've never had a problem and I'm actually glad I purchased it.

I see a lot of the messages of people having a lot of problems with theirs.  Are there any people here that really like their MiniPro TL866 and use it a lot?
 
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Offline DarkThanatoS

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1722 on: September 28, 2019, 12:58:08 am »

Good evening, I'm new to the forum. I need your help I want to buy the TL866iiPlus minipro by Amazon, and I want to know about all those who sell which is the original since I don't want to buy the cloned versions.
I also want to buy with all the accessories with the different sockets.


Thank you.
 

Offline all_repair

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1723 on: September 28, 2019, 02:49:51 am »
I've had my MiniPro TL866 programmer for about a year.    I have been using it to make copies of my snes and Sega game carts so I have backups.   I've never had a problem and I'm actually glad I purchased it.

I see a lot of the messages of people having a lot of problems with theirs.  Are there any people here that really like their MiniPro TL866 and use it a lot?
Some bought clone, and many are those buying the cheaper version and trying to hack it to a slightly more expensive (few dollars more) version and ran into issue.  Normally I don't reject this hacking as I do it myself when the manufacturer sells at much more expensive price and with features that I seldom use.  But this cheap programmer, I bought the more expensive version, hope to support the maker to be around longer so they can write more algo to support more chips.  I figure that as soon as they stop writing new algo, I shall need to spend more to get yet another new universal programmer to support the newer chips.
 

Offline don.r

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1724 on: September 29, 2019, 06:32:13 pm »
Thanks radioman for all the help on this thread. I have a genuine TL866CS that I foolishly flashed using the firmware of 6.85 and it never worked properly afterwards. I did the resistor trick tacking it to the regulator and holding it to R26 and reflashed it with the firmware from 6.71 and all is well again... after a few reboots/programming attempts.
 


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