TL-966, any version. I like both my old TL-866A and newer TL-866II+
because they are supported by the open source "minipro" util. But the
maker no longer sells those and you have to get them from ebay or amazon
or aliexpress.
The current models T48 and T56 are apparently fine too, you are just
limited to using their windows app to run it, which does work in wine so
it's actually still usable from linux (this much I do know directly
because it's the same for the II+).
So depending on what you care about, a CS will be the cheapest if you
can find one. It's the same as the A but without an ICSP heater for
in-circuit jtag programming of some chips. It is perfect for DIP eproms.
The A version adds the icsp header, and the II+ version has new guts
inside and is like the A but newer and supports more chips.
You will also need a uv eraser. There's a generic $15 blue platic one
you can get anywhere. It's fine.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255956579505
https://www.ebay.com/itm/363143496160
If you don't care about being able to use the open source software, you
can get either of the current models from their official store. The
website looks sketchy but autoelectric.cn is the real site and links
from there go to their official ebay and aliexpress shops.
You don't really need to get one of the kits with 50 different adapters
just for working on these old machines that have all DIP parts. You can
always get them later if you decide you need them. A used TL-866CS will
be the cheapest since it's both an old model now and lacks the ICSP port
so most people want the A or II+ versions. But the age doesn't matter
at all. The minipro software supports it and can handle every chip
you're likely to encounter in 80's machines, and really you're probably
only ever even going to care about exactly one chip, 27C256.
On 2/15/23 16:46, Joseph Colson III wrote:
While surfing the private files on the Club100 site the file below
caught my eye as I have a booster pack and would like to update the
System ROM. My question for the group is how much do the programmers
cost? What inexpensive programmer would you suggest? Is it difficult
to program? Any links to software or documentation would be helpful.
As Always Thanks for your help,
Joe
( BP1ROM_Fixed.bin )
This is the Booster Pak v1.23 "BP1" main system ROM image which includes
the multi-page file display bug fix. With the original ROM, if you have
more than two pages of files to display, you would only ever be able to
see the second page of files when pressing shift-down. The third page of
files or beyond was inaccessible due to a limitation in Traveling
Software's TPDD client. Well, with this replacement BP1 system ROM
image, the limitation is gone! The bug fix was originally made available
in Ken Pettit's release of the TS-DOS 4.10 option ROM. This fix has been
extended to all RAM versions of TS-DOS, as well as the SARDOS option
ROM. And now, it is available for the "Disk" client that is in your
Booster Pak's system ROM. Just burn this image to a standard 27C256
EPROM and replace your Booster Pak's "BP1" chip which would be all the
way on the bottom-right side of your Booster Pak's sockets.
--
bkw
