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[Andy H]

Bugger

I need to test some MODbus/TCP software that I am writing. I have a MODbus/TCP interface and a MODbus/RTU meter that I want to talk to.

I haven't used used the interface since I moved house (5 years ago) and I had forgotten the IP address so I dug out my old (WinXP) laptop (that I haven't used for 2 years) and fired up the configuration software.

All was well, it found the interface and showed me the IP address  unfortunately there was a button marked 'Update Firmware'.......... and I clicked it ........... At first I thought I had got away with it as the progress bar worked its way steadily through 20%....25%....30%. At about 40% the programme died  I restarted the programme but the interface wasn't to be found and the LEDs on the interface blinked reproachfully at me.

The good news is that I have a firmware file and that the EEPROM in the interface is removable. The chip is an AM29F040B in a 32 pin PLCC package. The bad news is I don't have a programmer.

Not sure what to do now. The interface costs about £300. Programmers seem to cost about £400

[Kevin Wood]

I've got a cr@ppy Willem programmer. I'll see if it will write to one of those.

[TheBoy]

Mine only does old style DIL stuff

[Andy H]

I've got a cr@ppy Willem programmer. I'll see if it will write to one of those.

Thanks Kevin.

I foolishly thought that writing a file to a memory chip would be trivial, (& I still suspect that there must be some 'home brew' solution that I can hook up to my arduino board for the cost of a chip carrier).

[Andy H]

Mine only does old style DIL stuff

I have just dug out a programmer that my father gave me when he packed up work.

Badged 'Watford Electronics' with a ZIF/DIL socket on the top and a ribbon cable going to what looks like a PATA/ide plug. I have never worked out how to use it and it looks like it was last used with a Viglen 386 PC.

I think I can buy an adapter with a PLCC socket on top that plugs into a DIL programmer but don't know where to start with logic levels etc

First call will be to the supplier tomorrow (if I get 5 minutes to myself) to see if they can post me a correctly flashed chip for reasonable money.........

[Kevin Wood]

I think anything from Watford electronics will be too old to support flash. Sounds like it needs a BBC Micro, TBH.

(got one of them, but it's not capable of accessing a storage device big enough to hold an image of that chip). 

[Andy H]

I think you might be right......... SWMBO has a BBCB but it hasn't been out of the box in the time I have known her

Being an ebay virgin I cannot work out whether this 'buy now' listing is genuine http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SIVAVA-Willem-Universal-Programmer-PCB50B-EPROM-SPI-FLASH-BIOS-ECU-PIC-EEPOM-/370663435173?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564d432ba5

The listing makes a special mention of the AM29F040B chip so (if it is genuine) I will probably be making my first ebay purchase.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I have a programmer here but it has a DIL socket only.

Not that it is to hard to wire another device to a DIL to do the programming (which is what we used to do years ago!)

[Kevin Wood]

Ah! Forgot to check my programmer. I know it has some PLCC sockets on it, so I'm hopeful. Drop me a PM if I forget again!

[Andy H]

Thanks everyone.

I have ordered the Willem programmer.

Adapters to carry a PLCC chip are surprisingly expensive so it seemed simplest.

Getting the MODbus interface working again is number one priority, after that I will have the means to program all sorts of chips. (I am tempted to have a play with PIC.)

[Andy H]

Wow, that was quick.

Ordered Willem on Monday evening through ebay from a supplier in Thailand.

FedEx delivered it lunchtime today (Friday)