Got lazy, as much because I’ve too many projects on the boil. So I did a search and found the best all around programmer gadget.
It’s a beast.
Ordered a XGecu TL866II Plus USB Universal Programmer with 16 adapters.
Good for programming 15000+ parts.
Brings PLD and GAL back into my toolkit, since I struggle with why you want an FPGA for small logic solutions. Especially when the NIOS and ARM options, while sexy, seem be overkill for many projects when an ESP8266 or a ESP32 suffice – as long as sufficient I/O ports are there for the job.
Still, my FPGA are, so far, only for learning VHDL/Verilog and problem solving while doing exercises. Hobby learning.
So, yes. I can now program PLD/GAL that are defined by CUPL, with outputs in HEX but not JEDEC.
Warning! There was mention on a video unpacking on Youtube of problem with clones of the XGecu TL866II Plus. The software for the programmer is only on the XGecu site and the warning is that clones may not work with the genuine software.
The videographer did mention that black 40pin sockets (but not green 40pin sockets) were an indication of “real” units. If you watch the video he provides, you can pick up the name of the ebay shop he bought his “real” unit.
I almost bought one from that ebay shop but I hesitated and I was glad I did. I checked the XGecu site and the ebay site did not appear to be listed as a genuine retailer. In fact, you’ll note the link above is to the Aliexpress store of XGecu as pointed to by the XGecu site. There is a photo on that XGecu page with both green and black 40pin sockets (or at least as per the pictures). So is a black or a green 40pin socket indication of a “read” unit or is it that you may get a black one or a green one?
Fun fact, the genuine XGecu store on Aliexpress seems to have the best prices as well. Not to mention, while the videographer bought from an ebay store, he did not buy from the XGecu ebay store. DOH! Of course, he could also have bought from the official XGecu Amazon store. Double DOH!
Not sure then if the bloke unboxing a “genuine” XGecu TL866II Plus was, just going on the black socket “evidence”. You may well be buying a clone, even if it has a black socket, if you don’t buy from a vendor listed at the XGecu site.
Sort of begs the question, why do you have so many sellers on the internet if you can go to the genuine sellers. There is something wrong with the Internet and how its used.
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