I want to learn to program chips for REPROS....

[wclem]

Ok, first of all I am full of anger at this sudden urge I have to take on a new hobby LOL

Seriously though, could you guys with the knowledge point me to a good super low budget programmer so I can begin to try to make my own repro's for NES and SNES games?

I have the ability to order parts from places like Mouser etc... I may be able to get a discount through wifes work also. Though things my be cheaper on ebay etc...

I want to try to do this with Japanese carts and load roms onto them that are the same game translated. Gonna start with FFV as I have that cart.

Also, how high of a wattage iron should I be using to solder? Maybe even a few suggestions on type of iron?

You started me, now I am gonna be a pain in the ass! Seriously, thanks for any help on this.

[Ziggy]

I would suggest getting a cheap Willem programmer from eBay, like this one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEWEST-Willem-EPROM ... 48350d74e8

That's actually the one that I started with, from that seller I believe. Of course, if you don't have a PC with a parallel port you'll have to get the "True USB" version which runs a little more.

Anyways, this programmer (parallel or USB version) will be able to program any EPROM you need for NES and SNES games. I don't remember if Mouser sells programmers, but if they do, they'd be very expensive (as most pro quality programmers are).

In regards to a solder iron, I use a 15w for making repros. You'd be OK using one from Radio Shack, they're not too bad. A Radio Shit iron is actually what I use most of the time (eventually I'll treat myself with an upgrade).

I want to try to do this with Japanese carts and load roms onto them that are the same game translated. Gonna start with FFV as I have that cart.

Good deal man, massive props. I'm not a big fan of using donor carts, why needless destroy games when you can use an original cart?

On this topic, I'd also like to point out to you, you should pick up a dosolder iron (Radio Shit sells one) so that you can desolder the mask ROMs and not have to cut them off like a lot of people do. This way, you have the original mask ROM that you can use to fully restore the cart to it's original state.

[benderx]

Me two I want to make a snes game repo or if some can do it for cheap $10. Or make me an offer.

[wclem]

Holy shit.... I just looked at that beast and well uh errr.... I may be in over my head.

Dip switches, programs uh.... maybe I should just stick with ordering the chips from you guys. After I typed this I sat and read many things and looked at a bunch of stuff and this just may be more than I can undertake at this time.

I might just be too old to learn new things but it seems that there is a pretty decent learning curve on this that if I was willing to stop playing the games I may have time to undertake this LOL...

Oh well......

[Ziggy]

Me two I want to make a snes game repo or if some can do it for cheap $10.

You wanna buy a repro cart for $10? Good luck with that.

Holy shit.... I just looked at that beast and well uh errr.... I may be in over my head.

It's not that bad. The Willem programmers can be a huge pain in the ass though, mostly because the documentations that comes with it (if any at all) is horrible, and it's hard to find clear answers on the web. But the Willem's are affordable.

The True USB Willem's are jumperless, so a little easier to use.

[wclem]

If it was a car accident you would just shut the road down and leave it there LOL

No, you are right, it isnt that bad. But it is more involved than I thought. I was thinking you could just drop a blank chip on it and then just dump info on through software.

Maybe I should be starting with something a little more bare? Or am I just a dipshit who needs some hand holding LOL?

[Kirin]

I thought it might just be a better idea to resurrect an already existing thread than start my own since it's a similar question.

Anyway, seeing as how my PC doesn't do parallel ports, and I don't feel like taking on the expense of picking up an old laptop/desktop with one, that I would go with a USB programmer. I saw this one one Ebay and it seemed to be a reasonable price for NES/SNES repros. Something a friend (who does NES carts) told me is that since there is no external power supply, that I wouldn't/shouldn't have any luck programming for SNES because of the voltage it would get over straight USB. I was looking for second opinions on it before I spend the cash, because honestly, if I'm going to do it, even if I'm just starting with SNES, I would like to be able to "future proof" my hobby a little from the start.

Thanks!

[Ziggy]

That programmer looks horrible, I wouldn't get it. A few people have asked me how to work their cheap Chinese programmer, they just don't work good. In regards to the power supply, it says that it "support 5v device only" so that doesn't sound very good. Most (if not all?) E(E)PROMs are something like 12v for writing and erasing. NES and SNES, it doesn't matter, the EPROMs all have the same requirements.

It's important to understand something about the Willems though. You can program an EPROM that needs 12v using just a 5v USB cable. The programmer steps up the voltage (or down, if needed). Whether it does a good job at this is another question. You don't NEED an AC adapter, or at least, you shouldn't.

But yeah, definitely don't get that programmer you linked. I wouldn't.

[gtmtnbiker]

So whatever happened to wclem's quest to make some repros? Was he ever successful?

[jeffro11]

You bet ya! I sent him some eeprom's programmed. He made a Earthbound Zero cart successfully!!