kk2ed@comcast.net wrote:
> Kind of hard to tell, as I had to put the original eprom back in just to get
> the amp to start up properly. I took the Alphamax eprom and read it with my
> eprom reader/burner, and saved the image. After looking at the image, I
> discovered my problem - a number of blocks in the eprom are at "FF" (aka
> blank). Especially the region that contains the settings for the bandswitch
> positions. Either the chip was programmed incorrectly from the get go, or it
> lost its memory from sitting. It was stored in the protective anti-static
> chip tube all along, but crazier things have occurred!
>
>
It's not crazy. IIRC EPROMS and particularly the earlier ones had a life
of expectancy of 10 years or less if they were not in use. It's likely
the chip just lost its programming.
73
Roger (K8RI)
>
> I need to obtain an image of an Alphamax V1.00AT eprom and erase/reburn mine.
> Anyone have an Alphamax eprom lying around, and also have an eprom reader,
> and willing to capture an image for me?
>
>
>
> Eric
>
> K2WD
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dick Green WC1M" <wc1m73@gmail.com>
> To: kk2ed@comcast.net, amps@contesting.com
> Sent: Monday, January 4, 2010 12:34:36 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: RE: [Amps] Alpha 87A Alphamax upgrade
>
> What hard fault are you getting?
>
> 73, Dick WC1M
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: kk2ed@comcast.net [mailto:kk2ed@comcast.net]
>> Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 9:15 PM
>> To: amps@contesting.com
>> Subject: [Amps] Alpha 87A Alphamax upgrade
>>
>>
>>
>> Good Evening,
>>
>>
>>
>> I recently purchased an Alpha 87A, and the original purchaser provided me
>> with the Alphamax upgrade kit, which Alpha sent him, but he never installed.
>> It consists of a PAL (U8) and an eprom (U7) which are to be changed out. I
>> replaced the PAL and eprom, and installed the berg jumper, as per the
>> included instructions. However, when completed, the amplifier hard faults
>> off within 10 seconds of power up.
>>
>>
>>
>> I immediately pulled the new eprom, and reinstalled the original eprom, then
>> removed the new berg jumper, and re-assembled the amp. It works perfectly
>> with the old eprom once again. As per the instructions, the new PAL can
>> remain in place if/when reverting to the older software eprom.
>>
>>
>>
>> Just to be sure, I tried the procedure again, with the same results. The
>> worst part is the eprom's location, so it requires pulling the front panel
>> each time!
>>
>>
>>
>> The only thing I can guess is that the eprom lost some "bits" from sitting
>> in
>> a box the past 9 years or so. Or, the eprom was programmed improperly from
>> the get-go.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have eprom burning equipment here in my shop, so burning another eprom (or
>> erasing/re-burning this one) would not be an issue, but the bin image file
>> is
>> not available online anywhere as far as I can tell. Therefore, even if I
>> read the current eprom I have in my hands, I can't verify it's contents.
>>
>>
>>
>> Of course, this had to happen on a weekend, so I can't even call Alpha
>> (now RFC) until Monday.
>>
>>
>>
>> Would anyone happen to have an image of the 87A's Alphamax-capable eprom
>> contents, or at least know the CRC checksum?
>>
>>
>>
>> Anyone else experience a similar situation?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> Eric
>>
>> K2WD
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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>
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