VP-20/DL-20 programmer
The VP-20/DL-20 programmers: (Category Universal Programmers)
The VP-20/DL-20 programmer is almost just as versatile as the MasterA/MasterCRD/SC-Master/VX-Multi programmers. It may not look as slick, but if you take it's price tag into consideration, it starts looking a lot better :-)) This must be one of the cheapest all-round programmers there are. However, since the introduction of the Mastera-III, the price difference has been seriously narrowed down. For about € 25,- extra, you can now get the Mastera-III instead of the VP-20.
Of course the price difference has to justified by more than the plastic housing alone. And indeed. Once you start working with this device, you also start building frustration over those silly jumpers that a normal person cannot grip without pincers. If you want to use this programmer to program PIC- and AVR type cards alternately, you will probably be looking for an electronics shop to buy some jumpers with a handle very quickly.
Attention : insert the cards with the contacts facing down.
What you need to understand when working with this programmer is the logic behind the construction.
In the introduction of this chapter I wrote about Phoenix mode and Processor mode. Just keep that in mind. Every universal programmer is designed to be able to work in Phoenix mode or Processor mode (recap):
- Phoenix mode when programming the eeprom
- Processor mode when programming the processor
This programmer is designed in such a way that you can choose what type of card you are going to program by setting some jumpers. You either choose for PIC- or AVR type card. Next, you have a look at your software to see what operating frequency it requires when running the Phoenix compatibility mode. Now you are ready to start programming:
- Pull the large switch handle up when you want to programmer in Phoenix mode (for the eeprom)
- Push the switch handle down to set the programmer to Processor mode (for the processor)
OK, to the pro's & cons then:
Advantages:
- will work with almost all popular universal programmer software
- will handle all available popular card types
- switching modes during programming is very fast (switch up or down)
- possibility to program 24Cxx eeproms via the socket on the PCB
- the price
Disadvantages:
- setting the correct mode is a bit quirky with those jumpers and switch
- the jumpers are too short to get a good grip
- no enclosure, so it's vulnerable
Please notice that there are several different versions of the VP-20/DL-20:
First there are completely assemled, ready-to-use programmers. But you can also buy them as a kit to build one yourself.
If you ever encountered any problems with your self built VP-20/DL-20 programmer, for instance error messages like: "Loader doesn't work" or"... failed at address 0000", then have a look at this page. There is a rather common error with the self built versions of the VP-20 and you might find the possible solution here.
There is another programmer with an identical name, but completely other funcionality.
Look here for more information about the DL20 parallel programmer.
Then there are several "generations" built over the years:
- the VP-2 (it's basically a VP-20 without the Atmel mode)
- the VP-2 ATM (this is a VP-2 with Atmel support)