What do you guys think about the Pocket Programmer?
Is it adequate to program EPROMs for our ECMs?
Is it easy to use? Hard to use?

Better than the EMP-10? Worse than?

What about the 27256 Emulator for an additional $89.95?
Is it worth getting?

Anybody have answers?

Thanks,



[Modified by VetNutJim, 2:21 PM 3/19/2002]

 

You mean in an hour and a half NOBODY knows the answers?:smash: :smash: :boxing

Just wait until we get to the hard part!!! :confused: :confused:
This is childs play.

 

Well, it isn't as robust as other models probably are, but it has taken two 3-foot falls on carpeting and still worked flawlessly on about 100 burns so far. My only complaint is that the parallel port connector is really whimpy, so if you plan to use it a lot, get a switcher box so you don't have to keep unplugging your printer.

Software is OK too. I run their Windoze version without any problems.

Their customer service also seems to be acceptable for what I have heard.

And sorry, not all of us are on the forum every 30 minutes :D

 

I am not familiar with anyone who has had the emmulator working properly in a GM ECM application. There have been a few people who have kinda gotten it to work, but there are issues with the routine in the chip needing to be reset at the right time, and then all kinds of stored values (like BLM cell) will still be off, so you might try to tune something that really only needed to have it's value updated by disconnecting the battery.

A one-man outfit like me would never get things to work correctly with an emmulator. Not enough eyes or hands. I don't even save a data run until I am at a complete stop and even then, I loose half my runs because I do all the keystrokes without looking at the computer screen (eyes pretty much in front of me). Then again, I am one of those people who never talks on a cell-phone when driving. Those people make me :U

 

I just received my Pocket Programmer last week. So far I'm very happy.
It is easy and straight forward to use. The ribbon cable mentioned earlier is pretty standard fare and they are more rugged than they appear, although I wouldnt try to tow a car with it. I have mine connected to my older computer so the printer port is always available.
So far I have copied my current Hypertech chip into an AT29C256 chip and plugged it into the ECM; it's working. I also copied the stock chip and have been comparing the two codes. Baby steps here.
I mounted an Aries low profile zif socket into the Hypertech adapter board. Every thing fits perfectly, a standard height zif socket was a little to tall and a little to wide.
I don't know about the emulator. I may try it when I've learned how to program the ECM and understand what I'm affecting.

 

I have used nothing but the PP and had good luck. I sometimes have trouble with the ZIF making a good contact but I can always tell when it is ok by doing a checksum calculation a few times. If it comes up the same each time I'm alright, otherwise it will be different everytime and I then know I have the prom seated badly. Usually just a little pressure on the lock mechanism takes care of the problem.

I bought the emulator too and I have had no problem getting it to work as long as I turn the car off before I reflash it. I don't really use it much though because it is such a pain. Until recently, I only had Diacom for logging so I would have to run two laptops - one for the PP to run the emulator and one for Diacom. Pain in the rear so I usuall just re-burn or reflash a prom then go log some more, come back re-burn, log, burn, log, burn... that could literally go on forever.

I would just go with the reflashable prom if I had to do all over again. Wouldn't take much extra time to have a few and reflash one to swap out each time. One thing I'm envious of for the flash PCM people - no burner required. Of course, if our computer crashes or looses power during a burn, big deal, easily fixed. Not so easy for the PCM guys - right Glock? Anyway, take on things for ya! -Jeff

 

Thanks a KaZillion.

That's what I needed to know as I was sitting here with my mouse hovering over the "Add To Cart" button.
Sorry I was a little impatient.
Even at work I cycle through the forum every ten minutes or so.

I've got a standard routine: Write code,Check email,Check Corvette Forum,Write more code,Check email.........
Anyway I didn't get the programmer ordered today.
On a better note there were TWO boxes waiting for me when I got home today.
One contained a EzLink Auto X Ray and the other Diacom Plus.
Now I have more toys than I have time to play with,
scanned my 91'Vette tonight with the Auto X Ray.. . .and found nothing out of the ordinary.

Tommorow is a work day for me so I better be heading to the bed.
Thanks again for the input!!

 

I just ordered the cable from AKMcables and the Datamaster software. Will do some data logging to see what my car can tell me..... :cool: Can't wait. :seeya