Emax

It's a relief to hear it's not a stupid idea after all :-)

So I googled on "eeprom clip" and yes indeed, there seems to be very handy tools out there (and not that expensive).

What do you mean by "corrupted data in circuit" ?
I mean: if you are just READING out a "good" 9306 on a fully expanded working Emax-II with a clip, could you still destroy this 9306 ??
If so, I understand the concern.
If not, then perhaps you can still end up with corrupt readings, but by repeating that a few times one must be able to have the 100 pct correct data, right ?

If the concern is related to WRITING the 9306, I think this is less critical. In the sense that if the original 9306 can not be written with a clip, it can still be replaced by a new one - preferably to be put into a socket on the Emax-II instead of soldering it again.
Or is the biggest concern here that these 9306 eeproms (or equivalent) are really hard to find on the market now ? 

I guess the biggest risk/concern in this experiment would be to destroy a perfectly working 9306 containing the data we are all looking for. I can understand that there would not be that many Emax-II owners that want to take the risk to loose their eeprom settings (like Laurent experienced when cleaning his Emax-II...)
 
The contents of the different flavours of the Emax-II eeproms, that's what we are missing today.
It would be really nice if we could build up a library of BIN files for each of the most popular "extended memory" versions:
- Emax-II MONO 2MB
- Emax-II STEREO 2MB
- Emax-II STEREO 4MB
- Emax-II STEREO 8MB
I have stereo 4 and 8 MB versions, and I know someone who has a 2MB one. I don't have the equipment (yet ?) though. But I could buy these devices next week...

Are there other risks to be mitigated ?

///E-Synthesist

--- In emax@yahoogroups.com, Ted Summers <djtbs1@...> wrote:
>
> There are clips manufactured for this purpose, actually. My concern  
> would be whether you would get corrupted data in circuit. and if you  
> had a bad one, I would expect you would still need to replace the IC.
> 
> Regards.
> Ted
> 
> On Nov 8, 2009, at 11:22 AM, esynthesist wrote:
> 
> Maybe it's the most stupid idea launched on this board (mea culpa) but  
> I was wondering whether an eeprom programmer can be connected to the  
> 9306 on the Emax-II itself by wire instead of desoldering the IC.
> 
> If that's possible, these wires could be connected (soldered  
> temporarily) to the Emax-II board (bottom side), or - OK, maybe even  
> more stupid - these wires could be put in the pin holders of an empty  
> 8 pin socket, and this socket could be temporarily put (taped) on top  
> of/around the 9306 IC in such way that it makes contact with the  
> 9306's pins.
> 
> Is this nonsense or can this be done ?
> (I'm not a hardware guy, but maybe I want to become one :-)
> 
> Note: I think we can indeed assume that this 9306 is the only chip  
> containing the crucial data for memory upgrades, stereo upgrades and  
> calibrations.
> Here is an extract from the diagnostics guide:
> (...)"Adjust Features -
> This function allows a technician in the field to restore software
> dependent features (such as memory size and stereo sampling) in
> cases where the EEPROM has been erased or damaged. If you
> have an Emax II that has forgotten what options it has, call the
> factory for instructions."(...)
> And here's an extract from the service manual:
> (...)"There is also a EEPROM which contains important non-volatile  
> information such as calibrations. The EEPROM is interfaced to the main  
> CPU using a bizzare combination of the floppy side select, the MIDI  
> off signal, a chip enable, and the MIDI interrupt lines."(...)
> 
> ///E-Synthesist
> 
> --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, Ted Summers <djtbs1@> wrote:
>  >
>  > Well, I don't have an Emax 2, but I believe i can safely remove and  
> re-
>  > install the 9306
>  > This chip is actually a National Semiconductor 93C06. its current 8
>  > pin direct replacement is the 93C46 which is 30 cents at mouser.
>  >
>  > My EEPROM programmer that makes the PALs for the SCSI upgrade has the
>  > 93C06 and the 93C46 in the device list.
>  >
>  > I have a static safe solder station and a PACE for safe successful
>  > removal of the chip.
>  > If someone with Emax 2 models lives in the Washington / Oregon area I
>  > would be willing to put my skills to use and pull the IC, place the
>  > socket and read the IC.
>  > In preparation, we could get some 93C46 and verify that they actually
>  > work in replacement for the 93C06, though since they are in the  
> Cross-
>  > reference I don't see any reason why they wouldn't.
>  >
>  > That being said, anytime you touch a static sensitive device with a
>  > soldering iron there is a *chance* of damage.
>  > But as far as minimizing risk, I am probably one of the people who  
> has
>  > all the equipment to have the most successful outcome.
>  >
>  > I just don't have an Emax 2, or I would just test it out
>  > myself.....Emax 2 is on my wish list when I have money. Even a dead
>  > one- I might be able to bring back to life....
>  >
>  > Regards,
>  > Ted
>  >
>  > On Nov 8, 2009, at 9:24 AM, Laurent/LIFELIKE wrote:
>  >
>  > Sounds very dangerous to perform that desoldering.
>  > Maybe we should simply try to enter the Diagnostics submenu 'adjust
>  > features' that contains a kind of challenge code response algorythm
>  > that could be easily decoded. Did somebody tried to check that  
> option?
>  > I wrote down the numbers but cant find any sense, they seem to be
>  > generared randomly, or am i wrong?
>  > On the other hands, there was this online shop "soundlogic usa" in
>  > California that was selling Emax upgrade boards and that floppy back
>  > in the days. The website is still there, but has been rebuilt, you  
> can
>  > still find upgrades for EIII and other brands.
>  > On the news it says that Mike, soundlogic's owner, studios burned  
> with
>  > the big fire in California a couple of years ago, maybe the floppies
>  > died in there, sounds like the Emax malediction :-))
>  > Ok not so funny.
>  >
>  > Laurent
>  >
>  > Sent from an iPhone
>  >
>  > Le 8 nov. 2009 à 16:08, "Everett" <evy_newt@> a écrit :
>  >
>  > > I'm curious, but maybe not THAT curious. I can't find those chips
>  > > anywhere either. It's only an 8 pin DIP though, so I have plenty of
>  > > those sockets lying around from various projects. It's only a 16 x
>  > > 16 bit array... seems like it wouldn't be able to hold too much
>  > > information. I guess they are just placeholders for options
>  > > installed? I'll check my programmer for support. I just have one of
>  > > those universal SIVAVA boards.
>  > >
>  > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "tristanupton" <tu@> wrote:
>  > > >
>  > > > You need the remove 9306 EEPROM, its a small 8 pin chip soldered
>  > > to the main board and designated IC24. You will need to desolder
>  > > this chip to read in your burner and then you will need to resolder
>  > > it back onto the main board. I suggest soldering an 8 pin DIP  
> socket
>  > > in its place and then just inserting the EEPROM into the socket
>  > > rather than resoldering it direct to the board.
>  > > >
>  > > > If you are not 100% sure what you are doing and confident in your
>  > > soldering skills then I suggest not doing this. You run the risk of
>  > > damaging the EEPROM and then your Emax II may no longer recognise
>  > > the full memory or the stereo sampling. It is also possible you
>  > > could damage something else on the Emax main board during removal  
> or
>  > > reinsertion of the chip. Also check whether your EPROM burner
>  > > actually supports 9306 series EEPROMs, some EPROM burners may not.
>  > > >
>  > > > /Tristan
>  > > >
>  > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "Everett" <evy_newt@> wrote:
>  > > > >
>  > > > > I can try to do this, but I'm a little nervous about killing my
>  > > box. If somebody can do a little more leg work before I crack into
>  > > the hardware I would feel a little better. I have an EPROM burner  
> so
>  > > I would be able to produce a bin file for an 8MB machine. Let me
>  > > know which one is needed and if there is a risk of this disabling  
> my
>  > > machine.
>  > > > >
>  > > > > Thanks...
>  > > > > Everett
>  > > > >
>  > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "dwv1957" <dwv1957@> wrote:
>  > > > > >
>  > > > > > That makes more sense,I have never heard of the 27C64 being
>  > > reprogrammed in circuit. If anyone has a 6 or 8 meg machine, and  
> can
>  > > read the eeprom, send me the .bin file, I have a spare 9306 I can
>  > > reprogram, to test in my machine. If it works, I'll see if I can  
> get
>  > > a bunch of eeproms, and program them for 4/6/8 meg machines.
>  > > > > >
>  > > > > > --- In emax@yahoogroups.com, "esynthesist" <esynthesist@>
>  > wrote:
>  > > > > > >
>  > > > > > > I thought these configurations parameters (memory size,
>  > > calibration settings, ...) are written to the 9306 eeprom instead  
> of
>  > > the two normal eproms. So I guess the eeproms must be reprogrammed,
>  > > not the eproms. Am I wrong ?
>  > > > > > >
>  > > > > > > ///E-Synthesist
>  > > > > >
>  > > > >
>  > > >
>  > >
>  > >
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