4000 Tsop swap

[jim7219]

I have two 4000. 1 has been working for the last year nonstop and died. It will not find a signal strength (I verified i have signal). I replace the power supply since the voltage at the antenna port was not 18v. Anyways I don't have the bx keys for the other 4000 and want to take the Tsop's out ant put in the Tsop's from the other 4000 that was working. I want to use the card from the one that was working so is that all I need to do is switch he Tsop's. Can I just do 1 (which one) Do I ned to do the Eprom as well?
I know it is a waste of time put this is what make testing fun.

Thanks

[sillywilly]

The 4000 requires two chips to be programmed in order to work correctly. The AM29F040 and the AM29F010. Forget the F040 Programmer which is too expensive plus it cannot program the AM29F010. But I have a friend who can tell you what to do, how to do it, and what you need to do it. You will be pleasantly surprised, as I was. send greypower a PM requesting info. Tell him I sent you. He is a real genius about grey boxes.

[jim7219]

Sillywilly, thanks. But they both are already programmmed 1 just died and the other does not have a box keys. I just wanted to swap the tsop on both of them. Wanted to know if there was anything else I need to do. But I will send greypower a pm.

[sillywilly]

Jim7219:

You may know already, but greypower told me the 4000 is very forgiving; you can write the same info from your other 4000 regardless of Build and it will work. You can even write your own Box Keys using Flash2. Good Luck. You do have to program the AM29F010 as well and only the "Greyhound" and "Willem" Programmers can do that. The F040 sucks!

[Canuk]

www.futurlec.xxx sells a cheap eprom programmer that will program most 27xx series eproms. The unit is $79 bucks US.

xxx=com

[sillywilly]

Canuk:

This thread is about the 4000 and other greybox IRD's. A programmer that can do 27xs series eeproms means nothing. It MUST be able to program AM29F040 and AM29F010 chips which the "Grehound" does and is $20 more than the programmer you mention. And it also programs the AM29F004 for those rare grey boxes plus it DOES DO the the 24LC16 serial eeproms which are used in many many IRDs.

Not only that, it will program these chips in-circuit.

Out of curiosity, what IRDs requires programming of 27xx series eproms? Telll me more; I am always ready to add to my knowledge and you've been on this site a lot longer than I. And I am not flaming above or being sarcastic in this paragaph. I am providing information that I think is valuable for grey box owners who want to be able to program them.

[Canuk]

That Greyhound sounds like a good deal to me.

FYI an equivalent eprom to the AM29F040 is the 27C040/27C4001 and for the AM29F010 is the 27C010/27C1001 both of which I have used in greyboxes with success.

If ordering these eproms be sure to get 100ns access time or smaller as the 120ns eproms are too slow for greybox applications.

Cheers.

[sillywilly]

Canuk: That is very interesting about those chips being a sub for the usual ones in grey boxes. The people who make the F040 say subs won't work, especially SHARP, but if it works for you, good. I'm going to forward that info to "greypower" to try. Are these chips any cheaper? The AMD brand is pricy.

He is also very helpful to people who have grey box problems. My experience with his is that he is a stand-up guy. You can PM him, or you can search fo his name and read his posts, even if you don't need a "Greyhound."

[Canuk]

you can get them at the same site as I mentioned before

xxx.futurelec.com


xxx=www

let me know how it works out for ya.

[jim7219]

I know thius turned into tsop programming thread. But... I still would like to know if I can just take the tsop out of the ird that died (had a great card never ecm) and put it in the 4000 that is good and the card from the old ird will work in the new ird ? or do you have to change the eprom as well. Both Tsops are fine and have not been ecmed.
I pm Greypower about this and all he wanted to do is sell me a programmer (which is fine this is America) he did not answer any of my questions. I just don't want to put a bunch of money into a 4000.

Thanks

[Canuk]

Yes you can change the tsop's (dip's in your case) and use the card that co-exists with those tsops(dips) and you will be fine.. You have to change both dips (am29f040 and am29f010)

The eprom does not matter (it only stores info like locks, type of switch etc.) you can leave the old one in, but a good idea after you get the ird up and running is to corrupt the eprom info (info, right, left, tv/video on the diagnostic screen) power off then do your check switch and set ask before download etc.

You wont have to program anything this way.
Cheers

[greypower]

In answer to your questions....

Yes, you can take the TSOP out of the dead IRD and put it into the good one. The IRD number and box keys are in the TSOP. You would also need to swap the 29F010 DIP as well, since part of the firmware is in this chip. You don't need to change the Eeprom. And by the way, I did answer your question in the PM. You asked me if there was a simpler way to do this, and I suggested my in-circuit programmer for grey boxes as an alternative solution to your problem.

greypower