TOP2004 programmer review
I have Willem eprog programmer, but I was sick changing LPT cable each time I need to reprogram some chip. Also, Willem damaged two chips of one manufacturer. I don't like that small DIP switches too. Also, Willem can't program GAL chips.
So I searched the internet and eBay for some recent programmer. My wish list is small: USB, easy to use, GAL. And I found some Chinese made TOP series programmer. They are cheap, USB and jumper-less. Can they support CPLD? I found one in eBay, won, but didn't pay. Next day I received message from eBay, that seller is fraud and all auctions are cancelled. Also, paypal told that all money will be returned. So, I found other seller with more feedback and ordered TOP2004 programmer again for 49.99 USD. The problem is, that package sending costs from Hong Kong is very expensive- 34 USD. The only good news that American dollars are cheap these days- I love inflation rate of USD. So I payed 218LTL 00 ct. and after about 3 weeks I received programmer. As good Chinese seller wrote in the documents that it is gift and valued on 13$, I don't pay the VAT and customs fee.
I installed software, connected USB cable and everything is working. The only bad thing is that all messages in the software are written in so called chinglish language (like mine 
). but I don't care- my English is not pure too. But sometimes I have big smile from pop-up messages.
And now review about the programmer itself…
You don't need power supply for this programmer- all power is drained from USB port. It is jumperless device- all settings are done by software.
First of all I placed some EPROMs from my collection. It was UV erasable and OTP devices. Old and very old. All devices are working. Except two chips, but it is very rare chips: AMD AM27C2048 and Hitachi HN27C4096G… Also, one very old micro controller jumped to EPROM line (AMD D87C51), but programmer managed to read it too. Inside I found some software with 1991 copyright.
Next test point- various flash ROMs from personal computers and other MCU controlled devices. All available flash roms were read, erased and written again.
After flash rom, I tested programmer with SRAM with Liion backup cell. But this programmer can not read DALLAS timekeeper chips- DS1230AB. Also some static cache RAM chips from old computer were tested.
Intel hub chip is supported too- using standard PLCC to DIP adapter.
Serial eprom chips… I have only few on my workbench: ATMEL 24C02, ST 24C04, ATC 93LC46. All working fine. I can adjust the Vcc- 5, 3.3 and 2.5V.
MCUs: Atmel ATTINY2313, 90LS2343, ATMEGA8L-8PU; Microchip: PIC16F84, PIC16F84A, PIC16LF876A - all working fine.
Now time for CPLD, GAL chips. Few lines in Lattice ispLever software and I have fuse map for my GALs. Also, I need to build special PLCC to DILL adapter for GAL chips. GAL16LV8 is working- also tested in my breadboard for proper logic. Tested small GALs from Lattice and NS (National semiconductors). 20V8 working too. But 20V10 is NOT WORKING! It is bug in current software related to the size of fuse-map. Also, after experimenting with config files I found support for PALCE devices… but it is not working. I hope, that next version of the software will fix these bugs.
After manual browsing I found that this programmer has TTL logic tester. Just plug standard logic chip (74xxx, 40xxx, 45xxx), select chip type and press test. And you'll get message if the chip is working. Also there is interesting feature- logic searcher. Just insert unknown chip and press find. The result is the chip number (or group of number as programmer can not differ OK, normal or high voltage outputs).
I like this device. Just cleanup language, adjust user interface and fix problems with GAL. And maybe enable PALCE and it will be cool device.
Here is the official supported device list from manufacturer’s site. But I didn't find Intel hub chips in this list and the device HAS support for them. I just think, that list is not updated.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I think I might get one for the price the are.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:16 am
Hello, I have TOP2004 programmer, I am trying to make it work with vista, but the software is not loading, the driver is not working. I can't make use of the programmer as a result.
Having checked different forums from the web, I think I agree that there is a bug in the programmer software.
Please I need help to make TOP2004 work on vista.
Best Regards.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Your computer is for real work? Downgrade to Windows XP Pro
Vista is for lamers 
Visit manufacturer’s site: www . top2048.com/gb/
October 28th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Hi, I bought same TOP2004 programmer yesterday on ebay after reading your blog post. Thank you
(manual says TOP2004 doesn't supports 20v10).
and I found TTL test is failed with my 74S181N alu. (it might be a bug of TOP2004)
btw, u said Top2004 supports CPLD. but i can't find support chip list on manual. it only support PLD series.. (I have no experience with any CPLD) which CPLD chip product can be supported by TOP2004?.
Thank you!
October 28th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Regarding “CPLD" and “PLD"- it may be translation problems as English is not my native language. Modern CPLD/FPGA use JTAG, no need for programmer…
I don't have 74S181 to test. What version of software you have? I am using 3.28
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 am
I too bought one of these and have to say the software that comes with it is very sub-standard, no doubt i've got to get used to it but it cannot seem to ID chips. When you click the “ID" button, it just gives a message that it can only ID 27/28/29xxx EPROM. Same with trying to ID IC’s, I assume you need to click on “TYPE' and then detect?? This does absolutely nothing. My previous programmers were Sunshine Expro 80’s which had what I thought was an outdated DOS interface, but from first impressions it’s superior to the software that comes with the TOP2004. With this new programmer it’s not very intuitive and it tends to leave me wondering just repeatable and reliable it is. Maybe I haven't spent enough time with it yet, but then again I shouldn't need to spend much time with it to get it working easily?
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 am
The software is very bad made. As software is designed for Chinese language from scratch, conversion to English language is very difficult because of difference in mentation at first. I work in company that is dealing with China products and sometimes is very difficult to explain for our China partner how to adapt the product for western world…
If someone could reverse engineer the idea of this programmer… the open source world could create much better software for it…
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Oh. btw I have a question.
what is different between 20v10 and 20v8?
Thank you!
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Read datasheet! a bit more logic inside.
As GAL devices are reprogrammable, I collect them from old hardware. So I need ALL types to program.
November 8th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Has anyone tried the software for TOP2005 with the TOP2004 programmer, I would imagine that if the same types of devices are supported and the unit simply adds support for more devices that it should work?
Also, I've been trying to download the file topwin5.exe from the website listed above for the last week to try it, but it sticks at around 50%, has anyone got a copy they could email to me at circuits@aarggh.com
November 8th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Untested software ver5: topwin5.
Inside of the device:
USB connection is made with PDIUSB12:
Some data lines are driven by ULN2003A:
Also, there are lots of transistors:
Main chip is Xilinx Spartan XCS05XL:
And two chips are with abraded top, so no markings are visible:
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Hi,
What are the P27’s in the device support list ?
I am thinking about buying one of these programmers.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I don't know
This is Chinese magic. Sometimes it is very difficult to understand what they mean…
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:46 am
I just wondering if it can program DS89C430, I saw this in the supporting list on the manual’s websit, so I decided to buy one, but when I try to program that device, the software told me that “Not Support Temporyly"! It made me very upset because I bought it for its feather of programming DS89C430… Can I solve this problem by update the softwrae to a newer version?
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Yeap, mine didn't support this chip too. I recieved message: “Top2004/2005 not suport this chip!". Damn China products…