Programming PALs

[Badwolf]

Morning all.

I'm building one of @tOriman's reverse engineered Falcon Speed cards which has both GALs and PALs on board.

Having worked with GALs a bit, I foolishly presumed PALs worked the same way and I'd be able to burn them in my trusty TL866ii programmer. Alas not so.

So: how does one go about burning PALs in 2026? Am I missing something obvious with the 886ii? Is there a way to do it with parts I may have lying around or does it require a specialist programmer. If the latter, what makes sense in this day and age?

Thanks!

BW

[DoG]

Can't you use a GAL20V8 instead?

[tOriman]

[...]

[tOriman]

Hi,

@Badwolf, try using a GAL20V8, as DoG suggested. I had unexpected problems when I used a PALCE16V8 instead of a GAL16V8, and to this time I don't know why... If you use regular GALs it should work (unless otherwise LOL). I built 5 of them, and they all worked on the Kroll's Falcon. The 286 processor is crucial. I ended up buying Intersil 286 NOS processors on eBay—nicely marked and, importantly, working.

Good Luck!

tOri

P.S. mentioned chips on ebay - *******/itm/267502578641 - 20MHz is enough - eventually you can try "Harris" from China but you need to buy 25MHz chip to avoid problems...

[Badwolf]

Can't you use a GAL20V8 instead?

@Badwolf, try using a GAL20V8, as DoG suggested. I had unexpected problems when I used a PALCE16V8 instead of a GAL16V8, and to this time I don't know why... If you use regular GALs it should work (unless otherwise LOL).

OK, cool I didn't realise they were pinout and JED compatible, but OK. I can order some of those. Thanks!

[quote[ I built 5 of them, and they all worked on the Kroll's Falcon. The 286 processor is crucial. I ended up buying Intersil 286 NOS processors on eBay—nicely marked and, importantly, working.

Thanks. I've got two Harris 25MHz ones here, from separate sources. Fingers crossed one of them is real!

BW

[tOriman]

Hi Badwolf,

Fingers crossed :) Do you have a chance to test the 286uP? Maybe in Vortex ATonce+, if you have one... I tested my 286 in this emulator :D This is quite important because the processor needs to be soldered to the PCB just like the GALs.

tOri

[Badwolf]

Fingers crossed :) Do you have a chance to test the 286uP? Maybe in Vortex ATonce+, if you have one... I tested my 286 in this emulator :D This is quite important because the processor needs to be soldered to the PCB just like the GALs.

Sadly, no. I don't have any other 286-based hardware at all. Quite a lot to check if it doesn't work first time! :)

I'm going to chicken out and socket the 286 for starters, I think.

Cheers,

BW

[tOriman]

Hi,

Fingers crossed :) Do you have a chance to test the 286uP? Maybe in Vortex ATonce+, if you have one... I tested my 286 in this emulator :D This is quite important because the processor needs to be soldered to the PCB just like the GALs.

Sadly, no. I don't have any other 286-based hardware at all. Quite a lot to check if it doesn't work first time! :)

I'm going to chicken out and socket the 286 for starters, I think.

Cheers,

BW

OK, so you'll need to solder the SMD socket to the 286 at the end of the FalconSpeed ​​assembly, as there's not much room for it. If you don't, you'll have difficulty soldering the chips around the processor. Especially IC5—the 74HC133.

tOri

[Badwolf]

OK, so you'll need to solder the SMD socket to the 286 at the end of the FalconSpeed ​​assembly, as there's not much room for it. If you don't, you'll have difficulty soldering the chips around the processor. Especially IC5—the 74HC133.

Thanks. Yes, I plan to solder the GALs, then the resistors and diode and the socket will be on last.

vlcsnap-2026-07-13-09h51m03s241.jpg

Waiting for those GALs now.

BW

[tOriman]

Hi Badwolf,

All should be OK :)

Regards
tOri