Tiido wrote on 2026-02-17, 18:24:

The Atmel AT89Sxx are rewritable many many times, but there can be OTP versions of some compatible chip. There also isn't a problem to erase and write it even if locks are set, because erase also removes the locks. But if the chip fails to get detected etc. it is probably just defective or maybe not even the chip at all. The ones on the photo seem to be a bit suspicious...

I have to admit I did not tried to erase them first, did not come to my mind that this might be necessary. I'll try this evening. Every single pin is not mapped on the adapter, the chip has 44 Pins but the programmer only 40. But this chip is listed as supported (with AR-17 adapter) in the programmers manual, so it should work. Adapter came from Alixpress too, the original adapter with shipping from Canada would have been well above $100, the one from Chins just 3€. But they look the same, pin 1 is on the same location, but can't rule out the adapter for sure.If erasing does not work out I'll order the ones from eBay mentioned above and try thoose.

Would be also possible to erase and re-flash the original DSP coming from the Sandblaster? I do have two dead SB16s where I could remove the DSPs from and try 😉

No the original DSP chip has mask ROM and cannot be reprogrammed

It's weird, i can erase the device successfully, i can do a "blank check" which reports chip is blank (once i erased it), i can start flashing but this fails immediately. Afterwards the device is no longe blank. There's also an "ID check function which reports "incorrect ID: 1E42FF".

Maybe it's the adapter and not the chips.

janosch wrote on 2026-02-18, 18:52:

It's weird, i can erase the device successfully, i can do a "blank check" which reports chip is blank (once i erased it), i can start flashing but this fails immediately. Afterwards the device is no longe blank. There's also an "ID check function which reports "incorrect ID: 1E42FF".

Maybe it's the adapter and not the chips.

This is typical behaviour of a bad chip, had this with several eproms bought from china...

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This is typical behaviour of a bad chip, had this with several eproms bought from china...
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Thanks, i ordered 20 using the ebay link from above, let's see how thoose will work out and already asked for return on AliExpress for the others. Hopefully just 2-3 will work, that's all i need. 😉

janosch wrote on 2026-02-18, 18:52:

There's also an "ID check function which reports "incorrect ID: 1E42FF".

They're either fake or some other atmel 8051-based chip rebadged. I can't find a chip with that exact ID, closest is the AT89S4051 which uses 1E 43 FF.