I have, on occasion, recommended Xeltek as a brand of programmer, I can no longer do that.

I "inherited" a Xeltek programmer that was purchased less than 3 1/2 years ago. My collegue that used it gave it to me when he did not need it any more (now uses ISP BIOS chips on the x86 systems).

I requested from Xeltek a PLCC adapter for a couple of chips that have been around for a good while (W87E516 and P89C51Rx2) and I was informed that, in order to support these chips a replacement programmer at $500+ would be required because the algorithm for these chips were not available for that model. Evidently the algorithm is available for the newer models.

So, instead of spending $500+ I will still trundle out to production when I need to parallel program a chip.

Our "almost antique" BP microsystems programmers that was purchased much more than 5 years ago handle these chips beautifully (with adapters), so there would be nothing technical making it impossible for Xeltek to handle them with our existing unit.

I consider it an absolute requirement for recommending a programmer that it is upgraded for free (excluding, of course, socket adapters) to handle newer derivatives to the extent that is possible.

So, please disregard my previous recommendations of Xeltek.

NOTE this does not in any way state that Xletek programmers are defective or any such, it just reflect that for the above reason I do not feel that I can recommend the brand any more.

Erik