Need a new EC programmer

[reformatt]

So I have a SVOD 3, which has served me well for many years. But I now find that there are newer EC's that aren't supported by it (like NPCE688PA0DX), and for that I have to buy a SVOD 4 instead. Confirmed this in the SVOD telegram group.

Before I splash out and pay nearly $500 AUD for it, I was looking at the alternative Vertyanov Successor 50 programmer. But because their main store is located in Russia, it's impossible to buy one directly from them because of the sanctions. They did give me some others to contact but it all seems a bit dodgy. Sergey in the UK wants 300 Euro for it, that brings it to over $500 AUD. There was only one online store called Micropro, but the email given doesn't work. For such an expensive purchase, I'm not comfortable just transferring someone money in the hope they ship me a legitimate product.

Is it worth all this hassle to try and get a Vertyanov or just stick with the SVOD 4? Would appreciate some others thoughts.

[Akhlz001]

Just get the SVOD 4, much better support and all around a much better product. I have used both last gen models while the Vertyanov is good the SVOD is just next level. I generally use a RT809H for unlocking and such as I deal with SOIC8/WSON8/SOP8 chips, for anything EC KBC related SVOD.

[reformatt]

Thanks, you convinced me. I just ordered one directly off the SVOD store - it's the cheapest option out of everywhere else. Came in at just under $500 AUD (our exchange rate to the EURO is pretty poor right now). The Telegram channel has a lot of useful history there too, only just stumbled onto it.

Couple of things troubled me about the Vertyanov. No direct means of purchasing it from the developer or an easy way to pay for it (because they are in Russia), no direct download link to the software, and you can only get into the Telegram channel once you have bought the programmer. So you have no idea what that is like until you've already got it. Might be a great product, but its harder to get a hold of than rocking horse poop.

[reformatt]

One other thing I will add for others is the only site I found that you could order a Vertyanov online (apart from Aliexpress or Ebay) was one called Micropro.store. I sent them an email to their listed address on their website and this bounced. I asked about it to Vertyanov support and they aren't aware of them so this site might be a scam.

[mon2]

Try Ebay:

https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?item=...&_ssn=micropro

Then you will have the back up support from Ebay for all purchases. The above store ships out of Tunisia (with high grade olive oil).

[zlr8r]

One other thing I will add for others is the only site I found that you could order a Vertyanov online (apart from Aliexpress or Ebay) was one called Micropro.store. I sent them an email to their listed address on their website and this bounced. I asked about it to Vertyanov support and they aren't aware of them so this site might be a scam.

i ordered one (since i got NO reply to an earlier post...) from them about a week ago direct from their site. (I had seen it on eBay, but it worked out cheaper direct)..
They emailed me and said it was being despatched on Tuesday this week by DHL.
DHL just handed it to me.
Just comes in a plain box with ribbon cables. No manuals , docs, so i guess i have go Googling for those....

[reformatt]

Are you talking about SVOD4 or Vertyanov? Both there is very little documentation on, however both have a Telegram group where most of the help is offered.

The SVOD Telegram group is quite active, and has a searchable history (as I would presume the Vertyanov group does as well). The SVOD group is open to join, but I think you need a code to join the Vertyanov group (you get that once you buy the programmer). Aditya11ttt (who has a YT channel on a lot of laptop repairs and some videos on the SVOD) is active on the SVOD group.

From what I've seen of the Vertyanov, the SVOD software is way more elegant. You can create your own keyboard maps graphically for ITE/ENE EC's, or upload/download to an online database if someone has already done it. The Vertyanov seems more txt like in config terms.

[zlr8r]

Are you talking about SVOD4 or Vertyanov? Both there is very little documentation on, however both have a Telegram group where most of the help is offered.

The SVOD Telegram group is quite active, and has a searchable history (as I would presume the Vertyanov group does as well). The SVOD group is open to join, but I think you need a code to join the Vertyanov group (you get that once you buy the programmer). Aditya11ttt (who has a YT channel on a lot of laptop repairs and some videos on the SVOD) is active on the SVOD group.

From what I've seen of the Vertyanov, the SVOD software is way more elegant. You can create your own keyboard maps graphically for ITE/ENE EC's, or upload/download to an online database if someone has already done it. The Vertyanov seems more txt like in config terms.

Okay, I have had a rather shocking experience regarding "Support" for the Vertyanov Successor programmer...

So... i wanted to test out the Vertyanov Successor50 Base 3 on a Bios chip that was confirmed as readable by the software. But when I tried to do this using a chip-clip, i wasnt getting ANY pins registered which i thought was weird...why are NONE being detected , when all my other programmers did the job just fine ?

Apparently I then had join Telegram , just in order to get the software to use with it....mmm?...sounds Dodgy?).
There is also NO English manual available so you have to translate EVERYTHING If you can manage to lay your hands on any.... which is slim-pickings!

But, this is where it all went to hell, yup, having just unboxed my shiny new Vertyanov Successor, to getting Banned on the same Telegram channel a few minutes later LOL!! ... To get banned, all i had to do was , ASK A QUESTION! Yep! that was it, I asked why the chip-clip wasnt working with the Vertyanov Successor, and what was needed to make it work, as I had a chip that wasnt possible to desolder. So that my friends, is how you get to lose £220 in under a minute... Buy something with no instructions whatsoever with it, then just ask a question on their Telegram channel, why an accessory doesnt work on it, but does on others....?

Anyway, be warned. Do not expect any reliable help to questions/queries on Telegram, especially if you are a beginner. All they do is mock you and reply with no-use answers, then ban you for just being there and asking for help! Pathetic Support!

I really wish now I had listened to Sorin! Should have been "Svod 4" all the way.... So, anyone want this Vertyanov Successor50 (i no longer have a need for) ? On ebay very soon...


hope the SVOD4 support is better .....

[reformatt]

Thanks for sharing that info. I'm sure it will help others in the future.

The fact there was no direct means to download the software was a big factor for me. I can't even road test it without first buying the product in order to join the Telegram channel to download it. If you are now banned, how are you expected to get software updates? The SVOD software is freely available to at least see how it works. Most of the functions won't become available till it connects to the programmer which in of itself is like a hardware dongle. Why Vertyanov do it the way they do is anyone's guess.

I think the only reason it became popular was that it was significantly cheaper than the SVOD and there were clones/copies out there as well. But I think it lives more in reputation now since the programmer is on par with the SVOD in terms of price, and it's so difficult to obtain due to the conflict in Ukraine. I was only looking at it due the feedback by others on the forum.

Both programmers are in effect the results of reverse engineering IP that isn't available freely in the public domain. Try to find a datasheet on an embedded controller for example. I think the threat of litigation of copyright infringement is probably why no one in the west has developed such a product, and why there is very little documentation about it. For the most part, the SVOD software is reasonably intuitive and if you are doing EC programming, most techs should be able to work it out anyway.

Micropro.store claim they have a 30 day return window for change of mind returns if you pay the return shipping. But the support address bounced as unknown when I emailed them so how you go about it I don't know. That was a red flag for me at the outset and the developer also had zero knowledge of that site on top.

If you are looking at the SVOD4 now, you can join the SVOD channel on Telegram freely so you'll be able to see what is there. The developer is also active and Aditya11ttt has a YT channel explaining how some of the functions of the SVOD work. I've ordered all my SVOD's and adaptors from their official site over the last 5 years without problem.

https://t.me/SVODprojectTM

You can always post questions here and I'll help if I'm about or you can PM me as I don't check the forum that regularly.

[evserv]

I've known Vertyanov for many years and have all versions of his programmers. This is the best programmer I've seen for the EC, and everything I read here feels like a deliberate slander against his programmer.

Besides constantly improving his programmer, Vertyanov actively helps his users solve problems on his Telegram channels—you can add yourself to any of his channels and groups and see how it works.

Regarding his banning someone, it's a heroic act to express negativity and behave inappropriately on his channel.

[reformatt]

I've known Vertyanov for many years and have all versions of his programmers. This is the best programmer I've seen for the EC, and everything I read here feels like a deliberate slander against his programmer.

Besides constantly improving his programmer, Vertyanov actively helps his users solve problems on his Telegram channels—you can add yourself to any of his channels and groups and see how it works.

Regarding his banning someone, it's a heroic act to express negativity and behave inappropriately on his channel.

I'm sure it's a wonderful device. But since sourcing one is like finding hens teeth, that's rather a moot point. I disagree that this thread is slanderous.

The primary thrust of this thread was in the difficulty in sourcing the hardware and the software for the Vertyanov, something which is not an issue with SVOD4. Since you seem to be on the marketing team, I would suggest that you fix up this area if you want to sell more programmers.

[evserv]

I don't work for Vertyanov's company; I'm a regular user who repairs and unlocks laptops. I don't see any problems with purchasing the programmer and downloading the software update.

You can use his website: https://www.vss.store

Links to the Telegram group and forum page (they have links to updates and manuals for the programmer, and you can also ask the author questions):
https://www.vss.store/forum

Main Telegram channel:
https://t.me/+PcDAWi9nMo84MTIy

Direct software links:
https://www.vssh.store/VERTYANOV_JIG.../SUCCESSOR.rar
https://www.vssh.store/VERTYANOV_JIG...IG_ver_3.X.rar

There are also two other dealers in the UK and Turkey, meaning you can purchase the programmer in Europe and Asia using your favorite payment systems.

It's simple -

[Pixel Iceberg]

when I tried to do this using a chip-clip, i wasnt getting ANY pins registered which i thought was weird

Show me where the manufacturer has stated that his equipment supports working with clips. For what reason do you think it should do this? For what reason do you EXPECT to receive technical support for an option NOT PROVIDED by the manufacturer?
By the way, having sufficient technical experience and competence in this matter, it is quite possible to use the equipment in this way - it will not be difficult for a real specialist. But the equipment is NOT REQUIRED to work in this mode, just as the author is NOT REQUIRED to be responsible for supporting modes that were not originally provided for - you fully assume responsibility and risks for operating the device in improper conditions.
I've been using it successfully for several years, but I've made certain changes to the circuit to make it more stable in this mode.

Apparently I then had join Telegram , just in order to get the software to use with it

The software download is AVAILABLE on the official website of the manufacturer. If you don't buy directly from him, this is YOUR SELLER's area of responsibility.

There is also NO English manual available so you have to translate EVERYTHING

The entire program interface is written in English. All the messages, hints, and sequence of actions. Don't make a disaster out of YOUR inability to read a few phrases in English - it's not a software problem.

Anyway, be warned. Do not expect any reliable help to questions/queries on Telegram, especially if you are a beginner. All they do is mock you and reply with no-use answers, then ban you for just being there and asking for help! Pathetic Support!

You have purchased a device for professional repair of consumer electronics. This implies a basic command of technical English, or at least the ability to use a translator for your language, as well as certain competencies in the field of electronic device repair. Also, the ability to find and read the technical documentation for the chip you are working with, and take into account the features of digital communication buses such as SPI, I2C, and more. No one is obligated to teach you soldering skills or basic knowledge of circuit engineering. No one is obligated to tolerate your illiteracy and guess at the problems you are facing. I often see blurry photos of screens or boards in support, and endless HELP questions without specifying goals, operations performed, tools used, and more. And the lack of answers to support questions. And only in a few cases out of thousands, the problem is really with the programmer or the software. In all other cases, the user simply does not understand what he is doing and is unable to read the message from the screen.
And I know of only a few cases where a user has received a "read-only" restriction for abusing support resources, wasting time, and not providing information to solve a problem. Everyone else got help, despite their incompetence and unwillingness to help support solve their problem.
Vertyanov has excellent support.

[Vusal]

The support is terrible. The support on SVOD3.de was terrible too. The software locks up on its own, causing a lot of problems with some ITE software. Including SVOD4. I use SVOD3, but sometimes there are anomalies with SIO software. The software side is unstable. SVOD4 is not top-level software like that.

[reformatt]

Well! This does have a feel of an Apple support group now (you're using/holding it wrong etc). So he cops it on the Telegram group, now he is copping it here. The responses here only reinforce the experience he had. I think you are preaching to your converted, and it does come across that the Vertyanov supporters are a bit cliquey.

Does it hurt to explain things a little, rather than belittle? We all had to start somewhere you know.

Both critics here are from Russia. I get that you are defending your countryman. And I don't believe I have criticised him or the product. It's irrelevant to me how good it is if I can't easily source or purchase it which for me was the deciding factor between SVOD and Vertyanov. I just want to go to the online store and purchase a genuine item with my Visa/Mastercard. This is something I cannot do via the VSS official store due to the sanctions against Russia. I'm also not comfortable purchasing it through a faceless character on WhatsApp either.

Support for SVOD is pretty patchy at times, so I'm not sitting here trumpeting one over the other. At the end of the day, both products provide something very unique in our field- the ability to read and reprogram an embedded controller. Given that there is virtually no datasheets released publicly on EC's, it's a pretty amazing feat from both of them to develop these products, and to continue to expand there features. There is no product developed in the western hemisphere that I'm aware of that could do what they do (I'm assuming this is because anyone who did would be sued for IP infringement). There'd be a lot of motherboards going in the bin without them.

[Pixel Iceberg]

The responses here only reinforce the experience he had.

I found his message. He was immediately told that working with the clip was not guaranteed. They also recommended trying to reduce the operating speed to 1 MHz. He did not provide any information about the target chip or board, the quality of the connection, the availability of power and other chips on the SPI bus, or the program log. He did not respond and did not attempt to solve the problem by reducing the frequency. Instead, he started comparing the programmer to the CH341, spamming his question to other groups, and complaining about the quality of the programmer and support. After a few messages, he received a restriction on sending them. But he can still read, receive, and use all the useful information from the group.
The first rule of asking for help in any community is to help the community to help you. Provide as much useful information as possible and tell us about the steps you have taken yourself to understand and fix the problem. It is unlikely that any of the participants (anywhere) will want to help a person who starts a dialogue by stating "My problem is your problem and you have to guess what it is and solve it without my participation."

Does it hurt to explain things a little, rather than belittle? We all had to start somewhere you know.

The answer was given immediately - the programmer is not designed to work with high currents. The matter is settled. He also ignored the recommendation to reduce the frequency of SPI. As well as the recommendation not to write to all the chats, but to limit himself to one where he asked his first question.
The task of support does not include conducting courses on electronics and circuit engineering for each customer. If you got into an electronic device without proper knowledge, this is solely your problem, and only you can solve it yourself. And certainly not at the expense of the resources to support any commercial product, be it the Vertyanov programmer or any other.
If you had at least thought about it, if you really wanted to know why the CH341 can and some other one can't, then you probably would have thought of comparing the speed of operation as well. And the speed and stability of digital communication buses SUDDENLY turns out to be directly dependent on the quality of signal bus tracing, receiver/transmitter power, interference, and line capacitance. The clips doesn't just add another additional weak link to this formula. In the hands of an illiterate specialist, it represents an infinitely deep hole of opportunities to make everything wrong. Why would anyone in their right mind waste time looking for solutions to problems that aren't device or software problems?

I get that you are defending your countryman

Not at all. I'm just defending the support side as a whole. Eliminating customer incompetence is not a support task. It has nothing to do with the product.
I also noticed deliberately false claims about software unavailability or language barriers. Believe me, I have the same difficulties when working with any content in foreign languages - this is my problem, and I do not shift its solution to anyone.
I don't have the opportunity to compare both devices directly, I use only one of the ones discussed here, but I also sometimes use the old, outdated Vertyanov JIG model. I am satisfied with their work, as well as the work of the support, where they helped me.

I just want to go to the online store and purchase a genuine item with my Visa/Mastercard. This is something I cannot do via the VSS official store due to the sanctions against Russia.

Alas, few people are happy with the current situation in the world, it affects everyone. And again, this is not a problem that a developer can or should solve.

[DarkMooon]

Okay, I have had a rather shocking experience regarding "Support" for the Vertyanov Successor programmer...

So... i wanted to test out the Vertyanov Successor50 Base 3 on a Bios chip that was confirmed as readable by the software. But when I tried to do this using a chip-clip, i wasnt getting ANY pins registered which i thought was weird...why are NONE being detected , when all my other programmers did the job just fine ?

Apparently I then had join Telegram , just in order to get the software to use with it....mmm?...sounds Dodgy?).
There is also NO English manual available so you have to translate EVERYTHING If you can manage to lay your hands on any.... which is slim-pickings!

But, this is where it all went to hell, yup, having just unboxed my shiny new Vertyanov Successor, to getting Banned on the same Telegram channel a few minutes later LOL!! ... To get banned, all i had to do was , ASK A QUESTION! Yep! that was it, I asked why the chip-clip wasnt working with the Vertyanov Successor, and what was needed to make it work, as I had a chip that wasnt possible to desolder. So that my friends, is how you get to lose £220 in under a minute... Buy something with no instructions whatsoever with it, then just ask a question on their Telegram channel, why an accessory doesnt work on it, but does on others....?

Anyway, be warned. Do not expect any reliable help to questions/queries on Telegram, especially if you are a beginner. All they do is mock you and reply with no-use answers, then ban you for just being there and asking for help! Pathetic Support!

I really wish now I had listened to Sorin! Should have been "Svod 4" all the way.... So, anyone want this Vertyanov Successor50 (i no longer have a need for) ? On ebay very soon...


hope the SVOD4 support is better .....

I have been using jig3.1 since its release. Newbies' questions are quite trivial and can be easily found in the support chat. In most cases, it is an incorrectly connected cable and failure to read the instructions.
The support is top-notch. If something can be done to solve the problem, they will do it in no time.
I apologize, but it is not always possible to answer dozens of similar questions from new users every day.
Please use the search function, where you will find answers to almost all of your questions.
Thank you for your attention.

[reformatt]

I also noticed deliberately false claims about software unavailability or language barriers.

Whilst direct links have been provided in this thread, I do not see a link on the VSS.store website. Support tab links you to the forum and nothing else. Can you please show us for the benefit of others where this link is?

[Pixel Iceberg]

Whilst direct links have been provided in this thread, I do not see a link on the VSS.store website. Support tab links you to the forum and nothing else. Can you please show us for the benefit of others where this link is?

Yes, the design of the site does not allow you to place the "Download" button in an accessible place. The author can't change that yet. Therefore, the link to the software is available from the "Description" tab in the "Successor" product profile
Information about this is posted on the Help Center page:
Scroll down > link Help Center in the left corner, then read the text:

Links to instructions and files for updating firmware are located in the product cards in the "Description" tab.