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.