I have at least a dozen EPROM programmers but most of them are vintage and less than convenient to use. Sometimes i want to play around with vintage hardware and software, but other time I just want to finish something i started. When all i really want to do is get code into a chip, i will turn to one of my three workhorses: my XGecu TL866II, my Martin Eberhard EB2700 Orphan Programmer, or my KEE Electronics Willam PCB6.0E. Each has at least one special skill that the others can’t do and each has significant limitations. In the end, for the particular area of vintage electronics where my interest is, I wind up needing all three plus one or two more i am in the process of building.
When programming the older chips, like the 2708, 2716, 2732, higher programming voltages is the norm and the XGecu TL866II has an 18V programming limit. So for my day-to-day programming it is out of the running based on that alone (besides, it has glitchy software that often misinterprets Intel Hex files).
When programming or reading the 2708, well the ME2700 is the only choice since the KEE Willam PCB6.0 can’t work with anything smaller than the 2716.
While the ME2700 can handle up to 2732s, I generally turn to my PCB6.0E for nearly all of my programming needs. It handles Intel hex files with no problems, handles the 21V programming, quick, and is super convenient to use.
TL866IIs are in ghe $50 range with half a dozen adapters, new PCB6.0Es are on ebay in the $40-$50 range, and the ME2700 bare board + PIC processor kit runs $55 but buying and shipping the remaining parts push the cost well above the others.
The shortest answer is: if you are looking to program 21V 2732s for the SBC-85, go directly to the PCB6.0E from KEE Electronics