EasyAVR problem

Hi

I am new to this group and new to embedded world. I both few months ago this board for beginers (link in English for the descendant EasyAVR2

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with some addons, I couldn't find the link to my version, suppose it is outdated, this one have USB programmer, my has paralel port). The studio they ship with it was also very old 16bit Windows, I don't remember exectly the version, but from Atmel.

Now, my problem was, I couldn't write anything into the chip (90S8515). This studio could connect to the board, read the EEPROM and program, but if I tried to erase or write something back, it was always failing, without any specific error. I tryied getting in contact with the support of this site, but they didn't bother too much answering back. All they could do was to reffer me to their poor users manual. But, I am sure I understanded it well, I am novice in embeded programming, but I am C/C++ programmer >5 years already, and I don't think there is much place for misunderstanding in their several pages user's manual.

So, afer many sleepless nights, posting questions to several forums for Atmel AVR on the web, downloading different programs for transferring to the chip, aso... I put the board aside and forgot my little adventure in the embedded world.

But, today I found this group, reading in comp.lang.c++.moderated the George Neuner posts there, so slight light of hope cross my mind.

Is there any way I could check what's wrong with this board? As I mentioned earlier, I am novice in this field, I even don't have all the tools needed for mesurement the voltage or amperage, but I am willing to get them, if I could get good guidence.

Thanks for any help. Goran

Reply to
eden
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First thing to do : What kind of board that you use (EasyAVRv2 is just vendors name, not Atmel's official board) ?

Do you have the schematic of it ? You should have it, because its your right as customer (you cant do anything without the board's schematic in your hand, thats why you MUST have it). Pls upload it somewhere, so I or someone can help.

Thus, what is the name of software that you use to compile your firmware ? What's the name of software that you use to download (read/write) to EEPROM/Flash ?

If you are using C/C++ to compile, probably it's GCC (alias WinAVR alias AVR-GCC), IAR, or CodeVision. CodeVision have ability to download your firmware from its IDE.

What is your operating system ? You need to be specific so someone can help you. Since we are not there, we cant see the problem.

-kunil

eden wrote:

Reply to
kunil

First thing to do : What kind of board that you use (EasyAVRv2 is just vendors name, not Atmel's official board) ?

Do you have the schematic of it ? You should have it, because its your right as customer (you cant do anything without the board's schematic in your hand, thats why you MUST have it). Pls upload it somewhere, so I or someone can help.

Thus, what is the name of software that you use to compile your firmware ? What's the name of software that you use to download (read/write) to EEPROM/Flash ?

If you are using C/C++ to compile, probably it's GCC (alias WinAVR alias AVR-GCC), IAR, or CodeVision. CodeVision have ability to download your firmware from its IDE.

What is your operating system ? You need to be specific so someone can help you. Since we are not there, we cant see the problem.

-kunil

eden wrote:

Reply to
kunil

At the moment, I am not at home, so I'll post all the details this evening around 20.00h (GMT+1). From the things I know: Yes, I think there was a JPG (or some other format) of the board shematic. I'll upload it somewhere. For the name of the software, I am not sure, but I'll put also this info later. I didn't use any compiler yet, my first try was to erase the chip and/or to upload precompiled bynaries that came with the board. I tried Win311 (the program is 16bit), Win95, Win98, Win2000, WinXP and Linux (Ubuntu). For windows versions I was using the supplied software from with the board. For Linux I downloaded opensource program, I'll check later the name. But, none was working. I get some suggestions at the time (few months ago) that maybe if I use WinXP, my ParallelPort could be not accessable, but this can't be the case 'couse I tried many OSs.

Goran

Reply to
eden

Is there a jumper on the board that is currently set to prevent the EEPROM from being erased or written to? Does the chip that you're using have EEPROM, and is that EEPROM unlocked?

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Reply to
Wayne Farmer

I don't think there is such jumper, but I am not sure. Anyway, I found the link to the exact model I bought. This is the full picture of the board:

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and this is the user's manual:
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but in Serbian language. I couldn't find English version. But, from the pics should be clear enough what is possible to do with the board.

Goran

Reply to
eden

I also uploaded the circuit here:

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Goran

Reply to
eden

and the program on Windows was:ATMEL AVR ISP Version 2.65 and Linux: uisp-20030618

Reply to
eden

Hi Goran,

You might want to check the settings of the fuse bits of your processor. AVR microcontrollers have a few special memory locations which can be programmed separately from flash and eeprom, called 'fuses'. One of those fuse bits is used to write-protect the internal flash/eeprom.

The fuse bits can usually be configured in your programming software, look for 'Memory lock bits' settings somewhere. Be careful with the fuses though, since its easy to disable serial programming mode or stop the internal clock, thus 'breaking' the device (not really broken, but you can't recover with only a serial programmer)

_Ico

--
:wq
^X^Cy^K^X^C^C^C
Reply to
Ico Doornekamp

It could be this what you suggest (there are 2 lock bits set), but I couldn't switch them off. Is there a way to turn them off?

Reply to
eden

I think the vendor is not giving all the schematic.

Just for you to know, you are using STK200 dongle. To program AVR, you must at least connect these pin to your dongle : MISO, MOSI, SCK, VCC, GND, RESET. They are on PORTB, execpt VCC, GND, and RESET (refer to your AVR datasheet). On your board, means the port on upper right.

In your schematic, MISO, MOSI, SCK is connected to KEY6, KEY5, KEY7. KEY5, KEY6 and KEY7 is connected somewhere, but not directly to PORTB. I suspect there are some switches that are on the board but not in the schematic.

Anyway, looking pictures in the user manual, there is pull-up for PORTB (slika31). To program AVR, PORTB should be pulled to HIGH (5V).

And, since you cant write to AVR, the first thing you should do is reading device's signature. It should match with 90S8515 signature (refer to datasheet). 'Cos the reading result (either EEPROM/Flash/Fuse) is unreliable when you cant write to the AVR (try to unplug your dongle, and read the EEPROM or fuse, you probably get some numbers too. But it's not the number that's reflect the 90S8515's state).

Reply to
kunil

Thanks for the effort, kunil.

I will check this evening what you suggest, PORTB voltage. But, yes I forgot to mention, the signature couldn't be read for the

90s8515. With Ignore (or switching off this check) I could do on. Now, the difference from when the dongle is switched off is that then I get all FF in the contents. When I have the dongle switched on, I get something like this: 00 00 01 01 02 02 03 03 .. FF FF

I get this same both with AvrProg and PonyProg (these are very old versions of the programs, if I download newer, I couldn't connect at all).

Goran

Reply to
eden

PORTB was high all the time, so this is not the problem.

Goran

Reply to
eden

You know, when I'm in univ, I burned out 9 serial ports & 2 parallel ports from 8 PCs =p But accident do happen in lab =D

I feel so familiar with your problem. When you are using PonyProg, does it said "Error -24:Couldnt read device .. Abort Retry Ignore.." ? The only thing you could do is choosing ignore, since abort & retry doesnt give you anything. Am I right ?

Hmm..I feel that symptoms when the parallel port burned (cos I plugged the wrong positive/negative in the board). No program or any OS that could read my microcontroller board. Just the way you are now.

But the funny thing is that the parallel port still can print some papers (through printer in the port of course).

So I get some variable power supply. I adjust the power supply's voltage and plug it in my microcontroller's board. After some experiments, the program finally can read my uC board.

I took out voltmeter to check out the VCC in the uC's board. It was read 4.2VDC. If it below 4.2VDC, uC's read/write will result 00 (0x00). If above, it will result 0xFF in every reading (EEPROM/flash/fuse/signature) plus error message "couldn't read device ...".

Since this is just my experience, I dont know whether it works on you or not. If I may suggest, try your board in other PC. You can use the latest PonyProg (compatible with winXP, easy to install, easy to uninstall).

If you dont have other PC, it's about time to visit some friends :p Tell'em you got new toys, and would have them to look it. In a short time, you'll have a new microcontroller's hobby group..=D Hehehe..Sorry if it's not solving your problem..

-kunil

Reply to
kunil

Hi kunil

Yes, I am at that stage now :-), just I hope I didn't burned something yet.

I have tryed 3 different PCs, I have 2 at home, althought one is very old (486 Win95, but this is not a problem, I guess), my regular PC at home and my laptop at work. I always get the same.

PonyProg is saying it can't probe the device (something like that) with Abort-Retry-Ignore. AvrProg is saying it can't read the signature for the chip, also with Abort-Retry-Ignore (but it recognizes the dongle). Both programs, on Ignore are reading (maybe this is fake?!). You know, my problem is that I was hoping on easy start in embedded (the name of the board at least was saying that :-) ), but now it looks like my short trip in embedded has finished. I will not go for another one board, who can guaranty it will work? And it was not cheap.

I guess I will wait until I have some more equipment and knowledge to check whats going on with this one.

Thank you very much (to all espessialy to kunil). I guess there is nothing more that can be done over the forum

Goran

Reply to
eden

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