Firmware - Stuck at Send SysEx w/ solution.

[Ken Forgettable]

I believe the 18F2550 is not able to handle updates - if you can follow Dmitris advice and do the update over a standard MIDI port

... if I'm wrong then please knock it on the head (good and hard).

[gabriel1712]

I believe the 18F2550 is not able to handle updates - if you can follow Dmitris advice and do the update over a standard MIDI port

... if I'm wrong then please knock it on the head (good and hard).

As mentioned, I tried stadard midi a week ago with zero luck. I'm now trying to flash the AtMega using a isp cable, also zero luck.

[gabriel1712]

In PonyProg, PROBE fails in I/O-port setup. Is there a specific mode for LPT1-port to work with PonyP? Like EEC, EEP, EEC+EEP etc?


Observations from PonyProg:

Read all: "Device not found" if "IGNORE": Success
Read program Flash: "Device not found" if "IGNORE": Success
Read Data EEPROM: "Device not found" if "IGNORE": Success

Verify all : fails
Verify program Flash: Success
Verify Data EEPROM: Success

All writing fails

[dmitri]

I don't remember which is is which but the LPT port has to be in bidirectional mode which is default nowadays for virtually all PCs.

[gabriel1712]

Any idea why I can't flash my AtMega?

[Firelord]

Any idea why I can't flash my AtMega?

If you are completely sure that the programming cable is correct, that LPT port settings are correct and currently MD boots up as expected (in FW update mode), but does not accept FW via SysEx messages, then there could be something wrong with the ATMega MCU itself.

[gabriel1712]

Any idea why I can't flash my AtMega?

If you are completely sure that the programming cable is correct, that LPT port settings are correct and currently MD boots up as expected (in FW update mode), but does not accept FW via SysEx messages, then there could be something wrong with the ATMega MCU itself.

The cable is correct if this is the right understanding of the pin-layout

LPT pin.JPG

.

Hm.. the LPT port setting inside PonyProg is correct but I don't know what to check for in windows. In the bios the choice is between SPP, EPP, ECP or ECP+EPP. I'm at ECP+EPP. Windows recognize the LPT-port.

The MD start up in 'FW update screen' no light in LED.
LButton boot = start up in 'FW update screen' with flashing LED for as long as LButton is held.
RButton boot = start up in 'Send data Now' and constant LED, also after release of Rbutton.

When I push 'OK' on the PonyProg splash screen, the 'FW update screen' scroll through MHz settings as if the UPbutton is pushed every 1 sec.

I would gladly order another pre-programmed AtMega chip if there's even a greater than 50/50 chance of correcting the problem.

[Firelord]

The cable is correct if this is the right understanding of the pin-layout

LPT pin.JPG

If that is the front view of the connector (i.e. with the pins that go into the port on the PC, the picture is quite small) then the wiring is incorrect. Pin 1 is where pin 13 should be.

[gabriel1712]

The cable is correct if this is the right understanding of the pin-layout

LPT pin.JPG

If that is the front view of the connector (i.e. with the pins that go into the port on the PC, the picture is quite small) then the wiring is incorrect. Pin 1 is where pin 13 should be.

Yay! So, just to be sure. Holding the connector at the cable in front of my face (like the photo), pin 1 should be in the top left corner and pin 13 in the top right?

P1030562-25%.jpg

So this schematics is showing what the port layout looks like and not the cable connector?
http://www.megadrum.info/sites/default/files/programming_cables_kicad.png

[Firelord]

Holding the connector at the cable in front of my face (like the photo), pin 1 should be in the top left corner and pin 13 in the top right?

That's right. If you look closely at the connector pin base you can even make out the numbers from 1 to 25 (they are even visible on your second photo). Just follow the schematic to correct your wiring. The numbers provided in the schematic correspond to those you see on the front panel of the connector.