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Updating ZX firmware

 
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DH*
Guest
Posted: 04 May 2006, 18:38 PM    Post subject: Updating ZX firmware Reply with quote
I tried loading the new zx24_1-2-0.zvm firmware into my ZX-24 and, again experienced a failure. After 4 dots, it froze.

The last time I was able to get the emergency procedure to work but this time it also fails, freezing after 3 dots.

I have an application that I expect will generate sales of a few hundred ZX-24 chips once it's released but I cannot release it until this is fixed. I will be giving the application away and I do not want the support burden associated with the download failures.

You need a 100% reliable method of downloading the firmware and application upgrades. I think you also need to provide a .DLL or .OCX so that the download procedure can be called from a VB program - in my case, VB4-32. And, not being a C programmer, the source for zload doesn't do me any good.

I must put further development on hold until this is resolved.
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dkinzer
Site Admin


Joined: 03 Sep 2005
Posts: 2499
Location: Portland, OR
Posted: 04 May 2006, 19:51 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote
I would like to analyze your device. Something's going wrong that I don't yet understand. I may or may not be able to reproduce the problem since it can be affected by external factors, e.g. power supply, the device on the other end of the serial connection, etc.

If you would, please send it to me at the address below. I'll have a new device sent to you today.

Don Kinzer
Elba Corp.
9355 SW 166th Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97007
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DH*
Guest
Posted: 04 May 2006, 20:46 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm disabled so I'll have to wait until early next week when my nephew can come by to take it to the post office.

I'm using a +5V switching power supply from Circuit Specialists.I've attached a schematic of my board. I do not have the Siteplayer Telnet Module and its associated hardware installed at this point. There's a 470µF cap on Vcc near the 2.1mm connector. The serial port is on an 8-port ByteRunner PCI card that I've used for several years with no apparent problems. The port is capable of 921,600 bps.

schematic.pdf
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stevech



Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 657
Posted: 05 May 2006, 3:32 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote
can you look at the 5V line with a 'scope?
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DH*
Guest
Posted: 05 May 2006, 12:07 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote
stevech wrote:
can you look at the 5V line with a 'scope?
It looks clean but my 'scope is a DSO on an ISA card (ProTek 220). I'd feel more certain if I had an analog 'scope.

When I receive a new ZX-24 I will try it in a board from an earlier BX-24 project that used an onboard linear 9V supply and applied that to Pin 24. That should help determine whether it's related to the power supply. I have a 0.1µF decoupling cap on Pin 21. Maybe I need to add 1.0µF and 0.01µF.

Since Europe, California and other places have mandated efficiency standards for wall transformers that can only be met by switchmode supplies, non-switchmode power supplies are likely to disappear. That is the reason I chose this type of supply. I tested this particular model to be certain it does not interfere with any of the three powerline communications protocols (X-10, Insteon, UPB) used for home automation.
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stevech



Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 657
Posted: 05 May 2006, 16:47 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote
My thinking was the the power supply might be OK in design but faulty - noisy 5V or actually 4.x volts.
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DH*
Guest
Posted: 05 May 2006, 16:57 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote
No, it's about 5.1V and the only noise I see is very, very low. With this 'scope card I distrust very low level signals as I can't separate them from possible noise from the PC power supply. Still, there might be transients that I cannot see with the 'scope.
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DH*
Guest
Posted: 05 May 2006, 17:36 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have now tried it using the emergency procedure in another board that supplies 9V to Pin 24.

It's response is erratic. The first time, nothing happened for 30 minutes or so but when I removed power it spit out 2 dots and "Device failed to timely acknowledge record 4."

On the next attempt, it has output 3 dots but appears to be frozen at that point which is what it did when I initially tried the emergency procedure in the other board..
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