Alt. firmware and GUI for Thanos's AMC1.5 & AMC1.6

[vicpopo]

For the FTDI problems you might want to have a look here... http://www.x-sim.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=322&p=2420#p2420


Thanos

Hi Thanos,
Ok I red the post but that solves not the problem!!
Does it work by downgrading the crystal frequency.The answer is not given.
He noticed the same thing that Speedy the breakboard from Sparkfun is the problem (ok not with your FW on your amc)
Best Regards

[speedy]

Hi vicpop :
If you have a problem with the AMC1.6 ATMEAGA restarting upon sending data or to flash it or reapplying power with squares ...
you may look on this post that confirm it works for ATMEAG1284P ... viewtopic.php?f=39&t=132&start=180#p2178
and this post for ATMEGA644 ... viewtopic.php?f=39&t=132&start=190#p2352
also this ... viewtopic.php?f=37&t=273&start=70#p2641
and some where I just searched I found this post ... viewtopic.php?f=39&t=132&start=150#p1936
Yes cleaning the board ,grounding the crystal , downgrading the crystal speed to 18.432MHz is a proven solution if you don't remember .

regards
speedy

[speedy]

Hi guys :
As before telling Prilad that I have a problem and I'm using his FW+program trying to classify it ...
Now it's a good occasion to give Prilad and his good project highway a big Thank you sign with results of my trying s until now ... for our future reference and other viewers for more info's where to go next ...

Some Facts if you don't mind giving them a Shine spot here:

-Prilad FW for both crystals 22 & 18MHz [as Thanos did before + my last post ] are really proven for average skill guys like me to be full compatible with the AMC1.5 board [ATMEGA8535 and MAX232 serial RS232 com port ] ... And I guess if Prilad modified this FW for more faster crystals like 24.000MHz I have a good feeling it will work like a charm ... And regarding that it's also compatible with the AMC1.6 ATMEGA644 I see from many posts that it's like Thanos FW depends on your ATMEGA644 If it can handle more than 18.432Mhz crystal speed or not ...

-For the xSimCTRL SW as a calibration program recommended to be used and full compatible operation to X-SIM SW in the USO section ... [with more features that are not known yet due to miss translation ... Bad English as Prilad says ... try hard buddy ] ... that is proven as a (grade A+) tool needs to be more developed to be integrated into future x-sim updates Sirnoname should consider making a poll on this .



Some conclusions about communication problem I'm still having :

-IF you are using AMC1.5 board or like me [ modified AMC1.6 with ATMEGA8535 + FTDI USB module ] and having a communication problem. It seems that ATMEGA8535 due to it's old technology is not compatible with new USB modules today on any way ... only an old FTDI USB to serial RS232 converter connected to it's MAX232 DB9F connector will make it alive ... that's a proven solution ... just do it , and carry on your simulator to the finish line

about the USB RS232 converter solution, it needs to be more inspected by me how they did it ? OR how to get the FT232RL single chip converter send data to the ATMEGA without causing it to restart also powering it up using the same USB cable ... I guess it is a power problem Prilad but not related to my laptop ... or a communication way UART / USART that is not compatible ...

-IF you are using AMC1.6 board + ATMEGA644 OR ATMEGA1284P and having a restart upon sending data ... then your batch of ATMEAGA is having some problems when operating on higher crystals than 18.432Mhz ... it's recommended to do some board rework OR downgrade the crystal & FW ... that's a proven solution ... do it now and finish the simulator .


More questions about the xSimCTRL calibration program is coming to you Prilad ...
prepare your English machine .


regards
speedy

[prilad]

Hi guys:

@vicpopo: I want to clarify one more thing - is it really that the Thanos FW works fine and Alt. FW don't work on the same configuration? If it is true - there is not HARDWARE problem. This is problem in my FW.

@speedy: Thank you. And the same question . But, as I know, you have the same problem with both FW (my and Thanos). Or it is not true?

It seems that ATMEGA8535 due to it's old technology is not compatible with new USB modules today on any way ...

I do not think so. There is no difference between these processors (atmega8235 and atmega644) in terms of communication. Rather, there is a difference in overclocking.

In any way I will try to make some tests with immitation of "communication errors" and look if AMC with my FW go to restart in this case.

And I will make FW for some other quartzes.

Regards,
Ale

[speedy]

Hi Prilad :
There is no deference or problems in your FW and Thanos, in this field both of you both are big programmers and I'm the user ... personally I prefer your FW combined with the features of your SW.
Pls. don't take this discussion personally on your FW or SW ...I invited Thanos to read this post too ... read and give us your best shot .

It seems that ATMEGA8535 due to it's old technology is not compatible with new USB modules today on any way ...

I do not think so. There is no difference between these processors (atmega8535 and atmega644) in terms of communication.

If there is no deference as you say ...So in this specific problem ...restarting due to communication problem :

Q1- Why ATMEGA8535 is not accepting communication with the "USB module" and working good with the "serial RS232 port" at the same FW,both SW, and a Quartz even higher than the 644 ? ... Unless it can't understand the USB communication due to FW previous com port design instructions plan ...

That's brings to us the Opposite story ...

Q2- Why it is known that for the ATMEGA644 it is recommending reducing the FW and the Quartz not to change the USB to serial RS232 port ...?
...Is it faster than the USB ? ... And Pls., Don't give me the over clock answer too ... because the ATMEGA8535 is over clocked too .
Did you or any one tested ATMEGA644 to work in it's high speed with serial RS232 com for this error? or ... Because it's a user side cheaper solution with the same results sticking to the USB plan ...!!!



The above questions with there corresponding answers makes me say that there is something in the FW: for the ATMEGA8535 makes it working good with serial com ... and the same for the ATMEGA644 with USB ..!!! makes them to stay on there corresponding first designed kind of ports.




Some one then would ask ... why all this ? you just stick to the plan that Thanos made and others did.
Sorry guys,I'm Forced to go through the above as I need to make two AMC boards for a 4dof-sim ... AND since ... I don't have two com ports on one Core2Due computer ... I don't have ATMEGA644 in local market to make two Full option AMC1.6 boards using 2 USB's ... also I don't know how to program arduino [It's a funny moment when I found it here ]... and due to my thoughts as you said "there is no deference between ATMEGA's in term of communication " ... so I'm trying to make this marriage.

what do you think I should do ...?

regards
speedy

[prilad]

Oops

[prilad]

Hi, speedy!

If there is no deference as you say ...So in this specific problem ...restarting due to communication problem :

Easy, easy, my friend
I only want to say (in my opinion), this problem is not depend from a technology of processor. And I want to say (in my opinion too) what with the GOOD firmware and GOOD hardware atmega8535 will work GOOD with FT232R. And I have enough experience in programming microcontrollers for what I can to say it.

In our case, a strange combination of circumstances led to this problem. May be the problem is a mismatch between firmware and hardware...

For example: Suppose that some processor pin attached to the ground bus. And at the beginning of the communication firmware is trying to set this pin on a logic high. In this case (and in this moment only) we will have a shorting between power and the ground. And because USB power supply is not strong (only 500 mA max for current) it will go down and atmega go to reset.
This is just one example of how the incorrect firmware can lead to resetting of the processor in this case.

what do you think I should do ...?

We will try together to make it to work right. (If you want) For this I should know all your hardware features, as you say

modified AMC1.6 with ATMEGA8535 + FTDI USB module

I don't know how to program arduino [It's a funny moment when I found it here ].

Just in case... I'm going to try to port the firmware to your Arduino uno. But with current quartz frequency (16 MHz) it will be hard to communicate on 115200 bod. I'm think about...

Regards,
Ale

[speedy]

A hardware with the FW mismatch ? ... that's my point

I don't have arudiuno ...!!! I just saw it in the market ... tried online tutorials to see if I can program it my self ... but couldn't get the point .


My hardware is ... an empty AMC1.6 board layout with it's basic resistors and capacitor LCD components + ATMEGA8535 and 22.1148 quartz + FTDI232RL USB to UART serial converter working on 5v Vcc USB bus powered ...Vccio connected to the 5v ... the AMC board also powered from the USB 5v ...
what else ...mmmm .
ask?

[vicpopo]

For the FTDI problems you might want to have a look here... http://www.x-sim.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=322&p=2420#p2420


Thanos

Hi Thanos ,
If I downgrade the Crystal on the amc1.6 to 18,432 Mhz , I can't test the Ale's sofware because there are no software and hardware according on this crystal with atmega644?
Le last time you asked to Prilad to write both SW and FW that was a copple of weeks ago for the new AMC1.6.
@Prilad and Speedy
Is it correct what I wrote ?
Best Regards

[tronicgr]

Hi,

I'm getting dizzy reading all this back and forth.... Its my fault that I allowed the AMC to be so open to a variety of microprocessors and USB/COM options...

I should just have all in a black box that you can't fiddle with it... Apple (for example) does that successfully! No one complains. Unless you get a broken power button on an Iphone4s, Apples answer: throw the phone to the garbage... cannot be fixed!