AVR-Chat

At 05:50 PM 3/14/2005, Ivan Vernot wrote:
>Hi David,
>Not sure if any of this will solve it but a few things to try (in no
>particular order)
>1. Copy the code from the running micro into the units that don't run. to
>prove that the h/w of the two units is ACTUALLY ok.

I'd love to be able to do that, but I can't..
I was, after some greif, able to pull the hex out of the working unit, and 
it looks sane to me in notepad.
However, at this point, I am unable to get the same unit that I used to 
pull the software out of the working board, into the suspect 
board.  Another unit (see prev message) claims to program but has a verify 
error.
Both of these programmed and verified earlier today.

I've also checked the AVRISPs and Jtag ices on known good systems (AVR 
production products) and they are NFG.

>2. Double (triple) check the Fuse bits on the working and non working
>units - especially OCDEN , the brownout detect bits and the clock fuses
>(sorry if I am telling you the obvious)

No problem, sometimes it's the obvious things that bite you.

>3. It really sounds like a h./w problem. Are all three boards built at the
>same time by the same people? (ie. are you SURE they are really identical?)

Well, I built them.   I also checked against known good systems (M128's in 
production products) and they fail similarly, and I KNOW that hardware is good.

>4. Do you have watchdog fuse enabled?

Nope

>Any External Reset sources?

Nope. pulled high with 1k and verified high with meter and scope.

>The JTAG will 'disconnect' if the device is reset and it will look like it 
>has lost
>sync with AVRStudio. I had a dodgy PSU that would glitch when switching a
>load and the micro would reset - lots of fun as the JTAG got 'lost'.



>5. Are you using your JTAG and/or ISP pins for other things (ie. is it
>possible for them to be loaded down when in program mode - remember in the
>mega128 the ISP program pins are shared with a UART)

Nope,

>6. Check your BOD bits - I seem to remember that even though the micro VCC
>is <5v the BOD level 4.7v and 2.7v are fixed values (ie. regardless of VCC)

Yup, BOD at 2.7V,and the same problem with BOD off.

>7. What Baudrate do you run to the JTAG ICE? I normally run at 115K but you
>might try different values to see if that helps (better to run slow than not
>at all)

9600, 19200, 115200

>8. What if your 'JTag Port Frequency'  - remember that this must be 1/4 of
>the xtal freq (I have had LOTS of weird things happening when this was not
>right) - Consider the possibility of JTAG Port Freq that is set top
>2MHz -which is fine if xtal is 8MHz. However a 'virgin micro has (by
>default) the 1MHz internal osc enabled. (Something to think about?)

Tried it at 200kHz, no help, and that's slow enough even for 800kHz clock.


>Unfortunately these JTAG settings are only adjustable when one is connected
>to a micro! This can lead to an obvious Catch-22 situation where one can't
>connect to a micro when internal OSC enabled because of JTAG clock freq is
>too high but one can't get into the appropriate AVRStudio option to change
>it!!! ARGHH Where's the Sledge hammer ;-)

Exactly.

>9. Do you have an STK500 around? Can you double check your tools with it?

Yup. It's also hosed.
I'm really thinking it's studio that's out to lunch here.


>10. You mention 3V VCC - You _are_ using the Mega128-L part aren't you?
>(sorry)

Yes, a nice big "L" in the part number, and the crystal is 8 MHz, and 
that's what the fuses are set for.


>11. Do you have any s/w running in the background that may affect timing.
>Can you see a pattern as to when it all fails (eg. in the afternoon might
>mean the PC might be overheating etc) - I know that this one is a long shot
>(sorry).

It isn't even starting up. The Port inits aren't happening.
Same in emulation, it just sits at the reset vector and whines that it 
can't read data from the part.


>HTH.
>Please let us know how you get on.
>Kind Regards,
>
>Ivan
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Dave VanHorn" <<mailto:dvanhorn@dvanhorn.org>dvanhorn@dvanhorn.org>
>To: <<mailto:AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com>AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 7:20 AM
>Subject: [AVR-Chat] Oh, I am so tired of this..
>
>
> >
> >
> > It's delivery day, and once again, my AVR tools have all decided to go
>nuts.
> > Anyone have any ideas for preventing this garbage?
> >
> > I have two AVRISPs, an STK-500, an Atmel Jtag ice, and two Olimex Jtag
>Ices.
> >
> > I have three M128 target systems in hand. Supposed to be identical.
> >
> > One is running, the other two not.  The two that don't run are fresh
> > builds, after getting to my goal with the first one.
> > I don't dare touch the one that's running until I can trust my tools
>again.
> >
> > I've checked everything as best I can on the new systems,  The chips are
> > the same date code, same 8.00 MHz crystals, same (proper value) caps, VCC
> > is in tolerance (3.0V), /Reset is pulled up with 1k.  The oscillator is
> > running a rail-to-rail sinewave of the right frequency, which at least
> > confirms that the CKOPT fuse has been set.
> >
> > All the programmers say that they can program and verify the chip
> > successfully, and that all the fuses are set right. (including M103 fuse,
> > CKOPT, WD, and BOD fuses)  Sometimes they fail to verify, or read wierd
> > fuse values, but they are all in agreement at the moment that everything's
> > fine.
> >
> > All three Jtag ices agree that they can load the program, but cannot read
> > the SRAM, registers, or anything else, and cannot run, or even
>single-step.
> >
> > The programmed targets do not run, and apparently do not even run a
>little.
> > The init code isn't even setting up the I/O ports, which is about the
>first
> > thing that I do after qualifying the reset, and setting up the stack.
> >
> > I've rebooted everything multiple times, no help
> >
> > It happens on at least four different computers, running XP Pro, and '98,
> > and with old and new studio, though USB serial ports and "legacy COM1"
> > (note, these are high end industrial USB serial boxen, not the $20 junk)
> > These are real machines with other software installed, that I actually
>use.
> >
> > Basically, anything studio drives will pack it up at random times, for
>some
> > random duration.
> >
> >
> > I've had this happen any number of times, and it always "goes away" after
>a
> > while, but I REALLY CAN"T AFFORD THIS SHIT ANYMORE. (anyone sensing a high
> > level of frustration here?)
> >
> > At this point, I feel like taking all my AVR tools out into the parking
> > lot, making a pile of them, and pounding them into sand with a splitting
>maul.
> >
> > I love the chips, but I really despise the tools.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AVR-Chat/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AVR-Chat/
> >
> <mailto:AVR-Chat-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com>AVR-Chat-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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