AVR-Chat

I have found my problem (I think) and learned something about the 
STK500 as well.

First of all, the STK500 can not even read back the firmware version 
unless you have a working target attached.  This is strange to me as 
It leaves you with no way to even test the rs232 comms to the skt500 
until you have a fully working target attached!

What i found on my new prototype is the EagleCad software routed two 
traces (sclk and mosi) right over the top of a GND via that was 
placed to ground some SMD caps on the top side to the ground plane. 
Thus the sclk and mosi are grounded.  Running the DRC error check on 
the board does not even detect the problem!  I plan on emailing the 
board files to support to ask why it fails to note the traces are 
laying on top of the GND via! At least the traces are on the bottom 
side of the board and can be fixed with the exacto knife, etc.

BTW I measured the voltages on the STK500 at those electrolytic caps 
on the MAX202 as suggested by others here and sure enough some had 7 
volts and some were way down to just a few volts. I will replace 
with some 10UFD 25V X5R 1210 parts i have.

Al Welch

--- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, "Larry Barello" <yahoo@b...> wrote:
> Have you checked that your JTAG clock is < 1/4 your system clock?  
Is your
> system clock working properly?  Are you sure?  Can you use the 
AVRISP/STK500
> to check?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: alwelch93021
> 
> 
> The problem for me is that I have no clue as to what the solution 
is.
> Is there some problem with the way I designed my board for the 
ISP6pin
> and  the JTAG signals. I doublt it as I changed nothing since the 
last
> prototyp in that area AND the last pcb had that day last week 
where it
> worked after not working for hours in terms of  the tools! The deal
> yesterday where JTAG indiated it downloaded the program.. showed 
the
> progress bar move along and  then spin away with the auto program
> status and never stopped at entry point. That makes me think the
> problem is in the tools and no where else.
> 
> I really need to get my program loaded and move on but have no 
qlue as
> to what to do other than stare at it some more today.
> 
> Al