Alternative Logic Sniffer client update released

jawi released v0.8.1 of his fork of SUMP, a logic analyzer client that works with the Logic Sniffer (download here).

This version adds baud rates up to 900kbps that take advantage of the SPI interface between the PIC and FPGA added in firmware v0.4+/bitstream v2+. This seems to increase the sample download speed for some, but not everybody.

Order the Logic Sniffer for $45, including worldwide shipping. Don’t forget that Seeed has probe cables for $6 each. Every order supports Logic Sniffer development.

Free PCB Sunday: Bus Pirate v3.0SE

We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few professionally-made PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service.

This odd-ball Bus Pirate is a ‘special edition’. It is the basic Bus Pirate v3a circuit with a larger SOIC PIC chip, and a shrouded header. It should run the stock v3 firmware, but the board has never been tested. We designed this to use some PIC24FJ64GA002 revision B5 chips that Seeed has in stock, but the chips will go in a different project instead. We’re giving away two PCBs this week, just ask for one in the comments.

This should have run several hours ago, but we scheduled it incorrectly. We apologize for an unintended free PCB Monday.

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Bus Pirate v3.0SE”

Week in (p)review: August 8, 2010

Here’s some highlights from the past week, in case you missed them:

This week should have some fun stuff too:

  • A tutorial that demonstrates the USB IR Toy with WinLIRC
  • The IR Toy GUI is working and ready for a first release
  • Hopefully an update on the Bus Blaster
  • Continued development on piratePICprog
  • Bus Pirate firmware v5.6 with minor bug fixes for servo mode

Lazy Saturday free PCB

There’s a lot going on in the lab this morning. Instead of writing a post, we’re going to give away a couple PCBs for an all through-hole version of the USB Infrared Toy. This is part of a kit that probably won’t be made because the through-hole version of the PIC18F2550 is four times the cost of the surface mount version.  Just give us a shout if you’d like one, while they last.

An assembled USB Infrared Toy is available for $20, including worldwide shipping. Each purchase supports the development of this project.

Bus Pirate firmware v5.5

Bus Pirate firmware v5.5 is ready to download. This version has a few new features and a couple bug fixes.

Read about the firmware update process for the ds30 Loader GUI (Windows/Linux) and pirate-loader console app (Windows/Linux/Mac). This firmware requires the v4+ bootloader, be sure you upgrade to the v4 bootloader first if you still have bootloader v2.

What’s on your wishlist for release 5.6?

Get a Bus Pirate for $30, including worldwide shipping at Seeed Studio. Adafruit also has the Bus Pirate and probe cables in stock and ready to ship.

Bus Pirate PIC programmer v0.2

piratePICprog programs PIC microcontrollers using the Bus Pirate. Newer PICs are programmed directly, like the 18F24J50 on the Logic Sniffer and the 24FJ64GA002 on the Bus Pirate. Older PICs, like the 12F/16F/18F require a 13volt supply to enter programming mode, an adapter will be ready soon.

piratePICprog v0.2 is now available in the forum. It’s a very early demo release that only fully supports a single chip. It’ll program and read an 18F24J50, program a 24FJ64GA002, and ID an 18F2550.

Use examples and instructions, development links, and more, are on the piratePICprog wiki page.

Preview: Inexpensive multi-chip programmer

This is a preview of an inexpensive, medium-speed AVR/PIC/CPLD/Arduino programmer. It’s designed for people who don’t own a programmer and just want to rescue a bricked PIC or AVR.

The programmer uses the bitbang mode of a FT232R FTDI USB->serial converter chip. The same one used on the Bus Pirate and Arduino. There’s existing apps to program AVRs with the FT232, and PIC programming will be supported by piratePICprog. There’s a serial output header that can be used to program USB-less Arduino boards. The final version will also probably program CPLDs.

The FT232 chip has internal voltage level translation, so the programmer can run at any voltage without an extra buffer chip. It can also supply a few mA of power from the internal 3.3volt regulator.

Large schematic and PCB images, and Eagle files, are in the forum. There’s also a development wiki with more links for this project.

As always, name suggestions are welcome.

RIGOL 100MHz hack verified for firmware 2.04

There’s been a lot of interest in hacking the 50MHz Rigol DS1052E oscilloscope to work at 100MHz. The hack takes two parts. First remove a low pass filter, and then (see comments, thanks for the correction) Just modify the firmware to get it working at higher speeds.

Forum member IPenguin just confirmed that this hack also works with Rigol firmware v2.04. IPenguin posted an extensive illustrated guide to the hack in PDF format if you want to try it yourself.

USB IR Toy: WinLIRC plugin complete

WinLIRC v0.8.6b+ now supports the USB IR Toy, thanks to a new driver written by Dukey. Dukey finished the driver before we did, so he’ll get an IR Toy v1.1 prototype as soon as the boards are in.

You’ll need to update your USB IR Toy to firmware v1.05, it has the new IR sampling mode required by WinLIRC. Look for a WinLIRC tutorial later this week.

Anyone interested in bringing IR Toy support to Lirc? We’ll send you a prototype of the next IR Toy too.

The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.

Week in (p)review: August 1, 2010

Here’s some highlights from the past two weeks, in case you missed them:

This week should have some fun stuff too:

  • PiratePICprog v0.1 will be released (for real this time)
  • The IR Toy GUI is working, we’ll add playback next
  • Bus Pirate firmware v5.5 with servo mode, updated PIC programming support

Free PCB Sunday: Bus Pirate v4 prototype

We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few professionally-made PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service.

This week we’re giving away an early Bus Pirate v4 prototype. This design has no software or support, it’s been abandoned in favor of a version with a USB PIC. We’re giving away two PCBs this week, just ask for one in the comments.

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Bus Pirate v4 prototype”

Logic Sniffer laser cut case

parag0n made a laser cut case for the Logic Sniffer. If you have a laser cutter, grab the design files and build your own. See other cases for the Logic Sniffer too.

You can order the Logic Sniffer at Seeed Studio for $45, including worldwide shipping. Don’t forget that Seeed now has probe cables for $6 each. Every order supports Logic Sniffer development.

Via the forum.

USB Infrared Toy firmware v1.05

USB Infrared Toy firmware v1.05 is available for download. We’re on a roll today, first a new Bus Pirate firmware, now a new IR Toy firmware.

Firmware v1.05 corrects several bugs in the IR sample mode in v1.04. This update should fix the buffer overflows in v1.04 that cause the IR Toy to freeze and get stuck in bootloader mode. If you have any problems with v1.05 please report them in the forum.

The next firmware update will include the ability to retransmit infrared signals using the IR sample mode data format.

Upgrade instructions are in the documentation wiki.

The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.

Bus Pirate firmware 5.4 released

Bus Pirate firmware v5.4 is ready for download. This is a recommended update with bug fixes, enhanced features, and major code cleanup. The documentation wiki has been updated with the new commands and macros.

  • Selectable CS pin direction in SPI and raw3wire protocol
  • Partial writes (less then 8 bits) in raw2wire and raw3wire protocol
  • Command ‘i’ is compacted and displays the settings of the current protocol
  • Binmode extended to support buffered writes
  • Support for the new LCD adapter (support for old adapter is discontinued)
  • Updated help screen
  • Some bugfixes, as usual

With this new firmware your Bus Pirate become even more versatile and can even program some microchip PIC controllers out of the box. Not all chips are supported yet, but that will be the goal. A stackable adapter that will program the lower end PIC controllers will soon be available.

Read about the firmware update process for the ds30 Loader GUI (Windows/Linux) and pirate-loader console app (Windows/Linux/Mac). This firmware requires the v4+ bootloader, be sure you upgrade to the v4 bootloader first if you still have bootloader v2.

Discuss this release in the forum or tell us what is on your wishlist for release 5.5.

Get a Bus Pirate for $30, including worldwide shipping at Seeed Studio. Adafruit also has the Bus Pirate and probe cables in stock and ready to ship.

Preview: Bus Pirate LCD adapter v2

This is a new LCD adapter for the Bus Pirate. The board has been tested, Seeed is building a manufacturing prototype now. The Bus Pirate LCD library in firmware v5.4+ will require this LCD adapter instead of the old v1 adapter.

The v1 LCD adapter was based on a PCF8574 I2C IO expander IC. It took more than a second to update a 4×20 LCD screen, and the production price was too high to justify producing any.

The v2 adapter uses a cheap 74HCT595 8bit shift register instead. It has an SPI interface for blazing fast screen refreshes.

Read more about the v2 LCD adapter features and download the preliminary Eagle files in the forum.

Bus Pirate and FlashRom saved my mainboard

MrHijets’ BIOS update [machine translation] went sour, but he revived it with the Bus Pirate and FlashRom:

In my case, Flashrom and the Bus Pirate saved my motherboard…

FlashRom support is an example of how open source and community driven development can extend a project beyond it’s original design. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Bus Pirate project.

Get a Bus Pirate for $30, including worldwide shipping at Seeed Studio. Adafruit also has the Bus Pirate and probe cables in stock and ready to ship.

USB IR Toy v1.04 fimware bug?

It looks like there’s a major bug in IR Toy firmware v1.04. After a few days it stops working. We have not seen this bug in the lab, if you have an example please let us know how it happened (died suddenly, on startup, etc) and the operating conditions (mode, etc). v1.04 has been deprecated and removed from the recommended downloads at Google Code.

So far this seems limited to the v1.04 firmware, if you have this problem with a v1.02 firmware please let us know.

People with this bug report that the IR Toy can be revived with the bootloader:

  • Connected the PGC and PGD pins (or via holes) before plugging in the IR Toy. Contact is only needed at power on, so a temporary connection is fine.
  • Plug in the IR Toy USB cable. The LED should turn on.
  • Use the v1.02 firmware package to upload the v1.02 firmware.
  • Replug the USB cable to reset the IR toy after the update.

Illustrated upgrade instructions are in the documentation wiki.

We’ll try to get this straightened out and release a new firmware this week.

Remote control protocol reverse engineering

Ytsirk analyzed the remote control protocol from a LED license plate frame using the USB IR Toy. Also check out part I and part II that introduce the hardware. We can’t wait for the next installment that covers reprogramming the marquee with a battery powered IR Toy, it sounds like there’s a lot of potential mischief fun to be had.