upgrade

You are currently browsing articles tagged upgrade.

USB IR Toy test firmware 1.04

July 19, 2010 in Infrared toy, firmware by Ian | No comments

It looks like there’s a bug in v1.04 that makes it stop working after a few days. It can be fixed by connecting the PGC and PGD vias to enter the bootloader and uploading the v1.02 firmware again.

USB IR Toy firmware v1.04 is ready for download. This release has a new mode for better WinLIRC support, and a new firmware query command. The new mode is still being tested, we may need to hand-tune some timing for the best performance.

  • New firmware version query command (v/V)
  • New infrared sampling mode (s/S)

Upgrade instructions and the updated USB IR Toy protocol are in the documentation wiki.

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

Tags: , ,

Logic Sniffer upgrade v2.1 released

June 22, 2010 in firmware, logic analyzer by Ian | 5 comments

Package v2.1 is the first official upgrade release for the Logic Sniffer. Download it now at the Gadget Factory. This version has a lot of updates that should fix a bunch of problems in the initial release:

  • FPGA bitstream v2.1 with high-speed SPI connection between the PIC and FPGA. This eliminates most ‘hardware not found’ problems with all bitstream configurations. Sample download speed is increased on some operating systems, future SUMP client upgrades will increase the speed for everyone.
  • PIC firmware v0.5/v0.6 supports the SPI connection and has updated USB descriptors. v0.6 is more aggressive about queuing data into packets. v0.6 should provide a speed increase over v0.5, but some people report errors so we included both.
  • Updated, stand-alone SUMP client for Windows. Includes self-test and other updates.

Here are the upgrade instructions for the FPGA bitstream and PIC firmware. If you have a preorder 1 Logic Sniffer, please check for the bootloader before upgrading. Discuss the upgrade in the forum.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Logic Sniffer upgrade procedure

June 22, 2010 in logic analyzer by Ian | 6 comments

This is an old version, see the latest version on the documentation wiki.

The Logic Sniffer is an open source logic analyzer. It’s designed to support the SUMP logic analyzer software at the lowest possible cost. This project is a collaboration between the Gadget Factory and Dangerous Prototypes.

The Logic Sniffer has two parts that can be upgraded over USB.

  • The ROM chip (IC2) holds bitstreams that are loaded into the FPGA (IC3) at startup. The bitstream is code that tells the FPGA how to act like a logic analyzer. New bitstreams are loaded in ROM update mode.
  • The PIC chip (IC1) contains firmware that provides the OLS’ USB connection and ROM update mode. New firmware is loaded via a USB bootloader in the PIC.

This post demonstrates how to update both parts.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , ,

Bus Pirate: Firmware v5.0

June 21, 2010 in Bus Pirate, firmware by Ian | 13 comments

Bus Pirate firmware v5.0 is now available for download. This is the first release with Sjaak’s newterm overhaul. This version has a completely reworked core with lots of new features to make prototyping easier than ever.

We encourage you to take a walk around the new interface, go further north, and explore it. As with any major new release, there are bound to be a few bugs, please let us know if you find any via the v5.0 release party.

Here’s a short list of changes. There are screenshots of the development version here. Over the next few weeks we’ll release new feature guides and update the manual for v5.

  • h – see a history of recent commands and replay them
  • s – a script mode that runs simple BASIC-like commands
  • i – an updated info menu with probe color hints, mode specific pin labels, and pin direction/state display
  • ? – updated, reformatted help screen
  • Completely revamped command line processor that gives more feedback about syntax errors
  • Accepts strings of commands at once (configure a mode in one line)
  • Removed sub-menus for pull-up resistor configuration (now uses P/p, like power W/w)
  • ASCII values can be sent to directly to a bus using “quotes”
  • A few secrets and hidden treasure :)
  • Too many other improvements to list

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.

Package includes firmware for Bus Pirate v3 and v1a. Use the v3 firmware for v2go Bus Pirates. v0a and v2a are no longer supported, but there’s an end-of-life v3 release somewhere here.

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.

Tags: , ,

How-to: Bus Pirate bootloader v4 upgrade

January 18, 2010 in Bus Pirate by Ian | 72 comments

See the latest version in the documentation wiki.

Bus Pirate firmware v4+ requires a bootloader upgrade. The upgrade frees space for more features, eliminates verify errors in the last page of memory, and fixes the bootloader speed limitation on some PICs. The new bootloader is available to everyone through an upgrader firmware that is loaded using the existing bootloader.

Thanks to the developers and testers who contributed to the bootloader update. You caught two major bugs prior to wider user trials. We’re now cautiously optimistic that the upgrade will go smoothly.

We’d like to invite most Bus Pirate v2go and v3 users to upgrade. If you’re in the middle of a project, don’t upgrade yet, wait and see how it goes. The upgrade has gone smoothly for twenty lots of users, and we tested the latest updater on every version of the Bus Pirate chip and hardware prior to release.

A v1a upgrade will follow if the v2go and v3 deployment goes smoothly. No further support is planned for v0a or v2a hardware. Upgrade instructions follow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ,

Bus Pirate bootloader v4 upgrade release candidate

January 13, 2010 in Bus Pirate by Ian | 31 comments

Update: Thanks to our testers we caught an early bug, a new update is now available for testing.

Last week we identified a shortcoming in the Bus Pirate bootloader. We’ve been working on an upgrade that will free space for more features, eliminate verify errors in the last page of memory, and fix the bootloader speed limitation on some PICs.

Three fantastic programmers contributed to the bootloader upgrade, going from bug identification to release candidate in about one week. Sjaak helped port the new bootloader to the Bus Pirate, and wrote an installer to make the upgrade process as safe as possible. Alexdresko made extensive updates to the bootloader GUI so we can release the firmware with pre-configured settings. Mikael Gustafsson, author of the ds30 Loader toolchain we’re using, added custom bootloader placement, error messages, and distribution configuration to the project for us.

We’re confident the bootloader upgrade will go smoothly, and don’t plan additional changes, so it’s time for a release candidate. We’d like to invite alpha testers with PIC programmers and Bus Pirate v2go or v3 to try the bootloader upgrade. Until we complete some initial testing, please do not upgrade unless you can restore the old bootloader with a PIC programmer. Upgrade instructions follow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ,