SIO2SD Help! I think It's DOA... Dang!

[bbking67]

Well my initial giddiness of receiving my SIO2SD has diminished a bit.

 

I plugged it in to my unmodified (and perfectly working) 130XE in place of my stack of 1050's. Initially the unit booted up and I was able to navigate the drive numbers. I was able to load a game using the SIO2SD as well (again using the buttons).

 

However, when trying to access the onscreen menu, I could not get anything to work. I cycled power 2-3 times, but pressing Start or Select did not work (yes I help down Option at boot).

 

Now things have gone from bad to worse... The bootup only makes the telltale crunching sound when no I/O device is found and the device shows solid squares (see photo). The buttons are unresponsive.

 

Any ideas?

 

I sure hope the device is not bricked.

 

 

[Aking]

just twist a bit the cable coming from the Sio2sd case side

that should "repair" it

[bbking67]

Are you being serious?

 

I e-mailed Lotharek, and he seemed to think I tried to flash it (which I didn't unless I accidentally initiated some kind of sequence using the buttons).

Edited January 9, 2014 by bbking67

[flashjazzcat]

Looks like the Atmega chip does need reflashing, though: the row of squares is a typical indicator that the content of the chip is munged.

[AtariGeezer]

Are you being serious?

 

I e-mailed Lotharek, and he seemed to think I tried to flash it (which I didn't unless I accidentally initiated some kind of sequence using the buttons).

If you plugged in the SIO2SD while your 130XE was powered up, that could have messed it up.

 

But it does look like it will need to be reflashed...

[bbking67]

Okay, I have access to an Atmega flasher, so I'll try that.

 

The handler that loaded wasn't working right either (Select and Start did nothing). I was able to load a game using the panel of the unit.

 

I have to admit I'm a little surprised how little infoirmation there is with this thing (if I get it working again I may write a manual).

 

Where do I get the appropriate flash? Do I just flash one from here?

 

http://sio2sd.gucio.pl/wiki/SoftwareAVR_en

 

Do I need to uncase the device and flash the chip directly? Or is there a method that just requires placement of files on the SD card?

Edited January 9, 2014 by bbking67

[bbking67]

If you plugged in the SIO2SD while your 130XE was powered up, that could have messed it up.

 

But it does look like it will need to be reflashed...

 

I never plugged it in with the power on. I plugged it in with the power off and then turned on the 130XE... just like every Atari peripheral I've ever used other the last 32 years :-)

[AtariGeezer]

 

I never plugged it in with the power on. I plugged it in with the power off and then turned on the 130XE... just like every Atari peripheral I've ever used other the last 32 years :-)

That's a good thing

 

Check out this thread on reflashing: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/168214-building-atmel-programmer/?do=findComment&comment=2080039

Edited January 9, 2014 by AtariGeezer

[flashjazzcat]

I never plugged it in with the power on. I plugged it in with the power off and then turned on the 130XE... just like every Atari peripheral I've ever used other the last 32 years :-)

When I used to put these into 1064 and XM301 cases, I used to modify the pins on the SIO connector so that GND always made contact before +5v. Never had any issues hot-plugging those units in and out of powered up machines. Wouldn't try it without this modification, though.

Edited January 9, 2014 by flashjazzcat

[bbking67]

Can I remove the atmel chip and program it using a commercial atmel programmer?

[flashjazzcat]

Sure, yeah. Lots of cheap EPROM programmers will do them.

 

EDIT: actually - which revision of SIO2SD board is in those cased units? Does the ATMEL chip even come out? If not, it'll be a JTAG programming cable job.

Edited January 9, 2014 by flashjazzcat

[bbking67]

I haven't opened it yet... it says 1.3 on the plastic case. I'll open it up this evening.

[+Philsan]

After having solved the problem, you'll find instructions to use computer on-screen selection here:

http://www.santellocco.com/ATARI/consigli-sio2sd.htm#english

[Mathy]

Hello guys

 

Make sure you set BODEN and BODLEVEL before flashing! Most modern devices don't have them set, which means hot plugging might brick the device. Setting both bits protects the device.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy (who's just repeating what HARdwareDOC tells me. HARdwareDOCs hardware is foolproof)

[flashjazzcat]

Surely the fuse bits are set on a retail device... or is this something different?

[Mathy]

Hello Jon

 

I don't know if Lotharek sets these bits, but a lot of developers don't seem to care enough to set them. HARdwareDOC did a lot of research to find why devices got bricked so often and found out that most of the times, these two bits aren't set. Set them and the bricking is history.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

[Kyle22]

Assuming this is similar to a PAL, If the device is working, I would read the device to a file before you blow the fuses. If you have a problem in the future you can program another one.

[flashjazzcat]

I always used to set the fuse bits on my devices, but for some reason experience must have prompted me to shorten the 5v pin on the SIO connector as well. Better safe than sorry I suppose. But either way, brickng is now indeed history... and I hot plug these things 100 per cent of the time when I'm testing stuff.

[bbking67]

Well I opened the unit up and it's not clear if there is a JTAG header, so I think I might be out of luck. The Atmega is SMD...

 

I did not hot plug the device. It only half worked for about 2 minutes...

 

There is an unpopulated header on the left hand side of the unit labeled J2, but everything is glued down with epoxy, so accessing the backside is not possible. On top of that the epoxy goes over one of the holes... So I'd have to solder wires on top. I think I made a major mistake buying the boxed unit.

[+orpheuswaking]

Lotharek usually stands behind his products so I would ask him to swap it out for you.

[bbking67]

He's responded to my emails... He asked me to try on another 8-bit. I tried my 800xl with the same result.

 

I'm still hoping that I can flash the atmel myself... My device looks nothing like others I see on the net.

[eightbit]

Let us know how everything works out. I was following when I saw you review it, and I'm really sorry to see that it appears bricked not very long at all after that. Nature of electronics I suppose and things can happen. I hope for the best for you and it gets sorted out.

[bbking67]

I'm still tryiing to determine if I can flash the atmel chip without voiding the warranty. From what I can see I will have to solder wires to the top of the board seeing as its epoxied to the case. I wish the 10 pin header was installer from the get-go. If lotharek will let me do that without voiding any warranty, ill try it. Otherwise I'm shipping it back to poland.

[bbking67]

I can read the Atmel chip with my friend's ISP... the software he has only accepts HEX files... the SIO2SD firmware is a .bin. I've tried some of the programming software found in other threads here on AA, but these programs don't see the ISP. Is this a simple task of conversion? Or do I need to find a compatible flashing program?

[lotharek]

Geee.. i do try to be as friendly as possible to all buyers and customers, i reply to mails with some delay as i have them hundreds every week. so, do not judge me bad

 

i can only suggest SENSDING DEVICE BACK .

 

Fuse chips at my device are always set as they should be, do not play with it. It looks like Your atari doesn`t supply enough current !

 

so, first i would try with another power supply ( of course if flash is still ok...)

 

then, i would send it back to me - for repair or replacement.

 

i habe no idea WHY DID YOU OPEN IT ?