What I know:

Here come the questions:

* I've looked at this page: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc2467.pdf , and on my board pin 1 is at 4,9V(PEN)

** why would that be a problem ? pulled up internally, inside AVR

* All genboards are initially loaded with a firmware, and mintested (supplies, RS232, WBO2 pump, etc... the assembled ones get much more test)

** But it's possible that after an interrupted (or failed) firmware upload, board gets stuck in BootLoader

** try 'S' command in TerminalProgram, try 9600,8n1 and 19200,8n1

*** if in BootLoader, than in 19200,8n1 replies "AVREFI1"

*** if firmware is running, than in 9600,8n1 it replies some "binary junk")

** You can try to to upload new firmware with or without the -t megaloader (or prog.pl) option, TRY BOTH. Make sure the .bat file has the correct COMx port (like COM4 if that's the one you use)

*** the -t option doesn't work, it is even used as default in the upload-firmware.batin the "VemsMT1.0.53". after "Translation complete" (which means it interpreted the vems.hex file), the script stays stuck for a few seconds => no success

*** so what happens without the -t ?

**** I tried this, using com1. I'm sure this is com1 because I have only one prt and doc of my motherboard told me that it is "com1". In fact, I also tried with another computer. Removing option -t didn't give great results. I know for sure that I'm not able to communicate

*** just because you only have one com port does not mean it is named "com1". I have only one comm port on my laptop, but it is named "com5". Have you tried all other comm port names (1...8)?

**** I tried com1...com4 i think. there is a scan function in bray terminal and it doesn't find something else than com1 and com2. Megaloader is unable to open com port from com3 to com8

** to send a new vems.hex without megaloader, perl ...path.../prog.pl vems.hex :COM3 Etw

*** but you should find out x for your COMx -port first, and find out if you get answer in either 19200,8n1 or 9600,8n1 for 'S' (capital S, see above). If megaloader does not work, prog.pl will likely not work either (and it needs serialport library).

**** I tried to send 'S' command in all the baud rate suggested, but I was unsuccessful. I even tried all other rates.

----

AVR Reflashing

The ISPI port can do it. You need to make a cable, such as the popular (STK200 cable) and hook up to a parallel port.

There is nothing vems-specific about this. It is documented in avrdude. Check the

* power-pins

* according to the avrdude (or uisp, or your chosen AVR-programmer SW) docs (avrdude.conf):

** direct connectivity of the programmer cable, preferrably end-to-end (between parport DSUB25 to AVR)

** don't forget that for atmega128 PDI/PDO used instead of the more common MOSI/MISO for smaller AVR-s

Try dumping part of the flash, like

<code>

avrdude -c stk200 -p m128 -t

dump flash 0 512

<code>

If the ISP-comm test does not work, than the AVR has most likely been fried and little can be done about it.

----

Misc ISP and RS232 hints

I'm currently fighting similar problems. I have links for the cable I built and what else I did on MembersPage/EzDi. This method should work as long as your avr has power, and the wiring to the pins on the avr are complete (ie, not missing a resistor for say the pullup on rst).

*** could someone give me a detailled picture of the v3.1 board to check if resistors are not missing? I would really appreciate this.

*** I read somewhere that R6 is sometimes missing on v3.1, where is it located?

* Is it normal that I'm not able to see avr, could it be dead?

**What I did was checked all the voltages with a meter (especially the AVR power supply and the MAX232), then checked my serial cable so many times I destroyed it. I eventually built a cable to program via the ISPI and re-installed the boot-loader, but I still don't have a fully functional genboard. I link to another guy's page whose wiki describes how to check the max232 chip if you need to do that.

*** I followed instruction on this page (MembersPage/MattiasSandgren/NickesBMW/AvrBootCode), built the cable (the same bsd version), It's not working. I checked voltage between pin1 pin2 on AVR, is there another one to check to see if AVR is dead? I really don't like to see that spi doesn't work.

Hans: I don't know what was on the V3.1 board from the shop.. but try and see the 2, 3 and 4'th guides on this page: http://vems.hu/www.vems.co.uk/VEMS/

* I have read the docs on your page

Thanks for help

Nicolas

-------------------------------------------------

old stuff since here (solved problems)

-------------------------------------------------

BUT, I'm not yet able to communicate with the processor using serial cable.

* As I own a v3.1, it looks like I can't use EC18-pin14, 15, 26. So I did as written in this guide: http://vems.hu/www.vems.co.uk/VEMS/ConnectingToSerial.html

** repeat the connection here, describe where the DSUBpin-X goes (for 2,3,5), and check directions are OK

*** this is alright, I double checked and this is correct

* My cable works, I measured resistance between DSUB9 and board socket

* Here is a picture of my board now. Don't pay attention to "free" wires.

--------------------------------------------------

My com port are working fine - tested with dos:

http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/reference/debug.htm

My serial cable is ok

What should I test next? I'm afraid I made a mistake...

-- Work done