How to connect XMEGA evaluation board (XPLAIN) to Win7

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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 02:14 AM
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(Bear with this complete newbie in programming uC.) I received AVR XPLAIN (the original) evaluation kit, installed AVR Studio 5 on a Windows 7 machine, powered up the board with a USB cable connected to the same Windows box. All appear functional except Windows won't enumerate the USB device. It recognises it as Xplain USB Gateway but has no way of installing a driver for it.

I downloaded several versions of AVR drivers including http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resourc... that has this description: "(2 KB, revision A, updated 5/11) The driver file supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows® XP and Windows 7," as well as http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resourc..., http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resourc..., etc. Windows 7 doesn't know how to install it nor can it "update driver" using these files. Inside AVR Studio 5, it only recognises simulator as available tool.

Then I loaded the boot loader by jumping pins 1 and 2 of the JTAG USB header. One driver specifically said to work with Win7, https://www.avrfreaks.net/modules..., does allow Win7 to see the device as AT90USB128, but AVR Studio 5 still don't see any new interface.

Beginner guides I can find mostly talk about Studio 4 and JTAG tools, with little mentioning of USB gateway installation. (Most stop at WinXP, too.) Google led me to https://www.avrfreaks.net/index.p... but I can't seem to make full sense. (For example, one post says 'the "official" driver is just a wrapper that uses the Microsoft CDC driver for the board, so any existing CDC INF will work once you've changed the VID and PID.' Now does Win7 come with a CDC driver? Another post says "you have to load the xplain-bc.hex into the USB controller and not the one in the display-demo chapter." How do I do that?)

MacOS X thinks the preloaded firmware presents a dial-up network service called "Xplain USB Gateay" and pretends to dial out if I allow it to; if I enable the boot loader, OS X would no longer see it in network devices. Either way, it can do nothing about it.

At this point, my first objective is to get to see the virtual COM port that the USB gateway is supposed to expose. The second objective is to load compiled code from Studio 5. Do I need another tool to do any of these?

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AVR Microcontrollers, AVR and XMEGA
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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 06:27 AM
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Even though documents say that FLIP is included in AVR Studio 5, maybe I still need to install it separately (http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resourc...). So I installed Flip 3.4.3, followed instructions to load Xplain_USB.a90. All appeared correct. But I still can't see any COM device in Win7. (Strangely, Win7 doesn't even see my hardware COM ports.) Nor is FLIP a tool in AVR Studio 5. (I can add Flip as an external tool but that won't allow me to run code from Studio.)

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Posted by larryvc: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 06:34 AM
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When you installed AVR Studio 5 were you an administrator? Did you let it install the Jungo drivers?

"I may make you feel but I can't make you think" - Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

"void transmigratus(void) {transmigratus();} // recursio infinitus" - larryvc

"It's much more practical to rely on the processing powers of the real debugger, i.e. the one between the keyboard and chair." - JW wek3

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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 09:00 AM
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Finally I got what it means "to load the xplain-bc.hex into the USB controller." For someone without a JTAG programmer, my only choice is really to use Flip. But I can't find precompiled xplain-bc.hex. So I downloaded http://www.fourwalledcubicle.com... instead. (Too lazy to set up build.) This one allowed Win7 to recognise my board as COM3, and AVR Studio 5 was able to "Add (fake) STK500." The only problem is: This pre-compiled LUFA hex does not include ATxmega128A1 (which is what XPLAIN board really uses.) in the fake STK500. In fact, it does not include any XMEGA devices at all, only ATmega and ATtiny. What else is needed?

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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 09:02 AM
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Yes, I am an admin user when installing (and using) AVR Studio 5. It did install a Jungo driver.

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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 10:52 AM
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The problem is not in the binary. I just have to follow this blog http://fourwalledcubicle.com/blo... to the very last section: USBJTAG pins 9 and 10 must be jumped in order to activate the PDI mode. Once I put the jumper on, my board becomes a (fake) AVRISP-MKII! (Guess QTouch debugging via USB is out for now - or I can short the pins with wire.) All devices FLIP supports appear. Now I have my first example projects running. Thanks a million, Dean (aka abcminiuser)!

In short, all one really need to start with XPLAIN and AVR Studio 5 are:
1. FLIP http://www.atmel.com/dyn/product...
2. A usable FLIP libusb driver https://www.avrfreaks.net/modules... - haven't found where to download from Atmel
3. Pre-compiled LUFA firmware http://www.fourwalledcubicle.com... (you may choose to build from source, of course, maybe using Studio 5:-)

After installing FLIP, Step 1 is to jump USBJTAG pins 1 and 2, "update driver" for the new device from the Flip directory so it shows as a LibUSB device. Step 2 is to rejump pins 9 and 10, "update driver" from LUFA. Now you have your very own AVRISP-mkII. From here on, you no longer need Flip. The main inconvenience of not having a real programmer is that you cannot programme from inside AVR Studio 5 and connect to COM bridge at the same time.

My XPLAIN package doesn't come with a USB Mini-B cable so add the cable to "things you need."

Last Edited: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 11:32 AM
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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 11:27 AM
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For my 64-bit Win7, the LibUSB driver should be https://www.avrfreaks.net/modules... - after replacing the driver, the Flip loader shows under "Atmel USB Devices" (as opposed to LibUSB Devices). Note the documentation describes pre-Win7 device auto installer wizard. Win7 doesn't give you the choice to stop auto install.

Now, if only I can disable Norton Anti-virus (or is it Norton Virus) that pushes my Phenon II X4945 to 100% whenever Studio 5 or Flip is running:-(

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Posted by kscharf: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 02:42 PM
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I've been trying to use the xplain for a while. I got the board to connect with hyperterm, but the on board USB serial port only seems to work at 9600 baud. If I program the xmega to run at any other speed all I get is garbage characters on hyperterm, even though I set hyperterm to the correct speed. The AT90USB1278 firmware seems to ignore the driver speed setting and is stuck at 9600 baud.

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Chuck-Rowst
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Posted by Chuck-Rowst: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 03:49 PM
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valleyman,

I am an experienced AtMega user, but new to the AtXMega line. I recently purchased an "XPLAIN" board too. So far, it seems like I have fallen headfirst into some kind of micro-controller-based practical joke complete with whoopee cushions and dribble glasses. I am beginning to make some headway with it, but only after much pain & suffering.

As a newcomer to Atmel you should be made aware that they have some of the best chips, tools and reference designs I have worked with in my career. But they also have a few of the worse! XPLAIN seems to be one of the latter.

Maybe I can help you a little with this. But first....

It seems there is/was an "XPLAIN" card but also an "EXPLAINED" card. As well as a number of accessory cards, or maybe special purpose XPLAIN series cards with their own processors. ( I have the XPLAINED card with the AtXMega128A processor. ) Apparently, there were also several revsions of these which had significantly different levels of functionality and capabilities. It was difficult for me to even figure out which of these boards I had and what revision it was because of the poorly written, ambiguous & aliased documentation. So maybe it would be best if you posted a few pix of your board with close-ups of any cryptic alphanumeric marking which might reveal the revision.

For openers....

A. I was under the impression when I bought my XPLAINED-128 Card that I could program it (i.e program it Flash Memory) directly from Studio 5 thru the cards mini-USB connection. Not So! I had to use my JTAG ICE mkII pod.

B. There's an on-board USB-Serial chip (I don't have the part number in front of me) that purportedly can act like a serial port to your PC. I found so many negative posts in various forums about the non-functionality or finicky behavior of this serial port implementation that I chose to forego the torture and simply use an FTDI 3.3V USB-Serial cable (from DigiKey) and connect right up to the Port C TxD and RxD pins on one of the XPLAINED board's headers.

C. The so-called Demo Program I received with the board was exactly that - the LEDs lit and "demonstrated" the board worked. But after wasting a number of frustrating hours studying the source code to see HOW it was working, I finally gave up on it and found another non-Atmel demo program that I was able to more easily clone to my own needs. In this regard, my advice is to abandon the Studio-based demo program and download a demonstration version of Code Vision as soon as you can. Code Vision's Project Wizard will allow you to get printf (Hello World) capability working on your XPLAIN(ED) card in a jiffy. And that's a BIG advantage when exploring any new processor.

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Posted by kscharf: Mon. Jul 25, 2011 - 04:04 PM
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I have the V2 xplain (original board), but I think that the 'explained' board is quite similar (same parts but the board has been re-laid out with some of the header pins reassigned). The USB chip is the AT90USB1287. Whatever firmware atmel put on there seems to be hardwired to 9600 baud, and it tends to drop bits from the xmega to the pc (I haven't tried going the other way). I'm tempted to try and port the LUFA code to the thing to emulate a USB serial port instead of using the Atmel code. The atmel firmware for this device also makes use of some of the A/D ports and the part can control some of the IO on the xplain board (at least on the original).

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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Tue. Jul 26, 2011 - 04:54 AM
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kscharf you're right. The Atmel hardware guide says it has a fixed 9600 baud and other fixed parameters, not programmable from Windows. Either you write your own or mod from LUFA. Win7 also lacks any built-in terminal emulator. Luckily PuTTY works.

Chuck-Rowst thanks for the offering. I sure will be bothering you guys a lot. Very true that Atmel doesn't keep a clean shelf of Xplain documentation. Part of the reason is probably a desire to push their newer evaluation board, Xplained (bluish). Even though pictures of the green board (Xplain) are still ubiquitous regarding ATxmega128A1, most "real" document links are for XMEGA-A1 now. (I think they've stopped making Xplain boards. Mine came from a trade show years ago. Never thought of playing with it till this week.) I spent the good part of my weekend trying out search strategies to uncover Xplain documents. (They are all still on the server, including schematics revision by revision and all that, you just have to go out of the way.)

Before I learn how to do pictures, etc., you can view http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resourc..., AVR-1921: Reprogramming the Xplain... It contains better explanation about how to identify your revision (pictures on p3) than the hardware guide, http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resourc.... The hardware guide explains changes along the revisions - not much since v2. Mine is the last one, v4. Dean says you'd be very lucky to have v1.

I'm less lucky in that I don't have a JTAG tool. So there are two ways to reprogramme the board using USB cable only. One is through FLIP as explained in that document. You can use the original boot loader or LUFA. The second way is via Studio 5. This requires LUFA. (I didn't quite understand when I read from hardware guide that "Programming of the ATxmega128A1 through the USB is not supported in the preliminary release." Make it any release. They put this "fine print" under a bold heading "Programming the XMEGA through the USB gateway";-( The only reason I put through the Win7 hassle was the ability to use the flashy Studio 5. So I chose LUFA.

Studio 5 includes hundreds of example projects. (But not the demo application shipped with the board.) One way to select is by evaluation kit; Xplain has 33, from simple driver functions such as clock to flashier demos. Individual training manuals and full technical data is one click away for each example project. I watched Studio 5 Getting Started videos of two driver projects and a hello world project. That convinced me that I could handle the IDE after years of procrastination. I'm no programmer by trade (vi is my "IDE"), better start with something that builds "out-of-the-box."

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Posted by Chuck-Rowst: Wed. Jul 27, 2011 - 03:41 PM
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valleyman,

I must beg ignorance here...

What is "LUFA" ? In two sentences, please.

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kscharf
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Posted by kscharf: Wed. Jul 27, 2011 - 03:47 PM
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Chuck-Rowst wrote:
valleyman,

I must beg ignorance here...

What is "LUFA" ? In two sentences, please.


www.fourwalledcubicle.com/LUFA.php

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Posted by Chuck-Rowst: Wed. Jul 27, 2011 - 05:19 PM
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valleyman,

Wow!!! You have been on an epic adventure here.

To summarize:

You have this older XPLAIN board and it has a working demo? Or, not?

At this point in time you are unable to program the XPLAIN board because you cannot locate the original demo code hex file?

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Posted by Chuck-Rowst: Wed. Jul 27, 2011 - 05:28 PM
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valleyman,

Wow!!! You have been on an epic adventure here.

To summarize:

You have this older XPLAIN board and it has a working demo? Or, not?

At this point in time you are unable to program the XPLAIN board because you cannot locate the original demo code hex file?

But you somehow have reprogrammed the XPLAIN card as a serial port simulator program which utilizes the XPLAIN card's USB port?

You accomplished this reprogramming with some kind of "fake" or synthetic AVRISP-MKII which you got from LUFA?

Am I correct in stating that you are still not at a point in this epic adventure where you can make one of the XPLAIN's LEDs light & extinquish with a program you wrote yourself?

OK, what is your goal with the XPLAIN card? E.g. Just to get your feet wet with some micro-controller tinkering? Or, do you have a specific project in mind? or.......?

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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Thu. Jul 28, 2011 - 04:40 AM
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Yes, I have been able to replace the demo with my test programs, mostly built from Studio 5 example projects, into Xplain via LUFA's fake AVRISP mkII PDI interface. (I understand that AVRIPS supports multiple modes but LUFA probably only supports PDI.) Had some fun getting around limitations posed by emulated interfaces. (I don't have a serial port, or anything physical.) So far I managed to talk to UART via USB and observed the 9600 baud limit. And sure, I lit a bunch of lights.

Getting my feet wet is certainly a first (epic:-) step. Presently I'm studying AVR443: Sensor-based control of three phase Brushless DC motor. For some mobility related application is what motivated me to wet my feet yet I have zero knowledge about either (modern) uC or (modern) motor. But realistically, I think I'm going to warm my hands with a more modest project using the LED and button UI to brush up my C and get myself into the mindset of uC programming. After browsing projects area on Freaks, I'm thinking of doing some Morse code projects.

So far, I can't even tell why I am dealing with AT90USB1287 when I am trying to command ATxmega128A1. Does the former include EPROM? Or do the two share access to it? A friend once told me that they no longer use EPROM but store dynamic codes in flash only. Is this the norm? (In one of my previous lives, I did some emergency machine coding - no assembler presenting - of Z80 so my colleagues could send their AutoCAD designs to an HP plotter equipped with IEEE-488 only, and I could send my graphs from an HP workstation - no parallel port presenting - to a parallel printer. A DC motor in my brain contains two stationary magnet poles, three rotor coils soldered to three rotating contacts. I believe I once half succeeded in building a 2-contact rotor:-)

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Gold Markclawson
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Posted by clawson: Thu. Jul 28, 2011 - 08:50 AM
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Has anyone actually contacted Dean and asked him about this? His LUFA solution did something that Atmel seemingly could not achieve themselves (in fact, in part, I assumed that's why Atmel are now employing him). I know he wrote bridge code for the 1287 on the original Xplain. As he spent the summer working at Trondheim I'd be surprised if that weren't updated to cover any new design of Xplain board.

(he may not have spotted this thread as it doesn't have "LUFA" in the title)

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abcminiuser
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Posted by abcminiuser: Thu. Jul 28, 2011 - 10:57 PM
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Quote:

Has anyone actually contacted Dean and asked him about this? His LUFA solution did something that Atmel seemingly could not achieve themselves (in fact, in part, I assumed that's why Atmel are now employing him). I know he wrote bridge code for the 1287 on the original Xplain. As he spent the summer working at Trondheim I'd be surprised if that weren't updated to cover any new design of Xplain board.

I used goddam magic :lol:.

My firmware implements two completely separate modes; an AVRISP-MKII clone (which, incidentally, supports ISP, PDI and TPI, but all but PDI is disabled when compiling for the XPLAIN Bridge project) and a Virtual Serial bridge.

I suspect (but do not know) that the issue with the original XPLAIN boards and implementing what I ended up doing would have been that there would be some sort of policy forbidding the emulation of the AVRISP in any other board, to prevent customer confusion. I also suspect that the original plan was to have a custom programming interface supported by Studio, which was cancelled due to being too much work for the Studio development team.

That said, there's no excuse for having the virtual COM port ignore the speed settings - I've used an optimized software USART in mine which can have the baud rate set via the PC as expected.

I can't say what I was doing at Atmel for obvious reasons, but I can say that there will not be an official LUFA powered XPLAIN board controller in the near future, unless I port over the code myself in my private time.

- Dean :twisted:

Make Atmel Studio better with my free extensions. Open source and feedback welcome!

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Posted by Who-me: Fri. Jul 29, 2011 - 02:14 AM
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Wow, Atmel have managed to make the simple, complex indeed. Some irony in the xplain name choice !!

I have a Blue XMEGA-A1 Xplained, which has ATxmega128A1 & AT32UC3B1256.

I was able to (eventually) switch from a CDC(!) to a working COM7, by downloading both files from this link:

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/product...

and pointing my Windows XP update at them.

It seems Flip3.4.3 & BatchISP can now see something, as it gets to this:

Device Selection .. PASS
but then gives
Hardware Selection.. Fail Failed to load dynamic library.

Which I suspect is not really a link issue, but some install problem ?

Strangely the latest Flip3.4.3 OMITS to include ATxmega128A1, but does have ATxmega128A1U & ATxmega128B1

Q: Is the ATxmega128A1U close enough, or do I need to trawl for what Atmel should have included ?

Q: If Flip is not up to the task, can anyone list links for what is known to work on the
Blue XMEGA-A1 Xplained [ATxmega128A1 & AT32UC3B1256] ?

Q: Does getting a working system, need re-pgm of the AT32UC3B1256, or is it just PC-Coms changes ?

TIA

AVR1924.Feb2011, says this
["The XMEGA UARTC0 is connected to a UART on the AT32UC3B1256. The AT32UC3B1256 UART is communicating at 57600 baud, using one start bit, eight
data bits, one stop bit, and no parity."]
- but the PC COM7 defaults to 9600

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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Fri. Jul 29, 2011 - 02:55 AM
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Who-me: You're supposed to choose AT32UC3B1256 in Flip. (For Xplain, I have to reprogram AT90USB1287. Got same error if I select ATxmega128A1U.) But AT32x is not in Flip. Search for a document named "Reprogramming xxxx" for Xplained - that's what instructed me to make the right selection.

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Posted by Who-me: Fri. Jul 29, 2011 - 04:27 AM
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valleyman wrote:
Search for a document named "Reprogramming xxxx" for Xplained - that's what instructed me to make the right selection.

Thanks. Did you mean search on here, or on google, as nothing useful shows on either ?

I'm still unclear on how the AT32UC3B1256 comes into the mix, as I'd have thought once windows sees it as COM7, it is really then just a virtual com port ?.

Other vendors tools, check the firmware and will update if needed, but otherwise the intermediate chip 'stays out of the way'.

A copy of, or a link to, a working batchISP command line and a known-good HEX file, would be great to verify I have the SW & HW all aligned.

Atmel's DOCs/Correlations are truly abysmal :

AVR1927 says this
["FLIP needs an XML configuration file for the device. If using FLIP v3.4.2, the XML
configuration file is not included. Copy the XML file from the zip file associated with
this application note, and put the file in the Flip 3.4.2\bin\PartDescriptionFiles
installation directory."]

- but there IS NO Zip file associated with the AVR1927 pdf on their web, and they 'forget' to mention the NAME of the XML file needed !!

Edit: I did finally find in another web-page, this file
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resourc...

but the AVR1927 is missing from the description "XMEGA-A1 Xplained Example Applications and USB driver" so it is invisible to searches!!

Now I have manually found and placed ATxmega128A1.xml, the steps improve

This command line

batchisp -device ATxmega128A1 -hardware RS232 -port COM7 -baudrate 9600 -operation read Read_Back_S
tep1.hex

Gives this 

ATXMEGA128A1 - RS232 - COM7 - 9600
Device selection....................... PASS
Hardware selection..................... PASS
Opening port........................... PASS
Synchronizing target................... FAIL    Timeout error.
ISP done.

but neither 9600 (mentioned here) nor 57600 (mentioned in some Atmel docs) makes any difference.

Last Edited: Fri. Jul 29, 2011 - 05:13 AM
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Posted by Who-me: Fri. Jul 29, 2011 - 05:11 AM
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More searching finds within
AVR1927_XMEGA-A1_Xplained_Example_Applications.zip
a directory called cryptically /Script
and this contains (edited)

#---- commands.txt  Setup for ATxmega128A1U called from batchisp_cmd.bat
-device     ATXMEGA128A1
-hardware   RS232
-baudrate   115200
-port       COM7
#---- Fails at Opening Port if this is wrong 
#---- Load a HEX file
-operation
	ONFAIL ABORT
	ASSERT PASS

echo "Load HEX file:"
	ERASE F
	BLANKCHECK
	MEMORY FLASH
	LOADBUFFER xmega-a1_xplained-demo.hex
	PROGRAM
	VERIFY
	START
	RESET 0

spawns this result!!

batchisp -cmdfile commands.txt
ATXMEGA128A1 - RS232 - COM7 - 115200
Device selection....................... PASS
Hardware selection..................... PASS
Opening port........................... PASS
Synchronizing target................... PASS
Reading Bootloader version............. PASS    1.0.0
Load HEX file:
Erasing................................ PASS
Blank checking......................... PASS    0x00000 0x1ffff
Selecting FLASH........................ PASS
Parsing HEX file....................... PASS    xmega-a1_xplained-demo.hex
Programming memory..................... PASS    0x00000 0x1efaa
Verifying memory....................... PASS    0x00000 0x1efaa
Starting Application................... PASS    RESET   0
Summary:  Total 12   Passed 12   Failed 0

Note: To get past Step 4, it needs to be in SW0@POR mode.

Next, I'll try to find a working READ and Verify.

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Posted by Who-me: Fri. Jul 29, 2011 - 06:27 AM
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and this for a working READ, for Blue XMEGA-A1 Xplained [ATxmega128A1 & AT32UC3B1256]
(I always think Read/Verify is a better/safer baby-step, than a write)

This Batch file:

REM : Start with SW0=Pressed @ POR 
D:\Flip_343\bin\batchisp -cmdfile ReadCommands.txt
pause

uses this command file

#---- ReadCommands.txt  called from Read_batchisp_cmd.bat - Setup for ATxmega128A1
-device     ATXMEGA128A1
-hardware   RS232
-baudrate   115200
#---- Seems to over-ride Windows Default BaudRate OK 
-port       COM7
#---- Fails at Opening Port if this is wrong 
#---- Load a HEX file  126891 (1EFABh) byte(s) loaded.

-operation
	ONFAIL ABORT
	ASSERT PASS
#---- Batchisp and Flip have internal ISP buffers (one buffer per device memory). 
#---- Writing a memory is always done from the buffer contents. 
#---- Reading a memory updates the buffer from the memory contents. 
#---- During the verify operation, the target memory is read and its contents is compared to the buffer one.
#---- The savebuffer directive is used to save the ISP buffer contents to a HEX file.
echo "UserMess: Read Program Memory into Buffer, then save as Hex File :"
	READ 
	savebuffer "D:\tmp\Read_ATXMEGA128A1.hex" hex386

and creates this result :

..\batchisp -cmdfile ReadCommands.txt
ATXMEGA128A1 - RS232 - COM7 - 115200
Device selection....................... PASS
Hardware selection..................... PASS
Opening port........................... PASS
Synchronizing target................... PASS
Reading Bootloader version............. PASS    1.0.0
Read Program Memory info Buffer, then save as Hex File :
Reading memory......................... PASS    0x00000 0x1ffff
Saving buffer to HEX file.............. PASS    D:\tmp\Read_ATXMEGA128A1.hex HEX
386

Summary:  Total 7   Passed 7   Failed 0
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valleyman
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Posted by valleyman: Fri. Jul 29, 2011 - 08:14 AM
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Atmel is a maze. Anyway, on XMEGA-A1 you need to push a switch to invoke the boot loader (on Xplain, I jump pins 1 and 2 of JTAG USB):

"The preprogrammed boot loader on the Atmel ATxmega128A1 offers the possibility to program the device via the UART interface. Because the default firmware of the board controller acts as a UART-to-USB bridge, the ATxmega128A1 can be programmed from the PC via the USB connection to the kit.

"The boot loader on the ATxmega128A1 is evoked by pushing the mechanical switch (SW0) during reset. Programming can be performed by using the BatchISP command line tool from the FLIP installation."

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resourc...

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Jackske
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Posted by Jackske: Sun. Sep 18, 2011 - 10:06 AM
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Hi guys,

I just bought myself the XMEGA-A1 Xplained kit. After many hours of messing around I still can't program it :(.

Problem is batchisp gets stuck at the Synchronizing Target stage (FAIL timeout error) just like "Who-me" was having. Using the the files from the /script folder didn't help me out however. I start with SW0 pressed but maybe I'm forgetting a specific jumper setting?

Any help on figuring this out? Thanks alot!

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dudisor
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Posted by dudisor: Thu. Nov 24, 2011 - 08:38 PM
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I had the same problem with synchronization. Resolved by taking SW0 pressed at least 3 seconds when you connect the USB cable.

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McGregor1980
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Posted by McGregor1980: Tue. Feb 14, 2012 - 10:11 AM
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Hi guys. I see You got a lot of experience with Xplain A1. I need some help regarding the issue.

I program my Xplain board with JTAGICE MKII so it's not a question about the bootloader.
I just want to send data from the XMEGA (via the AT32UC3B1256 on board)to USB in the PC just to read it on terminal.
I have two questions:
1. What is baud rate from USARTC0 of XMEGA to the bridge ?
2. What baud rate should i set up in the terminal?

P.S. The PCB is blue and manufactured in 2010.

Thanks for any help.

Gregor

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McGregor1980
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Posted by McGregor1980: Wed. Feb 15, 2012 - 08:05 AM
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Ok.After few try and errors i got to the point that both baud rates should be 9600; None, 8, 1. Only this gave positive result.

Neither the pdf 115200 or website 57600 worked correctly.

Gregor

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KammutierSpule
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Posted by KammutierSpule: Fri. May 11, 2012 - 11:33 AM
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Anyone have succeed to use xboot with xplain?

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TxHall
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Posted by TxHall: Fri. Aug 24, 2012 - 03:18 PM
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I have tried various things suggested on this site, and I cannot get my new Xplain board to come up with a virtual com port. I have an Intel system running 64-bit Windows 7.

I was really counting on being able to use the virtual com port for some initial development, but I am wondering if I will have to just throw in the towel. I can't just get the comm signals directly as I will be using a different Atmel card on top of it, plus that is crazy when they say they provide a virtual com port over USB.

OK for you Windoze gurus, I keep pointing the device managed to the .inf files I have downloaded from the various links, but Win7 won't give them the time of day. Are .inf files old XP and not supported in Win7, or do I have to do some cryptic magic to get things to work. Reprogramming my ATmega on the board does not interest me, but is an option if absolutely necessary, as I do have an AVR Dragon and access to other programmers.

Their tools support is on of the reasons I like Atmel, but this experience has taken my opinion of them down a notch. :(

BTW, most of the links in this, and related, posts are broken. Looks like when they redid the site, they didn't provide any backward compatibility. :P

Regards!

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abcminiuser
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Posted by abcminiuser: Mon. Aug 27, 2012 - 01:38 PM
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Which board are you using, an old green XPLAIN, or a newer blue XPLAINED? If the latter, use the driver INF provided in Atmel Studio 6 (create a new "Board Controller" example project). If the former, reprogram the AT90USB1287 with my Xplain Bridge firmware:

www.fourwalledcubicle.com/XPLAIN...

- Dean :twisted:

Make Atmel Studio better with my free extensions. Open source and feedback welcome!

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Polaris07
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Posted by Polaris07: Wed. Apr 11, 2018 - 04:02 PM (Reply to #25)
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Have the same problem with Xplained and synchronization. Cann't programm the board with AVRDragon, can't use FLIP. What should I do? Probably the best way ever is not to use any Atmel products at all. For this money for ORIGINAL products they give us nothing but problems.

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Bronze Markawneil
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Posted by awneil: Wed. Apr 11, 2018 - 04:09 PM (Reply to #32)
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Polaris07 wrote:
Have the same problem

Then apply the same solution - see #26

Top Tips:

  1. How to properly post source code - see: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment... - also how to properly include images/pictures
  2. "Garbage" characters on a serial terminal are (almost?) invariably due to wrong baud rate - see: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/serial-communication
  3. Wrong baud rate is usually due to not running at the speed you thought; check by blinking a LED to see if you get the speed you expected
  4. Difference between a crystal, and a crystal oscillator: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  5. When your question is resolved, mark the solution: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  6. Beginner's "Getting Started" tips: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
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Greg_Muth
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Posted by Greg_Muth: Thu. Apr 12, 2018 - 02:05 PM (Reply to #32)
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What should I do?

Buy an Arduino (or read the User's Guide (or both)).

Greg Muth

Portland, OR, US

Xplained/Pro/Mini Boards mostly

 

Make Xmega Great Again!

 

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