ChipCat - AVR cards
When working with a VP-20 or DL-20 programmer, first check the jumpers & switch:
- Set the "Atmel/PIC" jumpers to the required position.
- Adjust the jumper operating frequency to 3.58 MHz or 6 MHz (see below for more info).
- Set the switch in the down position.
I haven't had a chance to test a VX-Multi yet, but the programming modes are similar to the ones, found on the MasterA/MasterCRD/SC-Master programmers. So everything should work for the VX-Multi exactly the same.
Apply power to your programmer.
Start ChipCat.
Click on the configuration icon (little hammer) top left in your screen.
You'll see the configuration screen opening:
Select the COM port for your programmer.
Make sure that both COM ports are set identically, so both on 1 or both on 2.
When using Windows 95 or 98, set your clock speed to 3.58 MHz.
If you use Windows 2000 or XP, select 6 MHz.
Depending on the speed of your PC, you may have to play a bit with the speed slider.
Setting the speed slider to the left, minimizes the delay, to the right maximizes the delay.
On very fast machines, it may be necessary to set the slider to the right most position.
OK then, on to programming our AVR type card. I will explain the procedure, using a Funcard.
In the pull-down menu on the top right of the screen, you can tell ChipCat what card type you are going to program. In this case we are going to explain this software by programming a FUN card. If however, you want to program other types of cards, ChipCat will just as easily do Jupiter- and PIC cards.
Now activate the pull-down menu and choose the Fun-Card.
Click on the
icon and choose the correct file (the Flash file)Notice that I have selected the option "All files (*.*)".
I did this to show you that there is another file called flash, but it has another extension.
We'll come to that soon.
So select the flash.hex.
Click on the
icon and choose the correct file (the External Eeprom file).
OK, time for some explaining here.
In the above selection window you see 4 files.
However, there are just 3 different files, as the flash.eep is a copy of ee_int.hex.
This is just a trick, used by ChipCat to include the Internal Eeprom file during programming.
Apparently the author didn't want to put some extra icons on the toolbar, but instead choose this for a solution.
So if you are programming 1-in-1 files like for instance dedicated Seca files, you'll have 3 files of which you need to rename the file that is meant for the Internal Eeprom. When renaming it is important to name the Internal Eeprom file exactly the same as the Flash file, but with the extension eep (instead of hex). During programming, ChipCat will look for a file with such a name and then include it into the programming sequence. If no such file exists, the Internal Eeprom will not be programmed at all.
If you are programming a funcard for 3/4/5-in-1 use, don't bother about this procedure. Those files don't use the Internal Eeprom.
Please note!!!
Some people use the Windows setting "Hide file extensions for known file types".
In that case, you can NOT rename your file properly.
Trying to rename ee_int.hex to flash.eep would result in flash.eep.hex.
This is how you can solve that:
Double click on "My Computer".
Then choose "Tools" from the menu bar and click "Folder Options".
Now click the "View" tab.
Uncheck the option "Hide file extensions for known file types".
Well then, that much for theory, on to programming again.
Before you go on, allways be sure to erase your card.
Erasing your card before trying to program it, will prevent you from programming errors.
Click on the
icon to erase the card.Click "Ja" to confirm that you want to erase the card.
IMPOTANT NOTICE :
If during programming you receive a "53000 error", your card wasn't erased properly. That's a problem that sometimes happens when using ChipCat. Use ICprog to erase your card properly, or you may also want to try using CardWriter to do the job.
On your screen appears a popup window telling you to switch to "MODE 2".
When using a MasterA/MasterCRD/SC-Master/VX-Multi programmer, switch to "Mode 4 ".
With VP-20/DL-20 programmers, push the switch handle down.
Click on the "OK" button.
You will notice the popup telling you that the card is being erased.
After having erased the card, you're ready to start programming the card.
Click on the
icon to start programming.On the question "Are you sure to write this device??" answer "Ja".
If a popup window appears, telling you to switch to "MODE 4", then do so.
When using a MasterA/MasterCRD/SC-Master/VX-Multi programmer, switch to "Mode 4 ".
With VP-20/DL-20 programmers, push the switch handle down.
Click on the "OK" button.
Now ChipCat will start programming the Flash with the loader file.
When the loader file is programmed correctly, the eeprom file will be programmed.
The software will tell you to switch to mode 0 or mode 1.
What mode ChipCat will request, depends on the clock speed, you entered during configuration.
If your on Windows 95/98 you would need mode 1 here, if you are on Windows 2000/XP you will need mode 0.
So switch to the correct programming mode now (for the VP-20/DL-20 that means the switch handle Up), then you click OK.
Now your External Eeprom is programmed with the appropriate file.
Last but not least, The Flash (and maybe the Internal Eeprom) has to be programmed with the real Flash file.
Switch your programmer back to mode 4 (on VP-20/DL-20 push the switch handle down) and click OK.
Now the Flash (and the Internal Eeprom, if required) is programmed with the selected file(s).
When this is finished, your card is ready for use.