Hi, I have a bs2 that us to work, it still works, the code I uploaded last is still functioning fine, the stamp does not get warm or function unexpectedly, but since I last used it(like 2 days ago) It apparently does not want to except any more code. If I try to upload a new program it just says no stamp found. But if I run a identification it finds the stamp. When I try to run the code it finds it and both loop and echo says yes. It just does not want to except any new code. I am using editor 2.5 with a rs232/usb conversion cable running xp. The editor crashed a few times during trying to upload the code, it would go to right before the code is sent and then freeze, close, and send an fatal error report. This has became progressively worse and now I cant upload code to my stamp.
I have not damaged the stamp in any way. I have taken every precaution not to damage it in any way and I know I have not pulled more that 15mA from it.
I have reinstalled the cable drivers and the editor but it did not work.
I use the BS2 also and have had these types of problems, and everytime, the problem is a bad wire, or bad solder joint in the serial connection/circuit. do a continuity check on each of the 4 lines from the farthest point on your cable or connector all the way to the chip. be advised you will not be able to check continuity through the cap on 4-DTR of the serial line. instead, check continuity up to, and after the cap. you are using both the 0.1uF caps, right?
I do not draw any current from Vin at all, instead, I apply 5v to Vdd from a 5v regulator.
applying 12v directly to Vin sounds a bit high. I dont want to make the VR on the stamp do all the work.
Okay, I will give it a try and recheck the connections, do you have any more advice if this does not work? I am using a bread board to mount the bs2 on. Is it possible that the bread board’s channels might become electrically uninsulated and cause some interference with the data transfer,
why I am asking is because I recently ran a BUTTOM statement and I had nothing connected to the pin jet, but the debug screen was going wild with registers of 1 and 0. as if I was pushing the unconnected switch like 10-20 time a second.
The debug screen (I assume The debug screen (I assume you mean on the PC screen) receives data from the BS2 on the serial cable / connection, so if the serial connection is not working, that could be another symptom of your original problem, pointing more to the serial connection.
I suppose the breadboards sockets could “get tired” after too much use. Try moving it to another set of sockets.
Pay careful attention to how those 2 caps are wired, they’re not wired in the same way.
I’ve had similar problems, but not with a BS2. I have a freescale controller and my debugger kept freeze - it would say Not Responding, every time I tried to load a code. So I did a loopback test on the serial cable, the test passed, and when I hooked it up to the controller, it worked fine, I could load code to it again?!!! This happens consistently, every time I leave my controller alone for a day or so, I come back to it, the last code I uploaded works fine, but I go to upload new code and the debugger freezes. Then I do a loopback test on the cable and it works again! I don’t know why this works (probably the cheap serial cable) and it probably won’t help you, but it’s worth a shot. Here is a explanation of loopback test http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3450. Pretty much you just short the 2 and 3 pin on the end of the cable, open hyper terminal, then press buttons on the keyboard. Good luck.
Okay, will try the loop back test, just one question, do I just connect the plug and wires in the right way, go to the bs2 editor and run it? Or where is that hyperlink window. I have never heard from it or used it. I am running XP service pack 3 on my lap top.
i ran n loop back test and the test passed, but still no luck with the BS2, the only other thing i can think of is that the caps are giving me troulbe, i am using 2 polystyrene caps, 100V, 100nF,is it possible to just ignore the caps and connect the ATN line directly to the PC or will i damage the ATN line?
dont just run loopback test. I think loopback test only verifies that serial pin 6 (DSR) and 7 are shorted, as seen in the pic I posted. that just proves the cable is connected.
using a volt meter with a continuity checker, check continuity of each wire from the serial connector all the way to the bs2 pin.
so for example, in the pic I posted, test continuity from serial connector pin 2 (RX) all the way to BS2 SOUT. do that for all 4 serial wires to the bs, except 4-DTR.
however, you can not check continuity through the cap. instead check continuity up to the cap, and after the cap to the bs2 ATN.
I hope that makes sense. I think I recommended this to you before but dont recall the results.
Okay. I tested for continuity and on my ATN line after the cap, continuity stops, I then replaced the cap and registered 0.04V at the bs2 ATN pin. Don’t know how much it should be but there is something, I also noticed that once i have unplugged the usb/ rs232 from the bs2 to change the caps I register no voltage on any pins, the port is not picked up or registered, need to unplug the usb side at the pc and reconnect it again, then it registers and I have voltage readings on it again, but still, “ no basic stamp found” (100nF is 0.1uF)
if your sure you wired your project like my picture shows, then your still missing something, like a broken wire, or bad cable, or even a dead bs2.
I see you checked continuity on the ATN line, what about checking the other 3 lines - from as far up the cable as possible, and all the way to the bs2 chip - with no power, and no usb connected.
how about showing a picture or 2 of what you are working with, or a schematic.
Thank you for posting the picture. I think I found your problem!
the cap that goes from serial pin 5 to serial pin 4 needs to attach AFTER the other cap, not before. in other words, coming from the serial connector, the output of both caps should be connected, en route to ATN.
look again at my drawing and really focus on how the caps are wired. yours is different. that must be the problem. my drawing comes straight from the BS2 manual and it works.
Connected the way you suggested as well, made no difference, still no stamp found. Is there any way I can test the cable to see if it is malfunctioning. USB/RS232
we’re missing something really basic here. theres only 4 wires at issue. ahhh, make sure your tapping the correct 4 leads on the serial connector. dont rely on the D-shape. make sure your using the numbers printed on the connector.
and make sure your connecting the correct pins on the stamp. double-check the orientation of the chip.
are you sure your sending 5v to vdd pin on the stamp?
send picture of the actual board, and chip, and cables your using.
According to the numbering on the rs232/ sout = pin2, vin = pin 3 ,atn = pin 4 and vss = pin 5,
Pin number 6 and 7 are shorted out on each other for auto port detection. I use 12 volt on Vin and Vss, so the stamp does voltage regulation.
After the cap on the atn line, with a volt meter, if I runthe program so the atn line is active, what voltage should I register, all the other line have voltage on them until I run a program then they are pulled to 0V, is this supposed to happen?
I don’t like drawing power from the bs2/vdd pin, don’t expect high current from that pin. It should not be the power source for the rest of your circuit. By applying 12v to the stamp vin your asking the voltage reg in the stamp to do a lot of work and generate a lot of heat. But I don’t think that’s the problem with programming.
The problem I see now is this: you are missing a serial port. You can not go from USB to serial without using their USB/serial adapter, which uses the FTDI chip. In other words you need something to convert the USB to serial because a USB port does not do the same job as an actual serial comm port. The ftdi chip converts USB to serial. The cable by itself doesn’t do the job. You need their adapter, or a generic model.
