[hpsdr] Another Metis down

[Phil Harman]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for your feedback regarding using Metis to program other HPSDR boards.

I've just re-read the instructions in the Metis User Manual regarding the
procedure to use, in particular to JP1, and it seems correct to me.

With JP1 installed, and the power cycled, then Metis will start in
BootLoader mode. This uses a different, fixed, MAC address to that
normally assigned to the board.

In which case I can't see how it would be able to erase or corrupt its own
flash memory.

You can check that the board is in BootLoader mode since the indicator
LEDs have a different pattern.

Perhaps when you re-program you board you could run through the steps
again and see if you can reproduce the problem.

73 Phil...VK6APH





> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
>
> My Metis failed with the same symptoms as K5SO had. End result was
> only the 4 power LEDs lit and no other activity and of course, I could
> not
> recover. Boot loader did not work.
>
> Previous to this failure, I was able to use HPSDRProgrammer to update
> Metis code on XP 32 bit machine. It never worked on WIN 7-64 bit PC.
>
> At the time of failure, I was NOT updating Metis code, but attempting  to
> load latest FPGA code in a spare Penelope board. I used the procedure
> in the "How it is done" document "JTAG Programmer. I followed the 5
> step process, which as I recall was missing reference to JP1, but  this
> was displayed in the Programmer process. All went well and the  process
> reported no errors and programing complete. Cycled power, and Metis
> went dormant, nothing referenced in any of the documents would allow
> recovery. No boot loader, no other activity.
>
> I am certain this was self inflicted, but I cannot see anywhere along the
> process that an error was either encountered or displayed.  I believe  it
> is related to JP1 function and/or sequence of when to use it!
>
> The only difference that I can tell you is that I was using a 3 slot  EU
> Atlas board vs the 6 slot US board. I always keep this connected to
> my XP PC for testing and FPGA upgrades, and keep the 6 slot Atlas
> on the WIN 7-64 PC for on air operation.
>
> I am currently running Diversity 18 (K5SO) code with fantastic  results.
> I have developed some hardware interface systems to integrate 3 RF
> probe antennas (plus 2 horizontal antennas) with 2 Mercury boards,
> and have phenomenal performance, especially at LF and VLF  frequencies.
>
> I am in the process of documenting the hardware that I have  incorporated
> including software control of the antennas via the I2C buss from  Mercury
> to the HiZ amplifiers at the RF probes.
>
> I have also encountered some issues with the transmit audio chain in  the
> latest W5WC software, but not quite sure how to explain it, until  further
> use.
>
> Thanks to ALL of you that have developed this great HPSDR project and
> all the ongoing improvements, etc.
>
> 73 de Joe
> K1RQG
>
>
> In a message dated 2/22/2011 12:03:30 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> scotty at tonks.com writes:
>
> *****  High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
> Hi  Joe,
>
> The reason that you could not recover from your "fault" is that  the
> bootloader code also resides in the PROM alongside the operating
> code.  If the PROM contents get scrambled (which they apparently
> did), the FPGA does not load either of the two images from the PROM
> and nothing works, not even the bootloader.
>
> It is hard to imagine  what could have messed up the image in the
> PROM, but we'll all be looking  to see if this happens again or to anyone
> else.
>
> Dan and I powered up  and down literally hundreds of Metis boards and
> never saw that  failure.
>
> 73,
> Scotty  WA2DFI
>
>
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