[hpsdr] Hermes Initial results and TX Question

[Joe Martin K5SO]

Hi Joe, 

You normally don't need a blaster cable to upgrade your firmware using HPSDRProgrammer.  

The reason that some people are obtaining blaster cables now is that some Hermes boards are missing the bootloader code that is required to be present in the EEPROM if HPSDRProgrammer is used to upgrade the firmware.  If your board is missing the bootloader code in the EEPROM then the only way to change firmware on the board is to use a blaster cable to load code; after loading the bootloader code using a blaster cable you may use HPSDRProgrammer thereafter to load upgrades to the firmware, without use of a blaster cable. 

Yes, the $14 cables work.

73,  Joe K5SO

On Nov 29, 2012, at 3:23 PM, Joe Giacobello, K2XX wrote:

> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
> 
> Dave, I didn't realize that a special cable and printer port were required for the FW upgrades.  Altera lists the Byteblaster for $150.  However, it looks like the equivalent is available on Ebay (from China) for about $14.  Does anyone know if these Chinese alternates do the job?
> 
> 73, Joe
> K2XX
> 
> On 11/28/2012 5:05 PM, hpsdr-request at lists.openhpsdr.org wrote:
>> Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:37:37 -0500
>> From: "Dave Watson"<davewatson at charter.net>
>> To: "'HPSDR list'"<hpsdr at lists.openhpsdr.org>
>> Subject: Re: [hpsdr] Hermes Initial results and TX Question
>> Message-ID:<01dd01cdccf8$2f0e3b70$8d2ab250$@net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>> 
>> Great news! I have the USB Blaster on hand and ready2go!
>> 
>> Dave (W4DJW)
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:hpsdr-bounces at lists.openhpsdr.org
>> [mailto:hpsdr-bounces at lists.openhpsdr.org] On Behalf Of Joe Martin K5SO
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 4:06 PM
>> To: HPSDR list
>> Subject: Re: [hpsdr] Hermes Initial results and TX Question
>> 
>> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>> 
>> FYI, it appears that the Hermes temporary freeze up issue has now been
>> successfully resolved.  The problem was not with PowerSDR, the issue was due
>> to marginal timing in the Hermes FPGA.
>> 
>> You may expect that a new version of Hermes firmware will be released
>> shortly that removes the lock up problem, with addtional improvements as
>> well (e.g., full support of the Hermes 31 dB step attenuator, VNA code,
>> etc).
>> 
>> 73,  Joe K5SO
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