G80 SoC initial setup

NETMF & Gadgeteer
1

Hi
I have difficulties with a G80 SoC.
It is the first time I’m trying to make it work.
Always starts in bootloader mode?
Tinybooter is loaded at the factory? I remember having to install it on G80 Dev board, only then I could access via USB.
I always see the COM only. I don´t see the USB port.
When trying to load the Tinybooter by serial port, it connects and displays the following error: The loader cannot be updated via the serial port.
I tried on two computers and both give the same error. Any idea what I should be doing wrong?

Regards, Pablo

2

@ pablodh - when you open FEZ Config, do not change the transport to serial. Just go directly to Advanced > Loader Update > G80. The chips themselves only come with the GHI Bootloader on them. Only products like the FEZ Reaper or FEZ Panda III have the firmware loaded on them.

3

@ pablodh -

Go to FEZ Config -> Advanced -> Loader (TintBooter) Update -> G80 -> click next…

The error massage you see that is different case, I don’t think it comes right after the second image.

4

Thank you. The interface is a bit confusing, but thanks to the help I can load perfectly.

5

@ John - Is there anyway to test that the G80 SoC is functioning properly?

I connected my project board to a PC and ran FEZ Config > Connection > Ping.
It doesn’t ping.
I plug the dev board in and it pings fine.

I used the G80 dev board schematic as a guide to build a project. I didn’t built the USB circuit exactly like the dev board. I attached a partial schematic. The USB part is complete. I also attached a pic of the project board.

Power:
I measured 3.252 volts at VCC.
I checked for noise on the power rails with the scope(low and high freqs) and there is very little(~100mV).
I pressed the reset button and measured that pin 14 pulls low.

USB:
I get 2.483 volts at pin 88(PD7) with USB plugged in. 0 volts with USB unplugged.
I see USB data on G80 pins 70 and 71.

Oscillator:
The clock signal at the crystal is 1.36V to 2.08V(~0.7V p-p) at 12MHz.
C41 and C42 are 27pF (DigiKey #1276-1086-1-ND)
X1 is 12MHZ 18 pF Load (DigiKey #535-9067-1-ND)

Is there anyway to test that the G80 SoC is functioning properly in the board?
Why would the G80 not ping via USB using FEZ Config?

6

what device is visible in Device Manager?

7

Well… I didn’t look there.

With the dev board, USB Device > GHI NETMF Interface.
With my project board, COM6 > GHI Bootloader Interface.

When I plug in my project board I try:
FEZ Config > Connection > Serial Port > Com6 > Ping
Response: Failure - Device is not connected or not responding.

Do I need to update the G80? (FEZ Config > Advanced > Loader Update > G80)

8

I don’t believe that GHI Bootloader Interface will respond to PING. Just do the firmware update (start with Loader, but may not be necessary).

9

@ Brett - I tried the G80 loader update. I tried it at 9600 and 115k baud. I attached the results.

The LDR pins have no pull up resisters in the dev board or my project board.

I connect PC, power on, hold both low, reset, let both float, wait 5 secs, attempt G80 loader update.

The results are consistent.

There is only one device connected. Is there some way to test that it is in bootloader mode?

10

The bootloader must be on the G80 because these commands respond.

[line]
Using Hyperterm…

COMMANDS and RESPONSES:

V: returns the current version.
v2.0.1
OK.

N: returns the current device type.
G80
OK.

E: erases all user sectors of the device.
Are you sure (Y/N)?
Erasing…
OK.

R: runs the firmware if present.
Are you sure (Y/N)?
Error: There is no firmware on the device.
[line]
I shut down Hyperterm and launch FEZ Config.
FEZ Config sees my project board on COM6 and gives me the option to “Check the device for update”.
After I “Check the device for update” I get “Device not connected or responding”. (see pics)
I can press the reset button and FEZ Config will see COM6 again and repeat this.

Is this a baud rate serial port setting issue?
What are the serial port setting for FEZ Config?

11

then follow [url]https://www.ghielectronics.com/docs/344/ghi-bootloader[/url] and use X to upload the firmware.

12

@ Brett - I was feeling good about this one…

Here’s what happens…
I went through these steps a few times to document them for future reference.

Connect G80 SoC with at least minimum components and connections as in attached schematic.

TinyCLR Firmware Update:

[ul]Connect Hyperterm on PC @ 115kbs to project board via USB.
Send V command to test communication.
Send X command to initiate 1K XMODEM file transfer.
Send Y to confirm.
Window should show PC is receiving series of “C” characters.
In Hyperterm click Transfer>Send File…
Browse to C:\Program Files (x86)\GHI Electronics\NETMF v4.3 SDK\Firmwares\G80\Firmware.ghi
Select 1K XMODEM.
Click Open.
Click Send.
Wait until that is complete(~20 seconds).
Send X command to initiate 1K XMODEM file transfer.
Send Y to confirm.
Window should show PC is receiving series of “C” characters.
In Hyperterm click Transfer>Send File…
Browse to C:\Program Files (x86)\GHI Electronics\NETMF v4.3 SDK\Firmwares\G80\Config.ghi
Select 1K XMODEM.
Click Open.
Click Send.
Wait until that is complete(~20 seconds).
Press reset on project board.[/ul]
Test Update:

[ul]Open FEZ Config
Select Connection.
Select USB.
Click “Check for device update”.
Output window should show a good connection and the TinyCLR version installed.
Press reset on project board.[/ul]

Load User Software:

[ul]Open VS2013
Open sln solution file
Press F5 to deploy solution to the project board[/ul]

Done

Thanks Brett

1 Like
13

well done.

For reference the other thing I’d make sure you test is connection to the board with Fez Config to make doubly sure the firmware versions are all OK, but ultimately unless you’ve done something out-of-the-norm with SDK installs you should only have one of those and this process will work fine.