You are making me nervous talking about "FUSES" for QCX
programming!? QCX is too close to the letters UXB used in the
British Bomb Disposable TV series UXB.? (Do I need to wear eye
protection when programming QCX or bullet proof vest?)? Hope the
FUSES are STABLE.
Jim, and others...
I'll start this to answer your question and maybe others can
build on top of it to make an ARDUINO AND AVR ROGRAMMING FOR?
HAM RADIO DUMMIES document.??
1)? A raw Atmel AVR Microcontroller is programmed using a
.hex file (actually binary code stored as hexadecimal words).?
This code is entered to the AVR using 4 pins:
RST=Reset pin, but held low in? programming
mode to allow data writing to internal memory.
CLK=clock pin to move individual bits into
internal memory.? Each clock cycle moves one data bit into
the AVR.
MISO=data bits to be written into the AVR
memory.
MOSI=data bits being read out of the AVR
internal memory.? This is used to verify data that has been
written into the AVR.
There are a several different programming dongles available
from various vendors that are used to interface the 4
programming pins on an AVR Microcontroller chip.??
When writing code to an AVR there are "FUSE Bits" that
control whether others can or cannot read-out the stored code.?
In the devices by QRPLabs these bits are set to protect the code
and thus prevent others from stealing the code and duplicating
the systems by writing Hans' proprietary code to virgin AVR
chips.
============
Code for an AVR can be written in Assembler, or any of
several compiler languages.? C++ is a popular language for
programming AVR chips.? If using a compiler you need to store
the .hex output from a compile.? This is what you will write to
your AVR memory.
A relatively common program called "AVRDude" is popular for
writing .hex data into an AVR memory.
========
In an ARDUINO module the process outlined above has already
been used to write something called a "BOOTLOADER" into
protected memory on the AVR (or other) processor chip.? Purpose
of the boot loader is to simplify the procedure used to install
programs into your ARDUINO module.??
The boot loader senses when the RST lead is held low to
indicate programming data entry is imminent.? At that time the
boot loader reads program data (.hex format) input via the
built-in serial port connection.? Program verification can be
accomplished by reading data out of the processor memory via the
same serial port.
It is possible to use a level-converter (5V ttl-to-RS232
voltages) and send code to/from an ARDUINO serial port using the
serial port on your computer, but in today's world not all
computors have serial ports.? For this reason it has become
common to use a USB-to-Serial dongle to install programs into
your ARDUINO.
The popular AVRDude program can be configured to write your
new programs to the serial port.? This code is stored as
hexadecimal files containing the binary representation of your
program.??
=========
You can use assembler language, or a compiled language to
write code for your ARDUINO.? Most beginners start with the
"ARDUINO IDE" as their first entry into ARDUINO programming.?
This system uses C++ language and compiles to the .hex format
needed to program your ADUINO.
=============
When you operate the Reset pin on an AVR or ARDUINO the
processor starts executing code at address zero.? Astute readers
may have already realized that program entry by both
RST-SCK-MISO-MOSI or via a Boot loader both install .hex file
data in the same place in memory.? This makes it possible to use
the C++ compiler IDE to make .hex files that can be installed
into a bare AVR processor as well as into an ARDUINO module.??
OKAY..this has been a long edit using my cell phone's tiny
keyboard.? There may be typos, errors, etc. that will need
correction.? But this a start.....please feel free to add to
this DUMMIES INTRODUCTION TO AVR AND ARDUINO PROGRAMMING for
QRPLabs and BITX systems.
Arv? K7HKL
_-_
Sent from my
Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
Date: 10/23/17 1:32 PM (GMT-07:00)
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] Software Upgrades
Hans, would you pls provide a link to the guide
you mentioned for using Arduino to program?
Cheers es 73,
Jim N3SZ
Hi Lee
It is nothing like the BITX20. With the BITX20 you
have to install the Arduino environment. The project is
open source and there are tons of different versions of
it, so you have to figure out which version you want to
install. And which hardware changes you need to make to
the BITX40, to be able to run it with that firmware
version. Then you have to deal with the fact that it
needs some libraries too. And the libraries may not be
versions which work with the version of the Arduino
sketch, that you want to use... or that don't work with
that version of Arduino, that you installed... the
Arduino upload will compile the files and maybe you have
to fix errors... etc etc. There are many opportunities
for headaches, if you are newcomer to all that stuff.?
The QCX has just a single compiled .hex file. It's
much more simple.?
I hope someone will write the step by step guide.
Include a definition of what item to buy off eBay etc.
That would be useful. We already have a guide to using
the Arduino as the programmer, which is very nice. But
it would be nice to have one too, for one of the $3 AVR
programmers from eBay.?
73 Hans G0UPL
--
Jim Sturges, N3SZ
Amateur Radio operators do it with frequency.
