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use original ic

 

I just finished putting my QCX 20 together and on first power up I get "use original ic". I see others have seen this also. I just installed the new chip, Is there anything I can do to get past this problem? Carl
 

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Carl,
if it's a recent purchase, please see? /g/QRPLabs/message/25608
if it's an older order you will still need to contact Han's off list......
or purchase a firmware IC from the shop.

Alan

On 03/08/2018 19:10, cwebs@... wrote:

I just finished putting my QCX 20 together and on first power up I get "use original ic". I see others have seen this also. I just installed the new chip, Is there anything I can do to get past this problem? Carl

 

Yep, brand new. I received it last week. First power was today. I sent an email to Hans today also. Thanks Alan.
Ham Radio
 

You will need both the .eep and .hex files to reflash the micro-controller. ?

Or, Hans can send you a new micro-controller chip.?
--
73, Bernie, VE3FWF
 

I am hoping Hans will replace the chip. Then I will try to learn how to reflash this chip.. I tried an update on my U3S? with no joy. I ran into some computer problems that I didn't understand so I will need help doing that. I am not worried about Hans standing behind his product. Carl.
 

After reading here for the last hour about the "use original ic" am I correct in assuming that this chip can not be flashed because it is not recognized as a QRP chip? Carl
Ham Radio
 

You are correct. ?

The Erasable Memory portion (programmed with a .eep file) of the micro-controller is corrupted. ?The actual QCX ?code (programmed with a .hex file) is probably OK.

If Hans sends you the .eep file off list, you can re-program the micro-controller yourself.
--
73, Bernie, VE3FWF
Greg Hering
 

I read Bernie's response about .eep and .hex files, started doing some searches. There seem to be 5 areas on the chip that can be programmed

flash,
eeprom,
hfuse,
lfuse and?
efuse

There are 'avrdude' programmer commands on ?to read and to write each of those five areas.? If we need all five files (.eep, .hex, .bin or whatever, the extension is probably just a convenience) to reflash a new controller then we should add those to the firmware archives, with some QRP specific instructions.

73
Greg
KE4HBQ
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Carl, do you have an arduino?

If so look here:-?
If not, beg borrow or buy one then look here Hi.?


Forget Avrdude..?

It just over complicates things.?

Download AVRDUDESS which is a more modern piece of programming software and then wait for Hans to get in touch with you.?

Regards, James.?

On 4 Aug 2018, at 07:51, Greg Hering <glhering@...> wrote:

I read Bernie's response about .eep and .hex files, started doing some searches. There seem to be 5 areas on the chip that can be programmed

flash,
eeprom,
hfuse,
lfuse and?
efuse

There are 'avrdude' programmer commands on ?to read and to write each of those five areas.? If we need all five files (.eep, .hex, .bin or whatever, the extension is probably just a convenience) to reflash a new controller then we should add those to the firmware archives, with some QRP specific instructions.

73
Greg
KE4HBQ

 

Hi all

It seems we have some relatively large proportion of problems with the latest batch of blank ATmega328 chips. Actually these are the large stash of ATmega328's I bought from Digikey while I was in the US for Dayton FDIM/hamvention. We are now finding that in each tube of 14 chips, the 7'th chip is always a failure. How weird is *that*? Always chip number 7 of 14... I was skeptical... but it has happened now many times...

Now with the T1.00f firmware update a few days ago for the QCX, on flashing the chip the firmware first checks everything then activates the beeper on our programmer here. So we now have a built-in confirmation that the chip is Ok and now we can reject any problem chips before sending them out.?

In the meantime if anyone has an issue with a chip then please contact me off list, I will help you sort it out (if you have an AVR programmer) or send you a new chip (if you do not have an AVR programmer).?

73 Hans G0UPL

On Sat, Aug 4, 2018 at 10:10 AM James Anderson <james21170@...> wrote:
Carl, do you have an arduino?

If so look here:-?
If not, beg borrow or buy one then look here Hi.?


Forget Avrdude..?

It just over complicates things.?

Download AVRDUDESS which is a more modern piece of programming software and then wait for Hans to get in touch with you.?

Regards, James.?

On 4 Aug 2018, at 07:51, Greg Hering <glhering@...> wrote:

I read Bernie's response about .eep and .hex files, started doing some searches. There seem to be 5 areas on the chip that can be programmed

flash,
eeprom,
hfuse,
lfuse and?
efuse

There are 'avrdude' programmer commands on ?to read and to write each of those five areas.? If we need all five files (.eep, .hex, .bin or whatever, the extension is probably just a convenience) to reflash a new controller then we should add those to the firmware archives, with some QRP specific instructions.

73
Greg
KE4HBQ

 

Hi All,

I wonder where Digikey got their chips? I wonder if the chip OEM can shed any light at whether these are really their chips or not.

Sounds VERY curious to me.

I bought some 'new' 'sealed' relays years ago that were apparently returned from someone who did bubble testing. Many had water inside. Caveat emptor.

John

On Sat, 4 Aug 2018, Hans Summers wrote:

Hi all
It seems we have some relatively large proportion of problems with the
latest batch of blank ATmega328 chips. Actually these are the large stash of
ATmega328's I bought from Digikey while I was in the US for Dayton
FDIM/hamvention. We are now finding that in each tube of 14 chips, the 7'th
chip is always a failure. How weird is *that*? Always chip number 7 of 14...
I was skeptical... but it has happened now many times...
Now with the T1.00f firmware update a few days ago for the QCX, on flashing
the chip the firmware first checks everything then activates the beeper on
our programmer here. So we now have a built-in confirmation that the chip is
Ok and now we can reject any problem chips before sending them out.?
In the meantime if anyone has an issue with a chip then please contact me
off list, I will help you sort it out (if you have an AVR programmer) or
send you a new chip (if you do not have an AVR programmer).?
73 Hans G0UPL

On Sat, Aug 4, 2018 at 10:10 AM James Anderson <james21170@...>
wrote:
Carl, do you have an arduino?
If so look here:-?
If not, beg borrow or buy one then look here Hi.?

oUNOandAVRDUDESS.pdf
Forget Avrdude..?
It just over complicates things.?
Download AVRDUDESS which is a more modern piece of programming
software and then wait for Hans to get in touch with you.?
Regards, James.?
On 4 Aug 2018, at 07:51, Greg Hering <glhering@...> wrote:

I read Bernie's response about .eep and .hex files,
started doing some searches. There seem to be 5 areas on
the chip that can be programmed

flash,
eeprom,
hfuse,
lfuse and?
efuse

There are 'avrdude' programmer commands on this page?to
read and to write each of those five areas.? If we need
all five files (.eep, .hex, .bin or whatever, the
extension is probably just a convenience) to reflash a new
controller then we should add those to the firmware
archives, with some QRP specific instructions.

73
Greg
KE4HBQ
 

Hi guys and thanks for your time. After having a bad time trying to update my U3s with no luck fighting with this Windows 10 computer, I give up and to be on the safe side I have asked Hans for a new chip. Carl
 

Maybe someone should put together a short YouTube vid showing how to work past the issues one would typically run into with upgrading the chip. I wish I had the time or I would do it.

As you point out you might have lost the battle with your Win10 but winning the war by ordering the new chip from Hans.

Good luck
73;
Kurt W2MW

Get



On Sat, Aug 4, 2018 at 6:33 AM -0400, <cwebs@...> wrote:

Hi guys and thanks for your time. After having a bad time trying to update my U3s with no luck fighting with this Windows 10 computer, I give up and to be on the safe side I have asked Hans for a new chip. Carl

 

Sounds like we have a new disease aka "number 7 disease". I am infected so Dr. Hans has the cure? LOL Carl

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