Help for new user
Browny
Posts: 15
Hi, I have never used stamp before but I have a device which uses it that requires a firmware update. I have downloaded the code for the update and the BASIC stamp editor, but I have no idea how to upload it. When I click identify in the editor, it doesnt find anything so Im guessing this is where the problem is...any ideas how to get my device recognised?
Ive only tried it in Windows at the moment, but Im going to download the software for Linux now and see if I get a different result.
Ive only tried it in Windows at the moment, but Im going to download the software for Linux now and see if I get a different result.
Comments
I would rather doubt that you were able to download a firmware update for the PBASIC Stamp, as only Parallax employees would be able to update it. You may have an update for the PROGRAM which runs on your Stamp.
As far as updating the PBASIC Program, that will only be possible if the person who has developed this device has made accomodations to do so. If they have you will need to connect a fully propagated, 9 pin, RS-232 serial type cable between your device and your PC.
If you are using Windows, you need to download and install the latest revision of the PBASIC Editor/IDE. I presume you've done that from what you've said.
You say that when you click IDENTIFY "it doesnt find anything". Please give us the exact message that is displayed, as that will be helpful in diagnosing the problem.
If you don't mind me asking, what device is this, and where is their web site? I would HOPE they'd have instructions on their web site as to how to do the program update that you are trying to do. If not, I'd be happy to suggest to them that they do so for other customers with the same needs.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Veni, Vidi, Velcro! - I came, I saw, I stuck around!
The device is a controller for a small radio telescope (heres the website, as you can see by it there isnt a great deal of help... http://www.cassicorp.com/products.html). The telescope was developed by MIT and I have been in contact with them and they directed me to here (http://www.haystack.mit.edu/edu/undergrad/srt/SRT Software/SRTfiles.html) which contains the updated firmware needed, but then directs me to the parallax website for more information.
As for the problem I'm having, yes I have a RS-232 cable. (On my Linux computer I dont have a serial port so I have a usb-serial converter...but Im currently working on the Windows computer as it was easier to install the software). When I click identify in the Editor it has a table with headings Port, Device Type, Version, Loopback, Echo. But its not finding any devices. For port COM1, Device type and Version are blank, while Loopback and Echo say No. I know that the cable is recognised usually because I am able to use the telescope with it. And thats where Im at...
Before we do any possibly unnecesary troubleshooting here, let's take that quantum leap and click on the RUN button in the IDE and see what happens then
I suspect you may be .. good to go, and you may not realize it, save for that one command.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Veni, Vidi, Velcro! - I came, I saw, I stuck around!
Now that I've seen the file selection, I realize that there are JAVA files and PBASIC Stamp files. There is also·JAVA Stamp (Javelin) but I'm going on the presumption we're speaking of the PBASIC Stamp files.
If that's the case, they are indeed new user programs and not firmware per se. One thing they may have not said is that they have the WRONG FILE TYPES to be acceptable to the PBASIC Compiler/IDE. Thus, both files need to be RENAMED before they are usable. I have renamed both files since I don't know which one you need, or both, and have attached them in ZIPped form to this posting. Just download the "MIT_Files.ZIP" and unZIP them, and you ought to be able to load either or both (individually) into your PBASIC Stamp.
If you have any additional problems, just let us know.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Veni, Vidi, Velcro! - I came, I saw, I stuck around!
Post Edited (Bruce Bates) : 1/20/2008 1:29:03 PM GMT
Is this device presently powered? If not, it needs to have power before the PBASIC Compiler/IDE can download to it.
Is the RS-232 cable a straight-through cable (pin 1 to pin 1, etc)? If not, it needs to be. A so called cross-over cable will not work.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Veni, Vidi, Velcro! - I came, I saw, I stuck around!
this is from the email i receive from MIT about what i need to do: "need to update the STAMP firmware and the java or executable to be
consistent with the new STAMP firmware"
Twisted Pair....
I just tried using the program that operates the controller and and clicked on RUN in the editor and this time i get under the device type heading, cant open port; in use...so that proves there is communication there
Okay, now we're getting somewhere. Are you using some kind of background program ("Hot Paw") for a hand-held gadget, or anything like that? If so, it needs to be shut down during the uploading process.
I have re-uploaded that file and re-attached it to the same message. See if it appears now.
As far as checking the serial cable you will need a multi-meter or some means of checking continuity from one of the cable to the other. Then you can see if pin 1 on one end is the same as pin 1 on the other end, and so on down the line.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
Twisted Pair....
I'm just a bit surprised, unless you ordered it that way, that a new PC has a regular RS-232 serial port, as most do not. Are you sure you're not mixing up the 25-pin parallel connector with a serial port? There were 25-pin serial ports at one time.
The "can't open port; in use" generally means another program has control of the serial port, although it's not firm proof that an RS-232 port exists, since a USB port is also a serial port. I'd try re-booting at this point, and give it another shot. That should kill any extraneous programs which have have started during your early testing.
You can go to CONTROL PANEL => SYSTEM => HARDWARE => Device Manager to ensure yourself that an RS-232 type port or ports exist.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Veni, Vidi, Velcro! - I came, I saw, I stuck around!
I just got my housemate to try a device he has with the cable and it worked...
I just took the time to compare the files you changed and the existing ones and they look the same...what changes did you make?
Im going to try and get it set up on my Linux computer, but Im still new to linux so that could take a while [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Twisted Pair....
I only changed the names from XXX.BS2.TXT to XXX.BS2 since the PBASIC Compiler does not expect a filetype of .TXT. Just changed the names to protect the innocent
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Veni, Vidi, Velcro! - I came, I saw, I stuck around!
anyway, I have a linux version of the program running but it now gets a compile error wherever there is a #. Now I have no idea how to program in BASIC so i dont know if this is an error or not? the other thing was it wouldnt recognise the files when they were .BAS, but I was able to open them and got the same compile error. So i copied the files and changed the extension to .bs2 and it recognised them right away, but had a compile error with the first line of the code which is ' {$STAMP BS1} ... i changed this is BS2 and then got the compile errors on the #'s.
hope that wasnt too confusing, but I have no idea of the code here...i did a heap of fpga programming last year and am currently learning C so i dont want to have to learn another language right now :P
Opening the serial port.
Searching for Basic Stamp...
Basic Stamp Not Found, Please check the device.
Closing the serial port.
...that seems to be similar to the error I was getting in windows
and i just found out its a good idea to switch off devices before poking around in them....f*ck that hurt!!!
Foolish me, I've been bitten by ***-U-ME again! I assumed these were PBASIC Stamp 2 (BS-2) programs, and they're NOT. They are PBASIC Stamp 1 (BS-1) files. They require a filetype of BS1, not BAS as I had renamed them. Sorry for that trip down the wrong path <sigh>.
Sadly, that's not the end of it. The BS-1 and BS-2 are programmed differently. Originally, with older versions of PBASIC, the BS-1 was prgrammed via the PARALLEL port, NOT the serial port, and it required a different IDE than the BS-2. A few revisions back, the BS-1 was incorporarted into the standard PBASIC IDE, but an adapter must be used to program it, for somewhat obvious reasons.
Here is the BS-1 Serial to Parallal Adapter that's used to program the BS-1:
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/CategoryID/9/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/44/Default.aspx
As you can see in the documentation on that web page, if you are presently using a Stamp BS-1 Project Board, then this adapter is unnecessary. I've no way of telling what kind of board is being used, but you can certainly compare what you have to the picture supplied on that web page.
My sincere apologies for all this confusion.
Addendum: All BS-1 program files will require the following as the first line in the program -
' {$STAMP BS1}
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Veni, Vidi, Velcro! - I came, I saw, I stuck around!
Post Edited (Bruce Bates) : 1/20/2008 4:52:31 PM GMT
I took the electric shock and the fact that it was after midnight on a Sunday as a hint I should go home so I dont have the board in front of me at the moment, although looking at the picture for the Bs1 module it looks similar to a module on the board I have...from memory. In the emails I exchanged with MIT they mentioned a Stamp cable so Im guessing its the one you have mentioned. I just assumed it was the serial cable.
Anyway have you ordered from the store before? Im in Australia and I have a time limit on my project so I need it asap...i guess ill try and find a supplier over here in the morning.
Thanks again for the help.
A·BS-1 serial adapter to use the current I-D-E?
Or are you going to use the old DOS/parallel-port based program·and try to find the programming cable that the lads used (blow off the dust) last time?
Where's the base-line?
Before you try to meet your deadline by ordering from Parallax directly, send an email to my friend Ron Nollet, who is one of the Parallax Distributors in AU. Although the information below came from the Parallax web site, I seem to remember that Ron moved to Melbourne, so that's why I suggest an email first.
Here are his particulars:
RTN (Ron Nollet)
35 Woolart St. Strathmore, Victoria AU 3041
Phone: int + 613 9338 3306
Fax: int + 613 9338 4596
Web: http://www.nollet.com.au
Email: ron@nollet.com.au
I suspect he may have a BS-1·adapter right in stock.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Veni, Vidi, Velcro! - I came, I saw, I stuck around!