Propeller BackPack Firmware

Tumbler

I want to reinstall the original BP firmware (no overlay) without success.
To be honnest, i don't wich library i have to upload. The monitor or the terminal.
I tried both with the BP loader (using a BS2) and tried the 'Load Ram' and the 'Load Rom' button.
And since i have tried all binaries i found, i don't know what is left or right anymore.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

If you've overwritten the monitor, you will have to reload it using a Prop Plug. Then you can upload the terminal program using the BS2, if you want. If you don't care about being able to load firmware via the three-pin connector, you can also load just the terminal program via the Prop Plug.

-Phil

Tumbler

That's the problem Phil, i don't have a prop plug.

Mike Green

Unfortunately you need something like a PropPlug. If your PC has a serial port, you can make the 3 transistor programming interface shown on the Propeller Downloads page here.

Tumbler

Page 13 of the PBV1.0 pdf:

3 ways to upload new firmware, the propplug, the Propeller Backpack Loader program with a pp and the Propeller Backpack Loader program with any member of the BASIC Stamp 2 family (no
Prop Plug required).

And now you are telling me that i need a pp.

Mike Green

The Propeller Backpack includes its own loader in part of the EEPROM. It's possible that you overwrote this loader ("the monitor") in the process of trying to reload the firmware. The only way to reinstall the loader is by using a PropPlug or equivalent (like the 3-transistor circuit). Once the loader (and "the monitor") is reinstalled, you can install other programs (like the default "firmware") using the loader or using a PropPlug.

See the bottom of page 14 of the Propeller Backpack documentation for a description of how to restore the loader using a PropPlug or equivalent. There are instructions on the top of page 15 for restoring the firmware using a Stamp and the Backpack's loader if the loader is intact.

Tumbler

That's nice to hear.

Thx Mike

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Tumbler,

If you've never programmed your Backpack with a Prop Plug, there remains a good chance that the monitor/loader is still loaded in EEPROM. However, some user programs do not recognize the serial BREAK condition required to to reset the Backpack and alert the monitor that a program is to be uploaded. In those cases, the LoadBP program will display a message for you to press the reset button to commence the loading process. Is it possible that you simply missed seeing this message? Also double check your connections to the BASIC Stamp before retrying.

-Phil

Tumbler

I don't missed that message Phil.

After resetting the bp, i get another message: no basic stamp found.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

No BASIC Stamp found? There's your problem: the connection to your BASIC Stamp. Are you able to run other programs with your BASIC Stamp using the same PC connection?

If no: Double check your cable and, if you're using one, your RS232 converter.

If yes: Are you using Windows 7 by any chance?

-Phil

Tumbler

BS2 connection is ok Phil.
The BP loader first starts with donwloading. seeing block waves in the 'debug window', after a few seconds it asks to press the reset button.
Then is says basic stamp not found.

Using w2K

I had no probs when i had download the tv overlay into the bp.

Having a ntsc/pal tv. I wanted to use the bp to monitor some date while i was watching tv. But my digital tv decoder only had pal output. So it won't work (ok, my fault. I had to look better to the output signal of the decoder)

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Are you pressing the reset button on the BASIC Stamp board or on the Backpack? ('Should be the Backpack.)

-Phil

Tumbler

Phil,

If i'm correct i have to download the monitor firmware to the eeprom using the 'load rom' button and the terminal firmware with the 'load ram' button?

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Here's the scoop:

1. You only need the monitor program in there if you intend to load programs via the three-pin header using a BASIC Stamp. If that's the only way you've ever loaded programs, it's probably still there and doesn't need to be reloaded.

2. Both thte monitor program (if you use it) and the terminal program have to be loaded into EEPROM, else they will disappear when power is removed. You can either overwrite the monitor program with the terminal program via a Prop Plug, or you can upload it with LoadBP using the monitor program. Either way, it will start on power up.

-Phil

Tumbler

I think i got it Phil,

But only the tv terminal (no overlay) firmware is working here.
and i seems that the firmware, on the product page is different from the previous installed firmware. Is this a thought?

Mike Green

There are two terminal programs, one that does overlays (only) and one that provides a standard terminal as described in the Backpack documentation. Download the overlay version ZIP file from the Backpack product page and unZip it. You'll see a PDF file containing the documentation and some .binary files, one of which is the overlay terminal program and the other is a demo program.