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PropPlug does not work - parallax have mercy — Parallax Forums

PropPlug does not work - parallax have mercy

MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
edited 2011-01-30 14:52 in Propeller 1
Hi there!

I have the propellers running since nearly 2 years. Up to now I always used some other USB2Serial converters for that. ( I have 2 using a SiliconChip converter and I have 2 USB Thumbs ). Now I sold one propeller platform to a collegue and of course he also needed a programmer. For the money I decided to buy an original Parallax PropPlug.

And what shall I say ... it does not work!

Are there any known issues?
I downloaded the drivers from parallax download-page, I installed the driver and then I plugged in the PropPlug. Seeing the LEDs blink and hearing the windows "someone plugged in an USB device" sound first made me feel good. But when I attached it to the propeller platform and tried to detect the propeller in the propeller tool it says that it can't find a chip.

I run Windows 7 and yes, I'm sure that the board works, as the USB Thumb still has no problem.

Comments

  • Paul Sr.Paul Sr. Posts: 435
    edited 2011-01-26 11:39
    Have you tried plugging it into the Propeller Platform flipped?
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,887
    edited 2011-01-26 11:44
    yes, make sure you don't have it upside down...

    Also, make sure you have the power on...
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-01-26 11:55
    Yes, the red LED starts blinking then. But still no propeller found.

    The red LED would make sense if it shows the RX status, as the propeller is programmed with my COG OS. This first sends "whoami" messages and waits for a key-press.

    Even stranger is, that the RX in the PST blinks, but nothing happens.
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-01-26 14:01
    Ok, now I had a closer look at the prop-plug and the specs.

    In the ground-area it says 0906 and on the other side it says Rev C (c) 2008. Was there a change in the layout?

    According to the specs when looking on the chipless-side, header on the bottom it should be
    GND RES Tx Rx
    But following the traces looks like
    GND Rx Tx RES

    Oh ... comparing the part numbers shows a difference: In the specs it's #32201 and the package of the plug says #28024. Is it propably the plug for a basic stamp or another product?
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-01-26 14:35
    Ok ... solved ... can someone tell me why a shop that only sells propeller boards sells this bloody basic stamp interface??? ARGHHH. Sorry ... of course it's not the fault of the USB2SER. I should rather "read and click" instead of "click, wait until it's delivered and read then" ;o)
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-01-29 15:27
    Oh PARALLAX ... please have mercy!!

    I harmed your USB2Serial by cutting and soldering ....
    And now it's a PropPlug ;o)

    But I feel guilty and want to beg for mercy!
    USB2Ser2PropPlug.jpg
    767 x 933 - 141K
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-01-30 01:13
    If you make it look exactly like a Prop Plug, it may work on the Propeller.
    :)

    You were close but not close enough. Notice the one side of the Prop Plug has the Propeller Logo. If you examine any of the Propeller literature, you'll see this.
    32201-M.jpg

    and the flip side looks like this

    32201a-S.jpg
    http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerAccessories/tabid/786/CategoryID/85/List/0/SortField/0/catpageindex/2/Level/a/ProductID/398/Default.aspx
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-01-30 03:50
    Ok, here is the description of what I did:
    Download the PDF for the USB 2 serial
    Download the PDF for the PropPlug
    Discovered the differences, which are 1.) the RX and RS are swapped 2.) the VCCIO is connected to 5V on the USB2serial and to 3.3V on the PropPlug

    So the easiest "fix" ;o) of the USB2serial seemed to be
    1. swapping RX and RS
    2. adding an 680Ohm resistor to the TX - just for further limiting the current, as there are 150Ohm resistors in place

    Easiest fix because you maybe can also cut the VCCIO supply and connect it to the 3.3V instead. But soldering close to the FTDI seemed to be more difficult.

    Practically speaking I
    cut the rails (is this the right word?) of RX,TX and RES close to the header pins
    RES was easy, as there is a via close to the header pin - a solder bridge did the job
    RX - soldered a wirewrap cable from pin to the left resistor of the tiny resistor array
    TX - soldered a SMD 681 resistor to the pin and a wirewrap cable from resistor to right resistor of the array

    And here it is ... my PropPlug ... and Humanoido, you're right ... I really miss this sticker ... but on the other hand my customized PropPlug has the "Parallax Inc" label on it in friendly, golden letters.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2011-01-30 13:51
    Could you add a slide-switch to make it usable either way?
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-01-30 14:24
    Some thing smells fishy here.
    '
    Those two holes look just like the ones on my PropClip.
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-01-30 14:34
    With a 2 times changeover switch (don't know if this is proper english ;o), why not. In USB2serial-mode (attached to a BASIC stamp) the 680ohm resistor should not be a problem as well.

    What I mean with 2 times changeover switch: you have 1 physical switch but it has 6 connectors where 3 belong together. So, you have 2 "inputs" and for each "input" 2 "outputs".

    The only problem ... where do you want to mount that?
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-01-30 14:43
    @ $WMc% :
    If something smells fishy my guess is that you must have a fish sticking in your nosedrills!

    ;o)

    Compare the PDFs and you will see that there is no big difference. Search for part number #28024 on parallax homepage.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2011-01-30 14:52
    DPDT
    A mini-slide, micro-slide, or an ultra micro-slide
    There's a side with lots of real-estate; epoxy-mod, some artful wire routing.
    Just keeping it real proof-of-concept
    Some might find it useful (?)
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