OK done it soldered a jump lead to rts on the side of the plug to the middle part of that circuit you put up the diagram for and prop tool still can't find it. Does the tx on the plug go to the rx on the chip and the rx on the plug got the tx on the chip? Also Does vss and boen both just go to ground or do they touch resn? I think it maybe the memory chip that's the problem should prop tool still recognise the chip without memory installed? And lastly when plugging it in to computer should battery be attached or not?
Just thought as I'm using existing connections for rxd and txd and ground I don't need those 10k resistors on any of them except the reset to ground is that right or do I still need to put them in? Just as I would assume as I'm using existing connections for those three the plug would have resistors in place for those anyway?
The prop needs the reset line as well. I don't know anything much about these USB to TTL converters, but I do know you need to reset the propeller at a precise time. I tend to start with this schematic http://elmicro.com/files/parallax/propdemod_schematic.pdf
and presumably your converter replaces the FT232. Do you get a DTR output?
It looks alright.
The yellow wire you use for reset is RTS. Make sure the Propeller Tool is enabled to use it. (Edit -> Preferences -> Operation -> Propeller Reset Signal - select RTS or DTR & RTS)
The right red wire which is connected via resistor to the dongles RXD pin has to be connected to propeller pin 40 ("P31"). The left one which is connected via resistor to the dongles TXD pin has to be connected to propeller pin 39 ("P30").
The orange wire coming from the collector of your transistor has to be connected to pin 11 ("RESn") and, as Duane wrote, pin 10 ("BOEn") must be connected to ground. Please double-check the connections.
If it still isn't working, post a picture of your complete breadboard so we can also see the propeller chip and tell us which type of transistor you are using.
Thanks I'll rewire it all and try again. Do I need any other software for the bst tool or extra drivers etc. it's already installed silicon uart drivers. Also does the bst tool default to rst as can't seem to find a preference for changing it in bst?Lastly do I need battery connected when connecting to mac?Also does the Rom need to be connected for bst to see prop chip?
128mhz? You would have to overclock the Propeller to get your carrier frequency from it. That would mean a higher crystal, a heck of a lot more heat (maybe glue on a heat sink), and a serious risk of sudden instability.
Ok it's working fine except I keep getting write to com 3 failed but only when uploading the fm transmitter spin with wav file from this board. Seems to be timing out?? Would it be better to connect reset to Dst rather than rst? Or is it a driver issue?? Any ideas???
You mean DTR rather than RST (data terminal ready vs request to send). No difference likely.
Have you tried the latest (last week or so) PropTool? It has some timing changes that may??? help.
If not, you could try changing the R & C values in the transistor reset circuit. R is easiest. I am not quite sure of the prop timing to know if this might help or not.
I don't recall if I used the one that came with the board or let Windows find one automatically. Most likely I would have let windows try and locate a driver from the internet.
You have problems with downloading the wav file. I presume this is downloaded by other than PropTool? i.e. not part of the actual compiled cpde download? If so, I wonder if there is a problem with whatever code/object is doing the download. Maybe the wav file is too big. Maybe a buffer overrun. Hard to say without more info and understanding what the software is doing.
No. If you still have everything wired up like in the pictures in your post #40 it should be working.
Describe exactly what you are doing when you get "write to com 3 failed". That's the easiest way to get help and was already suggested by Cluso99.
I'm literally just connecting battery to breadboard then plugging in USB thingy then starting prop tool and then I checked it could find prop tool and it did identify one prop chip I then opened the spin file which is in the same folder as the WAV file and the went compile current eeprom and it starts to load ram and then hangs for a little bit and then says write on com 3 failed. All other program's that I compile that don't have external WAV files say they have worked but the prop doesn't seem to do what it's supposed to. Just goes sssh-break-sssh on the radio and then dies after a few seconds and it's not very powerful it needs to be directly on the radio. Also it doesn't work at all when I try and use BST tool on mac, it won't even see the chip
I can confirm loading the program in the zip file doesn't work on my machine/board either. That's Windows XP (x86) with Propeller Tool 1.3.2 and CP210x driver 6.5.3; the error message is "Write failure on COMxx.". It looks like this is the behaviour described in the thread USB download cables. You could follow the suggestions by Ariba in that thread and use an older version of the Propeller Tool.
Another possibility (worked for me) is propeller-load from the Propeller GCC / Simple IDE project. To use it install SimpleIDE and execute
This runs your program; to also write to EEPROM add "-e" on the command line. To create 2m_fm_modulation1.binary press F8 in the Propeller Tool and choose "Save Binary File".
I can confirm loading the program in the zip file doesn't work on my machine/board either. That's Windows XP (x86) with Propeller Tool 1.3.2 and CP210x driver 6.5.3; the error message is "Write failure on COMxx.". It looks like this is the behaviour described in the thread USB download cables. You could follow the suggestions by Ariba in that thread and use an older version of the Propeller Tool.
Another possibility (worked for me) is propeller-load from the Propeller GCC / Simple IDE project. To use it install SimpleIDE and execute
This runs your program; to also write to EEPROM add "-e" on the command line. To create 2m_fm_modulation1.binary press F8 in the Propeller Tool and choose "Save Binary File".
That's great thanks at least I know now it's not just me, where do I get simple IDE from?
did you check it on a radio? also i've read that when testing some people have a 100 ohm resistor instaed of the antenna. Am i right in thinking the 100 ohm resistor would go from pin 6 to ground?
Comments
IMHO the 10K series resistors in TX and RX are a bit high. I would prefer 1K, but the PropPlug uses 150R IIRC.
Any general purpose NPN transistor can be used such as 2N2222, etc.
If pulled low the Prop won't do anything.
BOEn is permanently connected to VSS unless you have extra under voltage detection circuitry.
Duane J
this is what i've got am i missing something? i haven't cut any tracks????
and presumably your converter replaces the FT232. Do you get a DTR output?
Is the yellow wire the DTR?
The yellow wire you use for reset is RTS. Make sure the Propeller Tool is enabled to use it. (Edit -> Preferences -> Operation -> Propeller Reset Signal - select RTS or DTR & RTS) The right red wire which is connected via resistor to the dongles RXD pin has to be connected to propeller pin 40 ("P31"). The left one which is connected via resistor to the dongles TXD pin has to be connected to propeller pin 39 ("P30").
The orange wire coming from the collector of your transistor has to be connected to pin 11 ("RESn") and, as Duane wrote, pin 10 ("BOEn") must be connected to ground. Please double-check the connections.
If it still isn't working, post a picture of your complete breadboard so we can also see the propeller chip and tell us which type of transistor you are using.
Is it possible to broadcast a signal at a higher frequency than 128mhz with the prop chip?
Secondly is it possible to have an input for microphone so that it broadcasts voice on the selected frequency?
/me runs and hides
Have you tried the latest (last week or so) PropTool? It has some timing changes that may??? help.
If not, you could try changing the R & C values in the transistor reset circuit. R is easiest. I am not quite sure of the prop timing to know if this might help or not.
You have problems with downloading the wav file. I presume this is downloaded by other than PropTool? i.e. not part of the actual compiled cpde download? If so, I wonder if there is a problem with whatever code/object is doing the download. Maybe the wav file is too big. Maybe a buffer overrun. Hard to say without more info and understanding what the software is doing.
Describe exactly what you are doing when you get "write to com 3 failed". That's the easiest way to get help and was already suggested by Cluso99.
I'm literally just connecting battery to breadboard then plugging in USB thingy then starting prop tool and then I checked it could find prop tool and it did identify one prop chip I then opened the spin file which is in the same folder as the WAV file and the went compile current eeprom and it starts to load ram and then hangs for a little bit and then says write on com 3 failed. All other program's that I compile that don't have external WAV files say they have worked but the prop doesn't seem to do what it's supposed to. Just goes sssh-break-sssh on the radio and then dies after a few seconds and it's not very powerful it needs to be directly on the radio. Also it doesn't work at all when I try and use BST tool on mac, it won't even see the chip
Code is here.
http://forums.parallax.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=94811
As an attachment
Another possibility (worked for me) is propeller-load from the Propeller GCC / Simple IDE project. To use it install SimpleIDE and execute This runs your program; to also write to EEPROM add "-e" on the command line. To create 2m_fm_modulation1.binary press F8 in the Propeller Tool and choose "Save Binary File".
That's great thanks at least I know now it's not just me, where do I get simple IDE from?