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BS2sx Comms trouble — Parallax Forums

BS2sx Comms trouble

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-03-24 16:42 in General Discussion
I am having trouble communicating with my BS2SX. I have downloaded a program
that produces pulses on output pin 1. Its main body looks like this:

pulses=2500
debug ? pulses
again:
pulsout 1, pulses
pause 20
goto again


The BS2SX sits on a BSII carrier board. I use the Windows interface software
stampw.exe V1.09beta, connected to COM2.
I repeatedly downloaded and ran the programme setting 'pulses' to different
values.
Pin 1 is connected to a LED grounded through a series 2K resistor.
Everything worked OK and the LED produced a dim light, depending on the
value of 'pulses'.

Then, PC to Stamp communication was lost.
I observe the following:
1) Every time the Stamp is powered up, the programme seems to run; the
message pulses=2500 appears on the Debug terminal and the LED keeps lighting
as expected.
2) The interface programme fails to find the BS2SX. I get the 'stamp not
responding' message with the Identify or the Run command.
3) The Debug window freezes following the R or I commands. I have to re-open
it to get the starting programme message.
4) Manually pressing the RESET button has no effect. It used to stop the
programme and turn the LED off, though!
5)There is some (rather remote) possibility that pin 1shorted to pin 0 or
pin 2 just before the problem appeared - but I cannot tell for sure.

I tried another serial cable, another PC, the DOS version of the software,
different COM2 settings and other desperate measures, with no success.

Any help with this situation is most appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

George Chamilothoris

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-03-24 10:02
    Dear George

    Your BS2SX IC seems to work fine as you said, since
    the programm already downloaded in your EEPROM runs
    fine and the LED dims. It mostly looks like a problem
    with your communication interface.
    1) Try to check with a scope all the pins (TX, RX,
    etc. pins 0-4) that communicate with your PC. Make
    sure that there is nothing sort circuited. I had the
    same problem a week ago with my BS2-IC and the nut
    that kept my power switch in place was short
    circuiting the TX and RX lines on my veroboard !!!
    2) Check your power supply. Make sure that everything
    sould be grounded are grounded properly. Sometimes,
    since it needs more current in download mode, although
    your stamps works fine, it refuses to communicate with
    the PC because of battery low current. Try a fresh
    battery.
    3) I've observed that sometimes if the PC COM port
    works in higher baud rate from the stamp they can't
    communicate. Try to reduce it through the control
    panel, system properties and so on ...

    Hope all this helps, good luck
    Antony Kanouras

    P.S. Ti spoudazeis Giorgo ; Mhpws T.E.I. Automatismwn
    ;
    Elpizw na lu8ei to problhma, kai oti allh aporia
    h problhma exeis steile e-mail kai ama mporw na
    boh8ihsw


    --- George Chamilothoris <thor@t...> wrote:

    <HR>


    <html><font size=3><pre>I am having trouble
    communicating with my BS2SX. I have downloaded a
    program
    that produces pulses on output pin 1. Its main body
    looks like this:

    pulses=2500
    debug ? pulses
    again:
    pulsout 1, pulses
    pause 20
    goto again


    The BS2SX sits on a BSII carrier board. I use the
    Windows interface software
    stampw.exe V1.09beta, connected to COM2.
    I repeatedly downloaded and ran the programme setting
    'pulses' to different
    values.
    Pin 1 is connected to a LED grounded through a series
    2K resistor.
    Everything worked OK and the LED produced a dim light,
    depending on the
    value of 'pulses'.

    Then, PC to Stamp communication was lost.
    I observe the following:
    1) Every time the Stamp is powered up, the programme
    seems to run; the
    message pulses=2500 appears on the Debug terminal and
    the LED keeps lighting
    as expected.
    2) The interface programme fails to find the BS2SX. I
    get the 'stamp not
    responding' message with the Identify or the Run
    command.
    3) The Debug window freezes following the R or I
    commands. I have to re-open
    it to get the starting programme message.
    4) Manually pressing the RESET button has no effect.
    It used to stop the
    programme and turn the LED off, though!
    5)There is some (rather remote) possibility that pin
    1shorted to pin 0 or
    pin 2 just before the problem appeared - but I cannot
    tell for sure.

    I tried another serial cable, another PC, the DOS
    version of the software,
    different COM2 settings and other desperate measures,
    with no success.

    Any help with this situation is most appreciated.

    Thanks in advance,

    George Chamilothoris

    </pre></font>
    <hr><center>

    </center>

    eGroups.com Home: <a
    href="http://www.egroups.com/group/basicstamps">http://www.egroups.com/group/bas\
    icstamps
    </a><br>
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    </html>



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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-03-24 16:42
    At 09:51 AM 3/24/00 +0200, you wrote:

    >I am having trouble communicating with my BS2SX.

    Is your mouse (or modem) also on com2 or com4? These usually share the same
    IRQ and will produce conflicts. Try switching your stamp to com1 or com3...

    Duncan
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