How to rewrite Sika Monitor for M-Core

[pbro]

Hello,

I'm afraid that we may have erased the Sika Monitor program from 2 M-Core boards. When we connect the serial cable to the terminal program we get no response. We used to get the Sika Monitor prompt.

What do I need in order to reload the monitor program, and where can I get the necessary tools?

Thanks,

PBB

[nmitech]

Here are the options to reload the Sika bootloader,

1. NMI will reload the Sika bootloader free of charge at your shipping expenses.

2. Or You can order the JTAG Cable & Software to load it by yourself. Here is the link to purchase the JTAG cable from third party vendor, www.pemicro.com
http://www.pemicro.com/products/mcore.html
Note: Cable & software are sold seperately. Please contact pemicro@pemicro.com for detail

[pbro]

We now have 2 M-Core boards and neither of them are communicating with the host PC. Some time ago, at least one of them was working...the SIKA Monitor was talking with the host PC.

Is there any way I can ensure the the boards aren't burned out, and that reprogramming the Monitor will bring new life to the boards?

Thanks,

Per Bj. Bro

[nmitech]

Is there any way I can ensure the the boards aren't burned out, and that reprogramming the Monitor will bring new life to the boards?

As long as the Reset signal is high and the crystal is oscillating then CPU is very much alive. But it won't tell you if other parts such as serial, Jtag, I/O's, and other peripherals are OK or NOT until you can load some kinds of program, or software debug tool to check it out.

Please check the followings,
- Run the NMITerm or Hyper Term and set the Baudrate @ 19,200
- Select your Comport, 1,2,3, etc...
- Put a jumper on +3V and PA7, pins 2 & 4 on J2 connector
- J12, jumpers from center pin to the right (toward C12) as default
- A,B,C jumper from center pin to the right (toward C7), as default
- J9 needs to be jumpered (close), as default
- Connect the DB9 serial cable to location DB1
- Apply 8V up to 12V (100mA minimum) to PJ1
- The Sika prompt should display on the Terminal Program, and each time you enter "?" the help menu will display

If the board is not response, please email to nmiproduction@newmicros.com to request for RMA number to return for repair.

[pbro]

I have followed your recipe, but neither of the boards responds. Before requesting a RMA number, I would like to ensure that our cable is not bad.

Would you be so kind as to send the pinout connections for the serial cable.

Thank you,

P.B. Bro

[nmitech]

Would you be so kind as to send the pinout connections for the serial cable.


Just use a standard straight through DB9F to DB9M serial cable.

To check your PC comport and cable, simply connect the serial cable to your PC serial connection, and short out pin 2 & 3 on the other (male) end of your serial cable. Run any Terminal Program and each time you press a numerical or alphabetical key it will echo back on the screen. If you don't see anything on the screen, either your serial cable or your PC comport is bad.

[pbro]

Looks like things are getting better. I hooked up the P&E Micros cable and using their progmcz software can inspect the memory of the board. It looks as though the SIKA monitor went blowing away in the wind. At least I can't see anything in low memory of the board.

The serial cable works well at echoing back characters with pins 2-3 shorted out.

Thank you for your help...

PBBro

[nmitech]

You should be able to reload the sika srecord with PEmicro cable. The Sika srecord is included in the distributed diskette. Email me nmitech@newmicros.com if you need it.