2018-01-16

Next Generation Beacons

Alternative Atmel Programmer

Overview VCO-PLL DDS GPS reference Distribution amplifiers Service management Sequence PI4 Software

This page describes how to program the Next Generation Beacon units, i.e. VCO-PLL and DDS, using an alternative to Atmel Studio and an Atmel programmer. Instead the eXtreme Burner software and an USBasp programmer, available on eBay for less than 3 EUR, are used.

Programming hardware - USBasp

The USBasp programmer is available from eBay for less than 3 EUR.

Atmel USBasp programmer with 3,3 V/5 V target voltage jumper.

Because most of the USBasp programmers have a JTAG 10 pin connector you will also need a JTAG 10 pin to 6 pin adapter. They are also available from eBay typically for 1 EUR.

Atmel JTAG 10 pin to 6 pin adapter.

Please be aware that some USBasp programmers have the target voltage fixed at 3,3 V or 5 V. Some are fitted with a jumper that allows easy switching between the target voltages. Others have a couple of small solder pads where one must be open and the other one shorted to provide the correct target voltage. In any case when programming a Next Generation Beacons unit the programmer must be set for a target voltage of 3,3 V. Failure to do so may cause problems.

Programming software - eXtreme Burner

To program the relevant .hex file to the Atmel MCU the free eXtreme Burner is used.

Once eXtreme Burner is downloaded please unzip and execute the relevant installation program.

eXtreme Burner - AVR main screen.

By default eXtreme Burner does not have the MCU data for the ATmega328 (VCO-PLL unit) and the ATmega128A (DDS unit). Therefore you will need to replace the existing chips.xml file with the one that is included in the extreme_burner.zip file. Chips.xml is located in the Data directory which is a subdirectory in the directory where you installed eXtreme Burner, typically C:\Program Files\eXtremeBurner\Data on a Windows PC. Alternatively you will have to edit the chips.xml file adding the data for the ATmega328 and ATmega128A.

ATmega328 data for the chips.xml file.

<CHIP>
   <NAME>ATmega328</NAME>
   <FLASH>32768</FLASH>
   <EEPROM>1024</EEPROM>
   <SIG>0x0014951E</SIG>
   <PAGE>64</PAGE>
   <LFUSE layout="2">YES</LFUSE>
   <HFUSE layout="5">YES</HFUSE>
   <EFUSE layout="4">YES</EFUSE>
   <LOCK>YES</LOCK>
   <CALIB>YES</CALIB>
   <PLACEMENT>.\Images\Placements\ZIF_DIP_40.bmp</PLACEMENT>
</CHIP>

ATmega328P data for the chips.xml file. The ATmega328P is used in the Arduino Uno and Arduino Nano.

<CHIP>
   <NAME>ATmega328P</NAME>
   <FLASH>32768</FLASH>
   <EEPROM>1024</EEPROM>
   <SIG>0x000F951E</SIG>
   <PAGE>64</PAGE>
   <LFUSE layout="2">YES</LFUSE>
   <HFUSE layout="5">YES</HFUSE>
   <EFUSE layout="4">YES</EFUSE>
   <LOCK>YES</LOCK>
   <CALIB>YES</CALIB>
   <PLACEMENT>.\Images\Placements\ZIF_DIP_40.bmp</PLACEMENT>
</CHIP>

ATmega128A data for the chips.xml file.

<CHIP>
   <NAME>ATmega128A</NAME>
   <FLASH>131072</FLASH>
   <EEPROM>4096</EEPROM>
   <SIG>0x0002971E</SIG>
   <PAGE>128</PAGE>
   <LFUSE layout="1">YES</LFUSE>
   <HFUSE layout="2">YES</HFUSE>
   <EFUSE layout="3">YES</EFUSE>
   <LOCK>YES</LOCK>
   <CALIB>YES</CALIB>
   <PLACEMENT>.\Images\Placements\ZIF_DIP_40.bmp</PLACEMENT>
</CHIP>

If eXtreme Burner says that it cannot find the libusb0.dll file please install, execute and use Zidag to install the driver.

The Zadig screen to load libusb0.dll driver.

Programming the VCO-PLL unit

Please ensure that the USBasp programmer is set for a 3,3 V target voltage.

Plug the USBasp programmer into the computer and connect it to the VCO-PLL using the JTAG to 6 pin adapter and apply voltage to the VCO-PLL unit.

Launch the eXtreme Burner program and select Menu | Chip | ATmega328.

Setting the fuses

This is only relevant if you have assembled the VCO-PLL unit yourself or want to change the "factory defaults." Select the Fuse Bits/Settings tabsheet and set/verify the fuses accordingly.

Fuses Hex value
Low Fuse FF
High Fuse D3
Extended Fuse FE
Lock Fuse FF
Calibration FFFFFFA0

If you want to write a new set of fuses check the relevant Write checkboxes and select Menu | Write | Fuse Bits and Lock Bits.

eXtreme Burner and the VCO-PLL fuse settings.

Programming the VCO-PLL software

To program the VCOPLL.hex file to the VCO-PLL unit select the file from Menu | File | Open Flash then navigate to the file and select VCOPLL.hex and click the Open button. Then select Menu | Write | Flash.

After programming the new VCOPLL.hex file to the VCO-PLL unit it may be relevant to perform some configuration of the VCO-PLL unit. Please see the revision history for more details.

Programming the DDS unit

Please ensure that the USBasp programmer is set for a 3,3 V target voltage.

Plug the USBasp programmer into the computer and connect it to the DDS using the JTAG to 6 pin adapter and apply voltage to the DDS unit.

Launch the eXtreme Burner program and select Menu | Chip | ATmega128A.

Setting the fuses

This is only relevant if you have assembled the DDS unit yourself or want to change the "factory defaults." Select the Fuse Bits/Settings tabsheet and set/verify the fuses accordingly.

Fuses Hex value
Low Fuse FF
High Fuse 57
Extended Fuse FF
Lock Fuse FF
Calibration B9B9B9BB

If you want to write a new set of fuses check the relevant Write checkboxes and select Menu | Write | Fuse Bits and Lock Bits.

eXtreme Burner and the DDS fuse settings.

Programming the DDS software

To program the Multimode.hex file to the DDS unit select the file from Menu | File | Open Flash then navigate to the file and select Multimode.hex and click the Open button. Then select Menu | Write | Flash.

After programming the new Multimode.hex file to the DDS unit it may be relevant to perform some configuration of the DDS unit. Please see the revision history for more details.

Bo, OZ2M, www.rudius.net/oz2m