ChipMusic.org - xchanger/transferer programming details?

Re: xchanger/transferer programming details?

2012-07-02T15:07:43Z

Mindless: You need to use the so called vin pin (pin 31 on the cartridge slot) instead of /wr to perform a write to the flash chip.

Re: xchanger/transferer programming details?

2012-07-02T06:31:30Z

Hey Mindless, glad you bought one of my dumpers. I have had another person ask me about flashing for atmel and amd based carts. I have started working on adding the code to the firmware to allow you to write for Intel, Atmel, and AMD NOR Flash devices. Send me a e-mail at the address once you get it in the mail and I can work with you on adding support. The device's firmware is updateable via a software.

Re: xchanger/transferer programming details?

2012-07-02T03:18:50Z

would these work with bleepbloop?

Re: xchanger/transferer programming details?

2012-07-02T02:18:16Z

I wouldn't mind some more info on these. I remember reading about them a while ago, but it looks like they are ready for shipping now!

Re: xchanger/transferer programming details?

2012-07-02T01:00:19Z

nitro2k01 wrote:

Check the datasheet for the specific flash chip on the cartridge I believe most EMS carts are usin Intel flash, like 28F320.You write a certain byte sequence to erase, enter programming mode etc. If you still need help, asl.

I have the datasheet for the flash chip. The problem is that, as far as I know, I don't have raw enough access to the flash chip via the cart pins to be able to program the chip just from the datasheet information. (I could be wrong here; I'm not an electronics expert.) I am assuming I would need some knowledge about the firmware on the MACH 4 chip to know whether it does some of the work in erasing/writing the flash chip or there is raw access to the flash chip. (Pictures of the cart PCB are here.)

Re: xchanger/transferer programming details?

2012-07-02T00:45:22Z

If you're able to get this done using one of those boards, please let us know. a $35 flasher would be a game-changer for users of EMS carts.

Re: xchanger/transferer programming details?

2012-07-02T00:08:09Z

Check the datasheet for the specific flash chip on the cartridge I believe most EMS carts are usin Intel flash, like 28F320.You write a certain byte sequence to erase, enter programming mode etc. If you still need help, asl.

xchanger/transferer programming details?

2012-07-01T23:34:08Z

Does anyone know the details of how the xchanger/transferer programs carts? (Beyond "it pulls pin 31 low to activate write-enable on the flash chip".) For example, how does it erase the cart? As I understand flash chips, there is an explicit block-erasing step, which I'm assuming the xchanger/transferer controls.

The reason I ask is that I have one of these cart-dumper boards in the mail, and I'd like to modify the firmware so that I can flash my GB Smart 32M cart. Unfortunately, I have never owned a programmer, so I can't experiment to find out how it works, and I can't analyze the circuitry of the cart because some of the traces go under the chips where I can't follow them (though I'm not sure I could analyze it even if they didn't.)