DRD 222 Problems

[mondoguitar]

I'm having a nightmare trying to flash this RCA 222. I've done countless 420's and Phillips models, but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've read the "how to" thoroughly and went through it step by step.

I run into problems AFTER writing "0060" and "00D0" into the data slot with 7FFFFFFE as the starting address. (this is after the green light came on)

When I close the development panel, then try to load the Flash Programming I get a "device not recognized 90/90" error". Once in a while I can enter Flash programming, but as soon as I try to read the Flash I get the same error. I am completely baffled by this. I've tried using all versions of jkeys without much luck.

If anybody has ANY ideas or suggestions, please let me know... this is getting extremely frustrating. Also when I disconnected the receiver it wouldn't power on. I never erased the flash, maybe something has become corrupted. :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance.

[skinerd]

I'm having a nightmare trying to flash this RCA 222. I've done countless 420's and Phillips models, but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've read the "how to" thoroughly and went through it step by step.

I run into problems AFTER writing "0060" and "00D0" into the data slot with 7FFFFFFE as the starting address. (this is after the green light came on)

When I close the development panel, then try to load the Flash Programming I get a "device not recognized 90/90" error". Once in a while I can enter Flash programming, but as soon as I try to read the Flash I get the same error. I am completely baffled by this. I've tried using all versions of jkeys without much luck.

If anybody has ANY ideas or suggestions, please let me know... this is getting extremely frustrating. Also when I disconnected the receiver it wouldn't power on. I never erased the flash, maybe something has become corrupted. :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance.

Solder the two wires in place, don't try to hold them on, you can do entire proceedure with those wires attached, that's how i do them and never a problem.

[mondoguitar]

Hi skinerd, thats' how I attempted to do the MOD. I left the lead connected the entire time. I still get "unrecognized chip error" or something to that effect. I have done a 221 before a long time ago, but don't remember it being so frustrating.

[mondoguitar]

Just to clarify, if using a simple jtag, you just have to run a lead from pin 56 to the 5V+ power pad? That is the 3rd pad down on the left in the area that has two rows correct? I see lots of 5V pads in that area. :rolleyes:

I STILL cannot get that part of the modification working. I keep getting "unrecognized chip error 4534/5435" or something like that to the best of my knowledge. Even if I can enter into the Flash Tools, as soon as I hit "detect", BOOM "ERROR!!!".

When does your TSOP become unlocked? after you write data entries "0060" and "00D0"? And how do you tell if they actually are WRITING??? :cool:

I have a 4x magnifier and I can see I am making a clean contact on pin 56. As far as everything else, I've done over 100 420's and the connections for the jtag and BFR are identical, so I know its not that or anything else in the procedure.

Any other ideas?
Thanks again.

[hughnohoo]

this may sound stupid, but does your rcvr actually have a flash chip at U13105 ? If not, you need to get one first.

[homer2000]

Solder the two wires in place, don't try to hold them on, you can do entire proceedure with those wires attached, that's how i do them and never a problem.


Skinerd: I have added my own flash chip and support components. I am able to dump the flash chip fully, but not erase. Just one question:

Do I still need to apply the +5v to the flash chip? or is this only for the ones that came with the flash already installed?

[mondoguitar]

"Just to clarify, if using a simple jtag, you just have to run a lead from pin 56 to the 5V+ power pad?"

YES, it has the chip! :rolleyes:

Thanks.

[skinerd]

The 5v to the flash chip and BFR to ground,
did you try using user settings and not the default 222 settings, write you own values for the flash address?

[mondoguitar]

Tried using "user specified" with no luck. What exactly does the "0060" and "00D0" bytes do? Is that what unlocks the TSOP? BEcause I think that is the step which isn't functioning properly.

[skinerd]

Entering 7FFFFFFE and then 60 and then D0 is the unlock command for the flash chip.
Are you also doing the 20010030 F and 20010000 FF to get the light to come on???
Sounds like you don't have 5v to pin 56, are you sure that is a good connection??

[mondoguitar]

yep, like i said, i've done a tonne of 420's, so i'm familiiar with the "write enabling" commands. It's just the unlocking the TSOP that's giving me problems. I must've tried a hundred times and just run into that error when trying to enter flash. I'll double check my connections and give it another try.

[cancom]

this may sound stupid, but does your rcvr actually have a flash chip at U13105 ? If not, you need to get one first.

I'm with you hughnohoo.
Mondoguitar hasn't replied that there actually is a flash chip present.
Most 222s don't have them.

cancom

[mondoguitar]

read my 4th post! Just to clarify, there IS a flash chip. Or else where would I even be trying to attach the 5v lead?

Thanks

[cancom]

Sorry about that mondoguiar!

Definately sounds strange.......
Have you cut any trace or enabled the FP jumper?
The U13105 flash chip is a Sharp/Intel 28F160?

Seems Skinerd has already covered this but......
Engineer Greg's cut and paste by Blaknite:
"Additional instructions,
On some (if not all) 222's the tsop is locked. To unlock it you will need
a test lead with aligator clips on both ends, A straight pin, and a helper.

First enable flash programming:
You will need to perform this procedure whenever you write,
erase, or unlock the flash.

Start in Boot from Link mode.

Enable power to the Flash programming pin by entering
the folowing instructions in the jkeys flashtools /
development panel window.

Address = 20010030,
Data = FF
Click "Write Word"

Then

Address = 20010000
Data = FF
Click "Write Word"

At this point, the light on the front of the receiver
should come on. If it didn't, you did something wrong.
If it did, proceed to the next step. This indicates that
flash programming is enabled.



Here's how you unlock the tsop:
Enter 7FFFFFFE in the address box, and put 0060 in the Data box. Do "NOT"
click write word yet. Clip one end of the test lead to where the jtag gets
its power. (the +5v up near the light) Clip the other end to the straght pin.

Here's where your helper comes in handy. Have them hold the straight pin so
that it touches pin 56 of the flash chip. (the one on the corner closest
to the card slot) Click the write word button now, but don't let the pin off.

Enter in the Data box 00D0, (address should still be 7FFFFFFE) and click the
write word button again. Keep holding the pin just a little longer. Now
click the erase flash button. Once it says the flash erased successful, you can
take the pin off.

You should only need to unlock the tsop once, regardless of how many times
you erase or program the flash.

At this point, you should be able to write the flash image. If you cycle
the power to the receiver before you write the flash, you will have to
perform the flash enable step above again."

cancom

[skinerd]

Sounds like mondo has the proceedure down, but it's just not working for him, I would suspect the 5v to pin 56 connection. That's about the only reason it won't erase but will read, if the unlocking is done in dev panel, and it sounds like he he done that correctly......

[mondoguitar]

skinerd is right, I'm familiar with the whole process, it's just not WORKING! :rolleyes:

I'm going to give it another try today. I just worry that the more I play around, the more likely it becomes to cause damage :cool:

Anywyas, thanks for the replies.

[mondoguitar]

Also, I'm not sure why I didn't mention this earlier, probably because I didn't think it matters, and I still don't think it does but... there IS some kind of emulation setup that attaches itself to the card slot. None of the points in the modification are used by this however. Also, he brought over a 420 that also had the emulation on it and it flashed fine.

Will just try re-installing jtag, and do it step by step again.

Skinder, or anyone... do you think that if I entered 7FFFFFFE and kept the data as FF and did a write word, it would affect anything? Because I believe I made that mistake once. But I HAVE been using the correct values since then.

Thanks again.

[mondoguitar]

And cancom, what do you mean by "Have you cut any trace or enabled the FP jumper?" Because I definitely haven't cut any traces.

Well I just tried again, and here is the EXACT message I get everytime!

"the flash codes returned are not recognized by jKeys. Mfg/Device codes returned are 4354/5F45(JEDEC) and 4354/5F45 (FlashFile)"

Maybe this helps narrow the problem down :S

[cancom]

And cancom, what do you mean by "Have you cut any trace or enabled the FP jumper?" Because I definitely haven't cut any traces.

Well I just tried again, and here is the EXACT message I get everytime!

"the flash codes returned are not recognized by jKeys. Mfg/Device codes returned are 4354/5F45(JEDEC) and 4354/5F45 (FlashFile)"

Maybe this helps narrow the problem down :S

Hi

To lock a 222 a +5V trace can be cut and then connect FP to ground. Similar to a 420RE lock. Of course most in the know are 99% sure this isn't needed as its thought the 222 cannot be written to by DTV anyway.

The more I hear, the more I feel the flash chip maybe toast.

cancom

[mondoguitar]

Well i'm not really at the "locking" stage yet. lol... I'm still trying to figure out how to get it UNLOCKED! lol. I haven't had ANY luck at all and I definitely haven't cut any traces. I cannot for the life of me figure out what I'm doing wrong. I'm soldering a solid lead from the 5V+ pad (bottom row, 3 to the right) to the 56th pin of the FLASH, following the appropriate instructions, but I keep getting an error when I try and enter the flash utilities. So I'm just left baffled. Unless through all these attempts I have overheated something :S But the receiver still functions fine, so I dunno anymore.