BX40 Bagero driver installation

[czoran]

Hello everybody!

I have just received my BX40 and I can not install drivers for it.
Could anybody suggest me what to do?

- installed ProgExpress
- connected device to USB
- when "new hardware..." dialog showed, I have pointed it to directory where ProgExpress was installed (c:\program files\batronix\prog-express\driver\bx40)
- I am getting message that driver can not be found on that location.
- tried with restarting PC, changing USB port, reinstalling of ProgExpress
- also tried with separate drivers for bx40 downloaded from Batronix webpage
- tried on second PC

When I connect BX40 to USB port everything seems to be fine. Green LED is ON.

Computer1 spec:
Laptop HP Compaq nx6325
AMD Turion TL-60, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD
Win XP SP2

Computer2 spec:
Desktop PC
Celeron 1300, 256 MB RAM, 160 GB HDD
Win XP SP2

Thank you.

Regards,
Zoran

[czoran]

Hello again,

I did some experimenting...

Voltage on USB shows large drop when I connect BX40. I am measuring only 2.13V on both computers.
Don't know if it is enough for normal operation and driver installation.
Is it possible that device is not well recognized while low voltage is present?

Thank you.

[Sebastian Schümann]

Hi Zoran.

The BX40 programmer normally charges the USB port within its specifications, so the voltage should not drop to 2V.

Are you using a USB-hub without additional power supply?

The programmer needs to be connected to a USB port with full power supply (5V / 500mA).
If it is connected in this way there may be a problem with the hardware of the programmer.

You can send back to us for repair / exchange.

best regards,
Sebastian

[czoran]

Hello,

Thank you for answer.
Seems that I found sollution. Reinstalled Windows and device installed well.
But funny things continue. Voltage is now 2.17 on USB port where BX40 is connected. Meaning that 2.13V is not enough and 2.17 is enough.
I was playing whole weekend with it.
Device is pulling too much from USB port. I have never saw such voltage drop before. Working with USB for many years, using many USB devices...

I am not using USB hub. I just connect to onboard connectors directly.
But I made tests even with external hub with external power source. Still the same: 2.13V

There is also some strange noise coming from device. Like quiet "sssSSSsssSSSsss" sound (like pulsating, or whistling). Is it normal that noise is heard?
Are components well dimensioned inside? Maybe too old (dry) electrolytes inside?

I would like to have replacement device, but seems that it is impossible for me. I have payed almost 110 USD of Custom and Tax fees. It is way too much to be payed again, when new device arrive.

At least it is working with empty windows, and all other devices diconnected, and with that funny noise.
I hope it will work some months...and then I will trash it away and forget.

I am very sad and disapointed...
You should carefully check every single device before sending abroad!


Regards,
Zoran

PS
When will your software be updated for Macronix MX1000* flash chips?

[André Bauer]

Dear Zoran,

could it be that that you are measuring the wrong pins of the USB connection? If the voltage would fail under 4.2 volts, the BX devices won't work. If you are measuring 2.xx volts, you are measuring a data wire. These data wires constains low (0V) and high (5V) signals and a voltage meter will measure anything between 0 and 5 volts.

We are testing each BX programmer completely before we send them out. Each programmer pin is tested separately and each programmer must erase, program, read and verify a chip. After a programmer passed the test, it become a yellow lable on its backside. Please have a look on the backside of the programmer. There must be a yellow label with the name of the programmer and a bar code.

The quiet "sss" noise comes from the voltage step up conversion of the device. There are coils inside the device which are converting the 5V USB voltage up to the required 7-25 volts. We are already testing other coils to make this noise even more silent.

Regarding your import taxes: These taxes depends on your country.
If you send a device back to us, simple mark it as "for repair" and set the value to USD10. We will then send it back the same way and you won't have to pay taxes again.

Regards,
André

[André Bauer]

Hello!

Regarding the Macronix MX1000 chips: Do you mean the MX27C1000? These chips are already supported, perhaps you need to download the actual Prog-Express version.

Regards,
André

[czoran]

Hello,

Thank you for answer.
I know how to measure voltage on USB!
I am not measuring between data lines. Voltage switch to normal 5.02V as soon as I disconnect BX40.

Regarding taxes/customs. I know that they are dependant of local country laws, not on you. And I knew that costs will be around USD 100. No problem. But problem is that I have to pay again when I receive replacement device from you. I have asked at the Customs Office. They don't care if it is "from repair". It is simply new device which I am importing. So, I will have to find other way.

Regarding Macronix flash chips. Full name is MX28F1000PPC.
I am using latest ProgExpress (ver 1.2.3). Tried to use some other chip definition. I can make read, but not erase/write.

[André Bauer]

Dear Zoran,

Please excuse me; I believe that you know how to measure the USB supply voltage. But everyone can make mistakes, therefore I wrote that you maybe measured the wrong pins. But nevertheless: If the USB voltage will go down to 2.x volts, Windows won't recognize the programmer and nothing with the programmer would work anymore. At which cables (colors) within the USB cable do you measure this voltage?

Regarding the taxes: If we send the programmer "from repair" back to you and state the value with USD10 your customs will use the USD10 for calculating the tax amount. Most costums didn't take any taxes if the value is so low. But if we (or you) state the value of a new device or put the original invoice into the package, the customs will take the invoice amount for calculation the tax.

Regarding the MX28F1000PPC: We will support this chip with the next Prog-Express update and let you know as soon as it is ready.


Regards,
André

[André Bauer]

Dear Zoran,

The new Prog-Express version 1.2.4 supports the requested MX28F1000PPC chip now. You can download the software at: http://www.progshop.com/shop/software/prog-express/index.html

Regards,
André Bauer