Help please getting basic SX connectivity!

[tds234]

I have the latest board ( just received a couple of days ago) and the latest Blitz programmer (thanks Jon!) and I have it all physically connected but cannot get any programming connection to the controller. I keep getting the 'SX-KEY not found on COM3' error when I try to program, read or verify the SX controller.

The blitz is recognized on my host as a serial port (COM3) and that is also the port selected in the IDE.
I ensured that the proper USB drivers are installed.
I see the activity LED flash on the Blitz when the IDE is attempting to access the device.
I have a steady green LED on the blitz.
I have the SX controller powered up and set to mode 1.
I have a lit red LED on the SX when powered.
I have rebooted my host computer.
I have unplugged all my connections and checked them.
I am using a known good USB cable.
I have hit the SX reset button numerous times.
I have tried it with the trainer installed on the top connectors (p8 and up). I have tried it with the driver chip pulled from the p8 and up connectors and NO driver installed with the trainer.
I have tried it with the driver chip installed and no trainer.

Can I install directly a serial cable directly from my computer to the serial connector on the SX controller?
What am I doing wrong? Since the Blitz I have is the model that plugs into the serial connector and not the basic 4 pin connector is there something I have to do differently?
Infant mortality on the board?

Any ideas please email to tds2@scrimager.com or reply here, thanks in advance!

[JonnyMac]

You didn't show me what you were doing to test your board, so here's a program that I just download (via the SX-Blitz) to my Prop-SX and it does work.  You'll need to connect the Prop-1 trainer to the P8..P15 header, put the P14/RC.6 SETUP jumper to DN (for the button on the P1-T), and remove the other SETUP jumpers.  When the program is working pressing the button on the trainer will cause the LEDs to zig-zag.

' =========================================================================
'
'   File...... SX-TEST.SXB
'   Purpose...
'   Author.... Jon Williams, EFX-TEK
'   E-mail.... jwilliams@efx-tek.com
'   Started...
'   Updated...
'
' =========================================================================


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Program Description
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

' SETUP Jumpers:
' - P15/RC.7 = DN
' - P14/RC.6 = DN
' - P13/RC.5 = Out
' - P12/RC.4 = Out


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Conditional Compilation Symbols
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Device Settings
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEVICE          SX28, OSC4MHZ, TURBO, STACKX, OPTIONX, BOR42
FREQ            4_000_000
ID              "SX-TEST"


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' I/O Pins
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trigger         PIN     RC.6 INPUT              ' SETUP = DN

Leds            PIN     RC
Led6            PIN     RC.5 OUTPUT
Led5            PIN     RC.4 OUTPUT
Led4            PIN     RC.3 OUTPUT
Led3            PIN     RC.2 OUTPUT
Led2            PIN     RC.1 OUTPUT
Led1            PIN     RC.0 OUTPUT

UnusedRB        PIN     RB   INPUT PULLUP
UnusedRA        PIN     RA   INPUT PULLUP


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Constants
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

IsOff           CON     0
IsOn            CON     1


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Variables
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

idx             VAR     Byte


' =========================================================================
'  INTERRUPT
' =========================================================================


'  RETURNINT


' =========================================================================
  PROGRAM Start
' =========================================================================


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Subroutine / Function Declarations
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Program Code
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Start:


Main:
  Leds = %00000000
  IF Trigger = IsOff THEN Main

  FOR idx = 0 TO 4
    Leds = 1 << idx
    PAUSE 100
  NEXT

  FOR idx = 5 TO 1 STEP -1
    Leds = 1 << idx
    PAUSE 100
  NEXT
 
  GOTO Main

' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Subroutine / Function Code
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------
' User Data
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steps:
-- connect the SX-Blitz to your computer; make sure you know it's COM assignment
-- start the SX-Key software
-- click on Edit >> Configure >> IDE and make sure your COM port is there and selected
   -- you must have the port active before starting the SX-Key IDE so that it gets included in the port scan
-- save the file above to your system, then open it in the SX-Key IDE
-- click on Run >> Program (Ctrl+P) or click to Program toolbar icon
   -- note that you can't use the Run icon, that only works for the SX-Key (not the Blitz)
-- you should see a quick pop-up that says "Erasing"
-- you should see another dialog that says "Programming" and shows a progress bar
-- when the program has been downloaded press the button on the Prop-1 Trainer board

[JonnyMac]

Since a picture is worth 1000 words (or more), this is what your programming setup should look like:

[tds234]

All I get is this:
'SX-KEY not found on COM3' error when I try to program, read or verify the SX controller.....

[tds234]

BTW my programmer connects to the serial connector not the 4 pin connector,...is that wrong?
Maybe I don't have a blitz but something else.
On the bag it says item # 28030 Parallax USB to 232 converter,...

[randyaz]

BTW my programmer connects to the serial connector not the 4 pin connector,...is that wrong?
Maybe I don't have a blitz but something else.
On the bag it says item # 28030 Parallax USB to 232 converter,...

Yep...you have the wrong adaptor.  You need the sx blitz  http://www.efx-tek.com/topics/sx-blitz.html

[JonnyMac]

Oh, man... we may have shipped you the wrong bit -- we're in the "crazy season" things are a little woolly in the office.  What you should have is pictured above.  The DB-9 port on the Prop-SX is only used for serial communications within an application, it cannot be used for programming.  We will get an SX-Blitz to you ASAP.

[tds234]

It's okay, I understand, I have about 20 different Halloween projects underway,.. crank ghost, dancing tombstones, pop-up ghost, Bucky's on the way, fencemaking in the near future,... I'm just glad it's the wrong bit and not a fried board.