Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

[megaraider]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=110&t=1040

Become a member a few days ago...

With ISP (In Circuit Programming) we have to well aware of most likely circuit contentions / conflicts issues.
As already mentioned, by @japlytic and @stj, these can be easily circumvented according to the circuit:
a) if not tied up, keep the system in reset / hold state
b) if tied up, shut down the bus by shorting or removing the oscillator / crystal
If tied up and strong pull up/down found, then remove the 0 ohm resistor connected between the power bus and the IC power pin (common implementation in circuit boards with programmable ICs).

AFAICT that ugly patch with a LDO will not work under 1.8V logic level!
He’s just gambling with the lowest power supply level for the CH341 and added a capacitor, hopping it to work. It might… but be well prepared for very inconsistent results.

Even the “super simple” level shifter will be more reliable and… simpler!
I’ve used it a lot back in the early 3.3V logic emergence days.
The same principle applies for 1.8V with the needed adjustments. Do not forget the Rx line.

In any case, I strongly suggest you power up the hard drive pcb from any other auxiliary power source, not from the USB port.
.

[fzabkar]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

This "Kindle mod" demonstrates how to convert a 0V-1.8V LVTTL signal into one that ranges from 0.6V to 2.4V:

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/228167mod18V.jpg
http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/217313dku518.jpg

It uses a 1N4148 diode and 22K resistor.

Note: The above example modifies a serial LVTTL Tx/Rx interface but the same principle should apply to any 1.8V signal.

[stj]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

you can deal with contention a lot by shutting down the original bus-master by shorting or removing the clock / crystal

[fzabkar]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

Before modifying any read-write \ \ wipe operation, must automatically detect the chip, no detected chip termination

IIUC, manually specifying the IC part number has been disabled in the latest software release. AISI, this essentially cripples the software.

I examined the datasheet for one of the newly added devices (MX25L12839F):



AFAICT this device can be programmed in Mode 0 just like "standard" SPI flash.

Edit:

Perhaps I have misunderstood the translation. Does the programmer terminate if the chip's ID cannot be detected, or does it terminate if the ID can be detected but not recognised as one of the supported devices?

[fzabkar]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

I'm thinking of cases where the patient PCB is dead and its "ROM" contents need to be transferred to a donor PCB. This frequently happens in HDD data recovery. In such cases the programmer would need to power up the PCB.

As for contention issues, that happens too. In such cases the data recovery professionals swap the actual ROM, but I've always wondered whether there is a simple in-circuit solution. Most of these people are programmers or IT "techs", so their knowledge of electronics is essentially zero. Basically they are just head swap mechanics and ROM jockeys, so getting them to try anything is often fruitless.

[japlytic]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

Sometimes, it is possible to program SPI flash in-circuit from an external programmer, provided that only the external programmer is accessing the SPI flash, and there must be no strong pull (up or down) on the SPI flash pins by anything other than the external flash programmer.
Keeping the system (with the SPI flash) in its reset state should prevent contention problems with the external programmer.

[mockingbird]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

As for devices in general, I would think that a generic programming algorithm for SPI flash would suffice for most, if not all, 25xx flash types. The same goes for 24xx EEPROMs. Am I wrong?

I would think not. Look at the blog link posted earlier:

http://blog.163.com/skygz@126/blog/s...2012742153122/

Version 1.30 2015-11-17
Optimizing OTP function part of the code
Rebuild chip database structure
Added log feature
Before modifying any read-write \ \ wipe operation, must automatically detect the chip, no detected chip termination
Increase the read is complete calibration can be carried out, can be turned on or off in the options, defaults off
Fix when the software is first run, appeared stuck like
Repair W25Q256FV cannot burn to write BUG
Added AT25DL081, MX25L25635F, MX25L12839F, MX25L12873F, MX25L25639F, MX25L25735E, MX25L51245G support
Added INTEL 160S33B, 320S33B, 640S33B support
Other minor changes to optimize

So it seems that the subtle changes in different chips does require re-writing the algorithms.

I'm wondering how this programmer can work with 1.8V chips. The CH341A datasheet specifies a minimum VIH voltage of 2.0V on its I/O pins.

Interesting... I'll see if I have a 1.8V chip I can desolder off a board to test for you when the kit arrives.

Incidentally, he did send me version 1.30 overnight, and while we were chatting he also mentioned this:



He said that it's a 1.8V LDO Regulator (SOT-23), and a 50V 1uF cap for the 1.8V fix... But that's just electrically to convert the USB 5V to 1.8V. There's a jumper block on the device to select voltages. As for how he managed to get around the spec, good question, I can ask him. Oh, and I asked him if he could include the regulator and the cap, he said not to worry, it comes with them already bodged in there.

[fzabkar]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

I'm wondering how this programmer can work with 1.8V chips. The CH341A datasheet specifies a minimum VIH voltage of 2.0V on its I/O pins.

As for devices in general, I would think that a generic programming algorithm for SPI flash would suffice for most, if not all, 25xx flash types. The same goes for 24xx EEPROMs. Am I wrong?

[mockingbird]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

i dont think your hearing me.
he announces his versions on a chinese blogger-site
http://blog.163.com/skygz@126/blog/s...2012742153122/
and links via a forum.

when he gives you the "link" you will see what i mean.

Yes, I know that blog. And it's not a secret that the software is openly available. Just look at the myriads of people begging for a license. What I'm trying to do is direct people to the author, since previously he was only selling it through TaoBao which is out of reach for most people.

If you don't have a license, the software is worthless beyond a certain version, and you are lacking support for all the chips the CH341A is capable of programming.

What you are paying for here is essentially the software license and subscription.

Behemot: The Russian programmer looks pretty impressive. But the reason I went with this one in the end is because it's the only one of its kind with a 1.8V setting as well.

[Behemot]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

There are other programmers which have constantly updated SW, and can program in circuit…as I mentioned few posts above. At least I think so, there are some cables in the package you can connect to chips I guess. I must admit I really have no idea how these things work, I am glad I can programm 93C66B EEPROMs…

[stj]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

He doesn't distribute his software freely (which forum did you see it on exactly?). You have to buy the part from him, and then he gives you the link.

i dont think your hearing me.
he announces his versions on a chinese blogger-site
http://blog.163.com/skygz@126/blog/s...2012742153122/
and links via a forum.

when he gives you the "link" you will see what i mean.

[fzabkar]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

I would like a programmer that can program chips in-circuit. To this end I would need a circuit diagram for the PCB to satisfy myself that no pin is hardwired to ground or VCC. For example, if the HOLD pin is wired to VCC rather than tied high via a resistor, then this could impress the supply voltage onto an MCU GPIO pin on the target PCB.

See this thread:
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=110&t=1040

[mockingbird]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

He doesn't distribute his software freely (which forum did you see it on exactly?). You have to buy the part from him, and then he gives you the link.

Even if you have software version 1.29, it will not work without a license, so there's no point.

And version 1.32 will not work without that security dongle. So even if you had the software, you would not be able to use it.

The point is, if you want an inexpensive way of using a fully-featured programmer, this is it. Yes, you can spend a lot more money and buy something professional, but you're not paying for the hardware. What you are paying for is a subscription to a constantly-updated software which will keep supporting more and more chips.

[stj]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

does he give a download link for the software?

i'm just saying, because a hell of a lot of non-chinese people have his older programmer and cant get the updates because they cant navigate chinese forums!

chinese forums and social-media are NOT how a professional should be distributing his software!

[fzabkar]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

I'm not sure that I'd want to buy something from a person who scrapes the part markings off chips. Firstly it's petty, and secondly it's stupid. It's pretty obvious that the large IC is a CH341A and the small IC is an LDO regulator, probably an LD1117 or equivalent.

[mockingbird]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

Good news!

I've been chatting with him over the past week or so, and he was finally able to list the item on AliExpress.

Here is a link to it for whoever is interested:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/CH341...546736891.html

It's $20 US for the full fledged version. You get the advanced programmer, a small PCB for SOIC chips, a SOIC converter PCB, and most importantly, the security dongle. Versions of the software after 1.29 will only work with the dongle.

This is the only CH341A programmer with a selectable 1.8V setting. But he informed me that the 1.8V requires a mod or slight fix to be operational. Details are in the picture of the listing.

[Behemot]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

As I already told mockingbird, Mikhail also sells Postal3 programmers. He is proven supplier, I can get some discount etc. and I have been just informed the SW got new capabilities (its russian). Adapters for SOP chips are available too, just the QFP are missing…you may consider those over some no-name chinese. These people try to rob you whenever possible. And it's still just garage thing with no casing etc.

[mockingbird]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

I will see what other arrangement I can make with the seller, but the idea was to use an escrow service to order it off TaoBao, and then have it shipped from North America to anyone who says they're interested in this thread.

There's a bit of a language barrier between the seller and myself, but I'm trying to arrange for him to ship directly.

G-D willing, I will post more info when I have it.

[ReeceyBurger123]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

I would deffo buy one, when they available ?

[mockingbird]

Re: Group Buy: CH341A Programmer

I have always wanted some kind of programmer. What kind of chips would this be good for? Removable BIOS chips on motherboards for sure.. but what else could I un-brick with it? I think I have seen adapters to do other pin formats (like smd) edit: looks like an adapter in the picture. Tell me why I should get this one.

He is selling three things:

1) Simplest version, around $5 USD



This version comes with a license for software version 1.29. The license and a link to the software is sent to your email. Upon launching the software, you are presented with a hardware key, this key is sent to the seller, and he sends you the corresponding unlock codes.

2) Latest revision, includes purple security dongle.



The benefit of this version is that you can use later software versions with it, provided you have the dongle plugged into the computer you're running the software on. No license is required for this version, and the software is sent to your email. Free software upgrades. Price is around $10 USD.

3) Same as the second item but it also includes this dual SOIC adapter for 8 and 16 pin chips (Price is around $15USD):



Personally I am only interested in the software. As far as I know, this is the best and most actively developed software available for this sort of thing. So his adapters come as part of the package. Yes, you could get the same thing on eBay for next to nothing, but you would have to use the older software versions which do not support all the chips out there.