Gateware update, now nothing

[Charlie Morrison]

Hi

I was given a second HL2 build 8 from 2019 to use as a driver for a transveter, no N2ADR board fitted. the gateware was version 6, so I decided to update the gateware with SparkSDR to the latest stable release 20231230_74p2_883a338. All went well as far as programming is concerned and Spark SDR reported "programming complete, however at that point all the LED's went off and the HL2 disappeared from Spark SDR. Right, I thought power cycle the HL2, did that but the same condition applies, there is activity on the ethernet socket, the router is offering DHCP 4 times, but still no LED's lit. I tried a factory reset, shorting TRS on the mic socket, but still the same issue. Any ideas where to go next?

73, Charlie GI4FUE

[Charlie Morrison]

Tonight I got round to checking the voltages on The HL2, all seem to be in order. I have a suspicion that SparkSDR erased the old firmware, but there has been an issue loading the new firmware, despite the message "programming complete" showing. As this is an early HL2 my assumption is that the only container in the EEprom has been erased. Now comes the question...Is it possible to program it another way?  maybe by using a JTAG programmer or such like

73, Charlie GI4FUE

[G4ZAL]

Hi Charlie,

Have a read here, especially the last couple of paragraphs, maybe it helps?

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/Updating-Gateware

Nigel, G4ZAL

[Charlie Morrison]

Hi Nigel

Tried Quisk, the HL2 is still not discoverable. Have ordered an Altera USB bit blaster and installed quartus Pro. I suspect my best course of action is to restore the gateware to what it originally was (V6) and take things from there. It was rather significant that the upgrade with Spark SDR turned the radio off as soon as it Displayed programming complete. I did try to load the latest gateware taken from github, but we will have to wait and see what happens with the bit blaster

Charlie GI4FUE

[vk4...@gmail.com]

Hi Charlie,

I was in the same position a few years ago. I bought a USB Blaster clone but couldn't get it to work. There is no support if it fails.

The Raspberry Pi Test did work to reinstall the default gateware and from there SparkSDR installed the latest.

I've been a happy user ever since and SparkSDR has worked to update gateware.

73 Brian VK4BAP.

[Charlie Morrison]

Hi Brian

If the Blaster doesnt work, I do have a Few R Pi's here that i can set up...hopefully a very last resort...anyway the blaster only cost me £7, around AUD14, so no big deal if it fails. currently reading up on hoq to use Quartus to program the FPGA

73, Charlie GI4FUE

[Charlie Morrison]

Hi Brian

Yeah, two non functioning blasters from the same ebay shop! used the raspberry Pi route and the HL2 is alive again. Will only take firmware up to 70 though, I suspect thats because it doesnt have an N2ADR board fitted, Its just for driving a transverter. Took the opportunity of changing the mac address 2, so I've now got bot of them on the same network

73, Charlie GI4FUE