pp3xtest_2-1.zip
23/02/19I was contacted by an owner of a PP39 device programmer which showed no signs of life when powered on. The processor clock was running and the address and data buses were active but it did nothing. So that the area of the circuit with the problem could be narrowed down I created the initial version of PP3X test firmware for the Stag PP38 & PP39.
As the areas of the circuit tested are limited you are free to modify this firmware to add other tests if you wish.
The purpose of this firmware was to detect a fault which was causing the standard firmware not to run. If the standard firmware is able to run and the keypad and display are useable the built in test features of that firmware can be used.
Download the zip file containing source and binary.
pp3xtest_2-1.zip
23/02/19
If a 2764 EPROM is programmed with the .BIN file supplied the checksum should be 6D92
You will require a working device programmer to program a 2764 EPROM containing the firmware from the binary file. The EPROM should replace the firmware in the base unit, any modules fitted can be removed as they are not currently needed.
If you wish to modify the PP3X firmware you will need to download a Z80 assembler, I used a version of TASM for DOS which you can download here tasm301.zip
The first Stag programmer that I obtained from ebay, a PP42 with serial & parallel interfaces, had a problem with the serial port and I could not figure out what was wrong with it. Some time after I created the PP3X firmware I decided to do the same for the PP40, PP41 & PP42 programmers.
It provides the same functionality as PP3X firmware except that the non-volatile
static RAM is dumped to serial port 1.
As the areas of the circuit tested are limited you are free to modify this firmware
to add other tests if you wish.
Download the zip file containing source and binary.
pp4xtest_2-0.zip
08/04/18
If a 2764 EPROM is programmed with the .BIN file supplied the checksum should be ACDD
You will require a working device programmer to program a 2764 EPROM containing the firmware from the binary file. The EPROM should replace the firmware in the base unit, any modules fitted can be removed as they are not currently needed.
If you wish to modify the PP4X firmware you will need to download a 6809 assembler, I used a version of AS9 for DOS which you can download here as9.zip , documentation is here as11v2.pdf. The firmware is located at address E000 so this value should be supplied as an offset when loading the Motorola srecord file that the assembler outputs into a programmer to create an EPROM. Do not worry if warnings are displayed when the source is assembled, the output is correct.
The ZL30 is another programmer that I obtained in non-working condition. I suspected a memory problem and after implementing this test firmware, based on the PP4X version, I was proved correct.
Currently, it only tests the 64K of dynamic memory but I plan to add the same
functionality found in the PP4X version.
As the areas of the circuit tested are limited you are free to modify this firmware
to add other tests if you wish.
Download the zip file containing source and binary.
zl30test_1-0.zip
29/06/20
If a 27128 EPROM is programmed with the .BIN file supplied the checksum should be 3DA4
You will require a working device programmer to program a 27128 EPROM containing the firmware from the binary file. The EPROM should replace the firmware in the base unit, any modules fitted can be removed as they are not currently needed.
If you wish to modify the ZL30 firmware you will need to download a 6809 assembler, I used a version of AS9 for DOS which you can download here as9.zip , documentation is here as11v2.pdf. Do not worry if warnings are displayed when the source is assembled, the output is correct. The firmware is located at address C000 so this value should be supplied as an offset when loading the .S19 Motorola srecord file that the assembler outputs into a programmer to create an EPROM. No offset is required if a .BIN binary file is used.
Recently I obtained a XP640 which did not perform as it should, keyboard commands such as Fill returned immediately and remote mode was completely broken. The contents displayed at the cursor position made me suspect a memory problem and so I created test firmware for the XP640 similar to that for the PP38/39. It is currently very limited in functionality but was able to prove that the program memory was faulty.
It provides the same functionality as PP3X firmware except that serial port
test and dump EEPROM are not implemented.
As the areas of the circuit tested are limited you are free to modify this firmware
to add other tests if you wish.
Download the zip file containing source and binary.
xptest_2-0.zip
08/04/18
If a 2764 EPROM is programmed with the .BIN file supplied the checksum should be C682
You will require a working device programmer to program a 2764 EPROM containing the firmware from the binary file. The EPROM should replace the firmware marked with an L in the rightmost socket.
If you wish to modify the XP firmware you will need to download a Z80 assembler, I used a version of TASM for DOS which you can download here tasm301.zip
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