HX3 ISP Programming

Updating a virgin, dead or corrupted HX3 board

In rare circumstances, HX3 will not respond to HX3 Remote app due to corrupted firmware. This might happen to a small lot of boards with so-called "fuses" not programmed correctly (my fault). In this case, HX3 may forget settings/licences or does not respond at all (dead display on HX3 Expander and MenuPanel). You may have received a DIAMEX ISP Programmer from us to update or repair HX3 boards by ISP.

Preparation

Folow the invitation to our "HX3-Firmware" Dropbox. Connect DIAMEX ISP programmer to USB of your PC. Windows will ask for a driver package to install. Route it to Dropbox folder "DIAMEX PROG-S/drivers/" and finish installation. Ignore complaints about drivers not certified or signed. An installation manual for the ISP programmer is included in "DIAMEX PROG-S" folder.

Drivers for FTDI USB/serial cable should be installed automatically by Windows 7 and up. In rare circumstances, Windows will assign a different driver for other USB devices previously installed. In this case, run FTDI driver installer "CDM v2.12.06 WHQL Certified.exe" present in Dropbox folder (on Windows Vista and up: right-click mouse on file, then select "Run as admin" resp. "Als Administrator ausführen" in german).

Open Windows Device Manager ("Gerätemanager" in german) and open COM&LPT ports. DIAMEX ISP programmer should show up as "ERFOS-PROG-S (COM XX)" when connected to PC. Write down number XX. Open HX3 Remote and enter this number in field DIAMEX COM port, page Advanced. HX3 will remember this numer on subsequent starts. We recommend using always the same USB port on your PC, otherwise Windows might assign a new COM port number to the device.

ISP Programming of a Virgin HX3 Board

Connect flat ribbon cable of DIAMEX ISP programmer to HX3 board PL1 near red on-board LED1 and power up HX3. You are now able to programm HX3 board firmware directly with Production Prgrm and AVR only buttons, page Advanced in HX3 Remote. Select appropriate firmware type in dropdown menu near Production Prgrm button and click Device (top of window). As a dead HX3 will not respond to HX3 Remote, it will complain about it - click OK to continue.

Production Prgrm will run a complete programming cycle including AVR controller firmware and bootloader, FPGA, ScanCores, reverb DSP, FIR coefficients and TaperLevel files as required for an unprogrammed (virgin) board. Follow instructions for jumper insertion and removal carefully (HX3 Remote will pop up message boxes to do so).

ISP Programming of a Dead HX3 Board

In most cases, AVR only (small button, just installs firmware and bootloader on AVR controller) should be sufficient to reanimate a dead HX3 board as the FPGA flash content is not affected by a corrupted firmware. Regard procedure for a virgin HX3, using the AVR only instead of Production Prgrm.

One small lot of HX3 boards sold from March 2015 to August 2015 might have the "brown-out detection level reset" (BOD) fuses of the AVR controller not programmed properly by factory (my personal fault). If you happen to get a dead HX3 (just some squares on menu display) or a HX3 that lost its licenses or other settings, it is likely that it has the BOD fuses not set correctly. This might be corrected with the Set Fuses button when the board works otherwise. AVR only and Production Prgrm buttons will program the fuses automatically.