Matrix user forums

Hi,
I have just started using the V9 EB006 boards (having used up my stock of the older versions that didn't have ghost). The board appears to run okay and accepts programmes / debugs etc. But when USB lead is removed and the board powered down and powered back up, the board prog led flashes and the board takes several tens of seconds before starting to run the programme (the prog led stops flashing when the programme starts as you would expect). Am I doing something wrong? is there a way of reducing this boot up time?
Regards,
Chris

Hi Chris,

If you can tie port pin RA0 to ground then this should get rid of the problem. If your using pin RA0 in your program then you can maybe try outputting a 0 to the pin at power up and then after a few milliseconds you can resume normal operation.

Hi,
Thanks, Ill give that a try
Regards,
Chris

Hi,
Sorry, Ive tried grounding pin A0, this does NOT seem to solve the problem, The boards (powered by a DC power supply connected to the screw terminals) still take a random but long time after power up before working, this happens every time and did NOT happen on the older versions of the board, has anyone any suggestions to fix the problem?
Regards,
Chris

Hi Chris,

There are two versions of the bootloader as we have had issues using pin A0.

The latest bootloader on the EB006v9 uses port pin E0 as this is commonly much less used. Can you try grounding this pin and seeing if this helps at all?

Hi,
Thanks, will try that and let you know
Regards,
Chris

Hi,
Sorry but grounding A0 or E0 has no effect on the problem. Ive also tried powering from either the power supply and jack plug and from the screw terminals with a separate lab power supply. The problem still present, I have now tried multiple boards (EB0006 -00-9) and the problem is the same on all boards.
Please help, Im intending to use these boards on a number of embedded applications, but the long / indeterminate power up will severely prohibit their use...
Regards,
Chris

Hi,
Has anyone any further ideas on solving this problem please?
Regards,
Chris

Hi Chris,,

Is it possible to see the program you are using on the EB006 and I will try to replicate the issue here.

Hi,
Okay, attached are two programmes, a simple test programme and a more complex on I use for collecting temperature data, Im using a PIC 16F1937 for both, plugged into the EB006V9 board. The board is powered with 12 volts, either from a matrix work station (when on my desk) or from a vehicle system via a regulator when on a vehicle. The problem is the same which ever power supply is used and exists on both the attached programmes AND on any others I have tried, the problem does NOT manifest its self if I use an older (pre-ghost) version of the EB006 board.
Regards,
Chris

Fust to add, on power up, the prog light flashes for an average of @ 2 mins before stopping, the programme then runs without issue until the next power cycle.

Regards,
Chris

Hi,
Im afraid the solutions to this power up problem (Grounding A0 or E0) don't seem to have any effect, has anyone got any other solution / suggestion to this please?
Regards,
Chris

Hi Chris,

We have changed the bootloader firmware for the EB006 and are now in the process of allowing mLoader to modify the firmware.

Hopefully this fix will solve your problems. Not quite ready to roll it out yet but should be sometime this week.

Thanks, that's great
Regards,
Chris

Hi Chris,

Just sent you a PM which should hopefully solve the issue for good.