IFI_Loader Errors

[jamie_1930]

I'm currently working with the old control system and when I try to upload new code using the IFI_Loader I'm just trying to restore it to the 2007 Default Code (file FRC_Default.hex and FRC_MASTER_V13.BIN are the two files I've tried loading, because they're the only ones IFI_Loader allows) although every time I try to download them I receive an error (No programming board found...). I've already tried all the port settings, COM1-COM12, the board is in the program state, and is connected from the program port on a 2008 RC Controller via several male-female RS-232 connectors leading to an RS-232 serial port on a desk top computer. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong.

[Roger]

I'm going by memory here as it's been over a year using the old controller system, and make suggestions that may point you in the correct direction. I may be vague only because I'm going by memory. Hopefully others will chime in with more.

Are you using MPLAB 7.2? There is a special version of MPLAB for the FRC robots that has all the libraries etc you need.

Actually, first off, are you using Windows XP, 98, or Vista?

The FRC_MASTER_V13.BIN file just loads the master code for the robot controller and does nothing for "driving" the robot.

.hex files are what you want to download to the robot. The FRC_Default.hex is probably very very basic. Anything you compile with MPLab turns into a .hex file.

There might have to be some tweaking with IFI_Loader on which serial port you need. I seem to recall a menu for that.

There is also the "programming button" on the robot's controller that must be pressed prior to downloading. Press it only long enough for the lights on the controller to change -- much longer and you get the "christmas lights" effect [blinky lights] which you don't what it to do. It sounds like you got that part okay.

There is a website by Kevin Watson that you might want to look at. He rewrote the IFI code for FRC specific items. You may have to go to the 2007 page for less experimental code. For 2008 he wrote a very clean version of the robot code that had very little of the original IFI code.

Remembering the old controller setup might be a good idea, at least until all our old robots give up the ghost. Good luck!

[jamie_1930]

I'm using
-Windows XP
-MPLAB IDE v7.20
-IFI Loader v1.0.11
-2008 RC
-2008 O/I

[jamie_1930]

Originally Posted by Roger

There is also the "programming button" on the robot's controller that must be pressed prior to downloading. Press it only long enough for the lights on the controller to change -- much longer and you get the "christmas lights" effect [blinky lights] which you don't what it to do. It sounds like you got that part okay.

What can you do to get rid of this christmas lights effect I'm getting it on start-up now, and can get solid orange on the program state and RC mode, if I hold down the prog button, but everything else (Battery Power, Radio Modem, RC Hardware) is blinking green.



I've gotten a little closer when we reconfigured the baud rate and port connections, and I'm now finding the control board, but I'm receiving a different error. Runtime Error ''11: Division by zero. and after I recieve this error the programming state returns to it's pervious flickering orange