Grantronics: GP-AT Atmel Flash CPU Programmer

Contents:

• Product Summary
• Key Features
• Supported Devices
• Prices
• Trouble Shooting

Product Summary

GP-AT Flash CPU Programmer

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Key Features

• Small: Only 102mm x 102mm (4" x 4").
• Flexible: Can program the Atmel 8051 and AVR families in DIP20, DIP40, PLCC44 packages and most 8-pin EEPROMS without adaptors. In System Programming connector also included. Some programming parameters may be changed by the user to handle future devices.
• Software: None! All you need is a terminal emulation program (Windows or DOS) such as Windows Terminal, HyperTerminal, Procomm or Telix for the serial interface. This means it also works with a Macintosh.
• Options: The low cost SOIC20 adaptor is available for the Surface Mount 89Cx051. A 6-pin ISP cable terminated at the programmer end is also available. Adaptors for Surface Mount 8-pin and 14-pin EEPROMs are also available.
• Easy to Power: A simple unregulated 12Vdc plug-pak supply (about 15Vdc) is required (included for Australian customers).
• Reliable: A MAX1232 is provided for reliable startup and to recover gracefully from brownouts. Designed to meet EMC regulations.

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Supported Devices

The following list is representative of the devices the GP-AT can program. You can add a new device if it is supported by an existing algorithm. For example, you could add a variant of the 89C51 with more memory than the 89C55. Also, you should be able to add any AVR (90Sxxxx) device that uses the standard AVR serial programming algorithm (up to 64k bytes maximum).

• 89C1051, 89C2051, 89C4051 (parallel) DIP20
• 89C51, 89LV51, 89C52, 89LV52, 89C55, 89LV55 (parallel) DIP40 or PLCC44 (not 89C55WD)
• 89S8252, 89LS8252, 89S53, 89LS53 (parallel, serial) DIP40 or PLCC44
• 90S1200, 90S2313 (parallel, serial) DIP20
• 90S2333, 90S4433, 90S4414, 90S8515 (serial only)
• 24Cxx I2C EEPROMs (up to 64k bytes) DIP8
• 93Cxx Microwire EEPROMs (8 and 16 bit organisations) DIP8
• 93CSxx Microwire EEPROMs, DIP8 (PRDS instruction not supported)
• X24C44 serial non-volatile RAM from Xicor, DIP8
• 17C512/010 EEPROMs

More details can be found in the GP-AT User's Manual (Adobe PDF format, about 58k bytes).

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Prices

• All prices are in Australian Dollars except where noted.
• Units exported from Australia do not include a power supply.
• Prices are for single units. Please ask for quantity or distributor discounts.
• Shipping costs are extra
  • Standard post within Australia: $10.
  • Express post  within Australia: $13.
  • Export via Air Mail: $16 to $25 depending on destination.
• Prices may be changed at any time due to various factors including exchange rates.

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Trouble Shooting

Most customers have little or no trouble with the GP-AT programmer. However, in a few rare cases, problems do occur. Here is a list of things to check.

• Try another PC.
• Check that hardware flow control has been selected. Note that HyperTerminal users may need to save and re-load the serial port configuration using File | Save and File | Open.
• Check for other applications that may be accessing your serial port.
• Use only a "straight through" or extension serial cable. Do not use a "crossover" or "null modem" cable. A simple 3-wire serial cable will not work either.
• Re-start your PC in "Safe Mode".
• Check the .hex file for overwriting data. This means that the .hex file has more than one record with data for one address. The first write will succeed but the second may fail. Example: a default interrupt vector that is later programmed for the desired address. 
• A locked chip often looks like it is erased - erase first.
• If the chip is slow to program, check for settings in your terminal program that are designed to slow data transmission. In HyperTerminal, go to File | Properties | ASCII Setup. The GP-AT will work with all items in this dialogue deselected or zero.
• A small number of CPUs have been found to draw excessive current when programming starts. Changing Q1 from a BC557 to a BC327 and C7 from 100n to 10uF Tantalum cures this problem.

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Last updated: 1 February 2003

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