Upgrade firmware ACARD SCSI to IDE bridge 3.77 to 1.77b

[max-bit]

Such a rather not typical problem
I'm downloading a bin file from memory
IBM_ver 3_77i_AEC7722IR_ver2006_16bit.BIN
(below as an attachment)
As you can see there is every byte inserted in FF
And now I have a file
slvd177b.bin
Where there is no such insert
After that, the file (newer version) is identical.

Now, kind of a trivial question of how to make such an interleave I tried HexEdit
HxD
and HexEditNeo but no ..... has such an option or is somehow hidden ....

Who will help ... thanks ...
File bin in to acard firmware ....


THANKS
Working ! 

Upgrade ACARD SCSI to IDE ATA Card AEC-7722IR
Orginal firmware 3.77 (for IBM RS server) (no working for PC ....)
Modifity to version 1.77b
Add modifity file !
Upgrade only external programmer !!!

[max-bit]

Orginal file ;
02 00 d0 81 7c ff ff ff 02 0c 3c 02 15 07 ff ff


Mod file: (add FF every byte)
02 FF 00 FF d0 FF 81 FF 7c FF ff FF ff FF ff FF 02 FF 0c FF 3c FF 02 FF 15 FF 07 FF ff FF ff
(of course all bin file )

[ataradov]

That's exactly what Python is for. Here is a program, I have not tried it, but it should work.

Code: [Select]

fr = open('in.bin', 'rb')
fw = open('out.bin', 'wb')

try:
  byte = fr.read(1)
  while byte != '':
    fw.write(byte)
    fw.write(chr(0xff))
    byte = fr.read(1)

finally:
  fr.close()
  fw.close()


[cv007]

;http://www.rebol.com/downloads.html
;REBOL/Core 2.7
loop length? bin: read/binary %slvd177b.bin [ insert bin #{FF} bin: skip bin 2 ]
write/binary %newfile.bin head bin

[max-bit]

THANKS
Working ! 

Upgrade ACARD SCSI to IDE ATA Card AEC-7722IR
Orginal firmware 3.77 (for IBM RS server)
Modifity to version 1.77b
Add modifity file !
Upgrade only external programmer !!!

[feipoa]

I have an AEC-7722IR adapter with an SST 39VF400A-70-4C EEPROM (TSOP-48).  Could you let me know what utility you are using to re-flash the EEPROM while it is on the PCB?  Thanks!

[max-bit]

It needs to be desoldered ... and use a programmer

[legacy]

these bridges are very expensive nowadays, e.g. the WideSCSI to SATA bridge is priced something like 500 euro 

[max-bit]

I bought my bridge in the entire drive (external) for $20

[feipoa]

Did your AEC-7722IR come with a TSOP-48 or a PLCC-32? Mine came with a TSOP-48, SST 39VF400A-4C flash rom chip.  I noticed that the PCB had solder pads for a PLCC-32 chip, so I cut off the TSOP-48 with a razer blade and soldered on a PLCC-32 socket.  I then used an external programmer to program the the PLCC-32 chip, an SST 39SF040-70-4C.  Photos are provided of the programmer and ACARD adapter with flashes.

I tried the AEC-7722 (non-IR) BIOS version 1.77A, as well as your modified 1.77A, and the original 7722IR  BIOS v3.77b, however my SCSI host controller reports BadExtRom 16 and the unit doesn't function.  Refer to photo.

The main differences between the TSOP-48 and the PLCC-32 are that the TSOP-48 package is missing one A18 pin, adds pins DQ8-DQ15, and 8 NC pins.

Is it required that I use the TSOP-48? And what external programmer are you using which will make contact with the leads of a TSOP-48 and not break them?  My adapter only goes up to PLC-44.  Perhaps there is one for TSOP-48?  EDIT: OK, I think this is the adapter I need for the TSOP-48: http://www.weilei.com/TSOP48E.htm .  Still, I'd like to get the PLCC-32 working. EDIT 2: Even with the adapter, the software for my programmer doesn't have support for SST39VF400A. It has only support for SST39VF800A.  Aside from the 4 Mbit vs. 8 Mbit, the 800A chip has A18 on pin 16, while the 400A chip has NC on pin 16.  Reminds me of the PLC-32 chip, which also contains A18.

The keen eye will notice that I soldered the PLCC-32 socket on backwards.  So the first time I installed the EEPROM chip, it smoked.  I tossed out the fried EEPROM chip and cut away some of the socket so I could get a new EEPROM chip inserted correctly.  The SCSI host controller shows ARC765E3, so I'm hoping that the ACARD chip is OK.

The prices of these have gone up ridiculously.  There was some seller in China selling them for $20 about 2 years ago.  I forget the platform now, I think it was alibaba or aliexpress.  I cannot seem to locate them for a reasonable price now. 

Any ideas on how I can get my unit working would be greatly appreciated.  Unfortunately, I cut the leads on the TSOP-48 EEPROM pretty short, so I doubt I can solder it back on.  I'd prefer to get the PLCC-32 EEPROM working. 

Thanks!

[tsman]

Uhh. You replaced a 16 bit wide device with an 8 bit wide one. Not surprised it isn't happy about that.

[feipoa]

Yes, but the 512Kx8 PLCC-32 flash chip chosen is the one I've seen on the AEC-7722. The 7722IR ACARD 765E chip is also the same chip as on the 7722.  If you know of a 256Kx16 PLCC32 chip, please let me know the part number.   I am having trouble finding one.

[Rasz]

ARC765 datasheet is probably unobtainable, so the next best thing would be detailed picture of working plcc fitted card for comparison, there will be a strap/jumper/resistor somewhere to switch flash configuration

[feipoa]

Hi Rasz. Thanks for responding. There are a total of four reserved jumpers on the PCB, 2 grouped with the SCSI ID jumpers (JP2), and 2 grouped with the SE jumper (JP1).  There is also what looks like solder pads for yet 2 more reserved jumpers (JP3).  Perhaps one of these is the ticket to success?

There are some high res. photos of the AEC-7722 with PLCC-32 here, https://www.ebay.com/itm/332981553745

I've attached high-res photos of my AEC-7722IR unit here and edited to my previous post.  By comparison of photos on that ebay listing and my unit, I see a few differences. 

Capacitors C10, C11, and C13 are located on the top of the PCB for AEC-7722, while on the AEC7722IR, they are on the bottom of the PCB.  These 3 caps are the only components on the bottom of the PCB. 

On the 7722, C17 is on the top of the PCB, while on 7722IR, there is only a solder pad C17 on the bottom of the PCB.

On the 7722, there exists a resistor R14, which is vacant on the 7722IR unit. It is difficult to say with absolute certainly from the eBay photo, but it looks like it has "158" on it, so 1500 M-ohm. That 8 may be a 0, in which case, 15 ohms.

On the 7722, near JP2, R7, R9, and R10 say "222", so 2.2k. On the 7722IR, rather than individual resistors, there is a 3-pack resistor network (RN1)  with "0" on them, so shorted.  In the same region, R16 on the 7722 has solder pads for a resistor, while the 7722IR has a 2.2k resistor in the form of another 3-pack resistor network, RN2.  R17 is the same on both units, however R13 on the 7722 look to be 300 ohms, while it is 2.2k on the 7722IR (in the form of RN2).

R4 on 7722 has "562" printed on it (5.6k), while on the 7722IR, it is "295", or 2.9 M-ohm.

R15 on the 7722, I cannot read.  Perhaps "801" or "103".  Maybe somebody with one of these units can verify, but on the 7722IR, the resistor says "0", so shorted.

I can probably  make all these changes, but would need clarification on R14 and R15. 

So what do you think the next best course of action is? Is there a better, perhaps more diagnostic method, to determine the PCB mod required for using the PLCC-32?

[max-bit]

In what mode you uploaded the firmware ?
Wellon uploads by default in 8bit mode
It should be in 16 bit!

[max-bit]

and    SST39VF400A (oryginal flash ?) is x16
39SF040 x8 ...
 

[feipoa]

I'm aware that 39SF040 is 8-bit.  What else do you think the solder pads are for if not 39SF040?  I cannot find any x16 1, 2, or 4 Mbit EEPROM flash chips in PLCC-32. Can you?  Perhaps someone with an AEC-7722 can remove the ACARD sticker and report the flash part number?

I was also going to ask you - after you upgraded to to BIOS 1.77b, were you able to use IDE hard drives on the adapter?

[feipoa]

In what mode you uploaded the firmware ?
Wellon uploads by default in 8bit mode
It should be in 16 bit!

What option should I select when loading the ROM?  See screenshot.

[max-bit]

Inside is ACARD - eBay auction: #142936156220

The memory must be in the x16 organization
I have not tested on hard drives.
In general, the adapter only works on windows XP, on windows 7 it does not work properly anymore

[legacy]

but let me understand: why do you need to update the firmware?
which is the problem exactly?

[max-bit]

The matter is simple, you had to program the original IC and not combine ...

[feipoa]

I tested all the connections of the TSOP-48 traces to that of the PLCC-32 traces.  All pins are connected to their corresponding assignments.  A15-A18 and CE# are grounded on both.  The extra pins on the TSOP-48 package, DQ8-DQ15, are not connected on either.  The interesting thing is that EEPROM power, VDD, is not connected to 5 V, but is instead is connected directly to a pin on the ACARD chip.  The PLCC-32 VDD pad, on the other hand, connects to 5 V.

I was able to make some progress.  It seems one of the contacts on the PLCC-32 socket wasn't making good contact with the EEPROM.  I've pulled out the fittings a bit and now I'm able to detect my IDE CD-ROM drive with the host adapter.   Unfortunately, all is not well as the DOS SCSI CD-ROM drivers wouldn't load.  See photos.  But at least I am no longer getting BadExtRom.

I am using BIOS version 1.77A.

The 3.77I BIOS provided by the original poster yielded "BadExtRom".  The modified 1.77B also returned "BadExtRom".  I did not try the unmodified 1.77B BIOS yet. 

However, the original poster noted that his unit would not function in non-IBM systems without using the 1.77B modified BIOS.  Could you let me know what symptoms you were getting when you tried the original firmware in a non-IBM system?

[legacy]

However, the original poster noted that his unit would not function in non-IBM systems without using the 1.77B modified BIOS.  Could you let me know what symptoms you were getting when you tried the original firmware in a non-IBM system?

so *this* is the problem? with "non-IBM systems" do you mean Unix workstations/server without a PC-BIOS?

[legacy]

My bridges are model 7726 BIOS v1.69. They perfectly work on HPPA Workstations as well as on Roland engines 

Is the problem related only to 7722?

[feipoa]

I think the problem is related to AEC-7722IR.  However, I don't recall the outcomes of my tests with the original EEPROM.  I started this work 2 years ago and just now picked it up again.  I can no longer recall if there was any issues with the original EEPROM.  I had wanted to upgrade the BIOS because someone told me it might let you use hard drives rather than just CD-ROM drives.  Hopefully someone with the original BIOS in their AEC-7722IR can confirm what the issues are with it.