AVR-Chat

>
>Do you use Imagecraft C for the AVR? If so can you try using the inbuilt
>programmer with the ISP and see what happens.
>I assume you are using the serial ISP - have you tried the Parallel port
>version? (perhaps even using PonyProg?)

Nope, I'm an assembler guy.
Remember now, the target has been ruled out as it's still behaving badly on 
known good production hardware.

>It won't necessarily solve your problem but might vindicate the h/w -
>although the way you describe it, sounds like it is the tools - but what has
>changed??
>
> > >Any External Reset sources?
> > Nope. pulled high with 1k and verified high with meter and scope.
>
>What about the PEN pin - that should be pulled high.

It floats high, internal pullup on the M128

> > >9. Do you have an STK500 around? Can you double check your tools with it?
> >
> > Yup. It's also hosed.
> > I'm really thinking it's studio that's out to lunch here.
>
>Looks like it..
>What version of AVRStudio are you using? I seem to remember something on
>avrfreaks about Atmel upgrading the ISP/JTAG protocol with Studio 4.11 and
>that some people had problems upgrading the s/w in their JTAGs/ISPs.
>Your might want to check that avenue.

Latest and greatest 4.11   Yes, I have another AVRISP that studio 
consistently fails to upgrade as well.
Everything else has been upgraded


>Is it possible to run the board at 5V (or at least 'as high as you
>dare) -'just to see' if it makes a difference?

No, the board won't tolerate that. Too many $$$ 3V parts.


>Just a thought Dave - what EXATly is the problem with nor connectiong.
>Does AVRStudio not detect the JTAG/ISP or is it that the ice does not detect
>the device?

Well, it varies, but at the moment, the ICEs and AVRISPs are detecting, and 
sort of working, to various degrees.
Like I said yesterday, I was not able to read the hex out of the working 
unit with one Jtag, but I was with another.
That one wouldn't program a target, but the first one would...  It's 
nonsensical stuff like that.

>If it is the former then running up a terminal program at 19K2,8,n,1 and
>typing 'S' at the JTAGICE should result in 'AVRBOOT' being returned to you.
>(you may need to cycle pwr to the ICE as it defaults to 19K2). This verifies
>you serial port etc.
>
>Did you want to read out the fuse settings and post them here - so that
>others can 'double check' them for you. - problem being, I suppose, that you
>can't connect to the micro to read them out!!? Can you erase the micro and
>start again?

I've checked and re-checked, and as I said, I've ruled out any target 
problems, since the tools are also misbehaving on known good hardware.

But, I've left everything powered down overnight, and either that, or the 
passage of time, seems to cure most of these issues.