Support and Downloads

This page contains downloads, release notes and know issues for the MLDL2000. Please come back to this page on a regular base to check for updates. All direct downloads on this page are under the GNU license and copyrighted by myself.

ERRATA and REMARKS

DOWNLOADS

SUPPORTED ROM IMAGES

SDK41 Manual

HEPAX SUPPORT

TO DO LIST

PICTURES

ERRATA and REMARKS

• UPDATE DEC 2008 (release V1.51): the software bugs mentioned below are all resolved as of version 1.51. Also note that the bankswitching order is now in the 'normal' expected order. Please read the REAME.TXT files that come with the software and firmware files. It is strongly advised to upgrade both firmware and software!
  Know issues in M2kM release V1.51:

  • - SDK41 disassembly is experimental
    
  • - HP41 mcode I/O is EXPERIMENTAL, please refer to manual!
    
  •   mcode I/O will only work with firmware V1.51 !!
    
  • - handling MOD files under Windows Vista may be problematic
    
  • - MOD files can not be read-only
  Known issues in Firmware release V1.51:
  • Removed blingbling driver, this is still in the documentation. This influences only units with LED's, and will be fixed in a later revision. If you have LED's connected or plan to do so, please contact me!
    
  • When updating firmware, data in the first parts of SRAM in your MLDL2000 may be changed. Aways backup your unit (at least SRAM) and restore after upgrade
  If you have questions or suspect any bugs, please let me know!
   
  
• UPDATE: The bug in erasing FLASH has been identified. This turned out to be pretty stupid, but I am not certain if it was my mistake or the fault of the producer of the PCB's. The FLASH memory chip comes in two types, Top Boot Block and Bottom Boot Block. This means that the FLASH Sectors have a different layout. It looks like the two memory types have been mixed up in production. I am pretty certain that all Beta's (of which there is only one in the field) has Bottom Boot Sectors (exact type is AM29LV160DB), and others (probably most units out in the field) have Top Boot Sectors (device type is AM29LV160DT). The last version is much more convenient because the Settings Registers are in the top of the device, and prevents the user from having to erase multiple ROM images when changing the settings in FLASH. Fortunately the FLASH device offers an option to read out the device type, and M2kM will be modified to accomodate this issue. This is not extremely difficult, but requires some time-consuming testing and I want to fix some other minor issues as well. Will post an update of M2kM probably after the weekend.
  
• Not really an error, but users should be aware of the fact that erasing FLASH memory consumes considerably more power than normal operation. Especially with low batteries (BAT annunciator on) this may lead to failing the erase process without a proper error message. Failure becomes apparent when trying to write to FLASH. I am currently looking at giving a better error message after erasing FLASH.
  
• One of the users found a bug in M2kM. It is not possible to erase the FLASH sector (Sector 34, address F80000-FFFFFF) with the Settings Registers individually, only by erasing the complete FLASH memory. This is a problem in the M2kM software, and will be fixed in the next release. The root cause is not found yet.
  
• There is one important change, thanks to my PCB assembler: the 100 kOhm pulldown resistor (see page 5 of the MLDL User Manual) is already placed on the PCB. This is so tiny that I missed it when I received the units. The wire does need to be placed, and that is very important!
  
• I found a small bug in the software, this is fixed with the latest update should be fixed within the next few days. After running one of the tests (in the Test Tool) the MLDL2000 is not enabled. This can be re-enabled by reading a block of data from the Memory Editor Tool.
  
• Reports from users assembling their MLDL2000 unit have indicated that units that are being tested without the USB Interface connected can sometimes be unstable and cause the HP41 to behave a bit strange. I therefore recommend to complete assembly and add the USB Interface before attempting testing with ROM images. The added advantage is that the USB connection allows inspection of MLDL memory from the PC to assist in troubleshooting.
  
• Whenever the MLDL2000 refuses to communicate over USB and installation of the FTDI driver seems troublesome, please double check the USB cable and the soldering of the USB connector.
  
• It could be that the test procedure as described in the manual fails when ROM images are being copied. I have seen that some units have been shipped with a partly wrong configuration of the Settings Registers.
  
• Bank Switching bug:
  In all HP41 Pages banks 2 and 3 (out of 1, 2 , 3 and 4) are mixed up. This is due to the fact that the Bank Switching instructions do not use the 'logical' bit ordering:

Background for this oversight is that the bits in the instruction are directly used as value in the EBR (Enabled Bank Register) inside the MLDL2000 to assist in addressing the correct ROM# for the valid bank. I have identified the place to correct this in the firmware. Since I have not yet finished the JTAG software for programming the CPLD (required for reprogramming the CPLD from the USB interface) I cannot distribute the fix yet. I am now working on the JTAG software part of M2kM.

DOWNLOADS

ALL files mentioned above are under the GNU public license, except those in the links. Bottom line is that it means that you can do with it whatever you like, as long as you give me credit. And if it does not work you can not hold me responsible. In addition I like the BEER license. This means that if you like the work and make use of it you will have to buy me a beer if we ever meet in real life!

ROM IMAGES supported and tested by MLDL2000

Please report any working (or not working) modules in your MLDL2000!

How to make your own ROMS with SDK41
Download this PDF File Original written by Warren Furlow, formatted by Peter Platzer who also added some examples.

How to get HEPAX working in the MLDL2000 (tested in HP41-CX only) with no other modules active
Download this PDF File The documant was written by Howard Owen and presented ate the HHC2007.

PICTURES

This is the first completely assembled unit (my own MLDL2000)

The collection of cardreader shells and accessories

This is what you will get for the cardreader shell and accessories

MLDL2000 units fresh out of production as of July 13, 2005. 47 units total, but not yet tested. The MLDL2000 comes as 3 PCB's, and these are put together on a so called panel for efficient production. Between the PCB's a groove is cut so the PCB's can easily be split by breaking along the groove.