Conitech Galep-4 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Hayvosh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 03:49:36 pm
content: Hello,I recently bought a second hand galep-4 programmer "as-is".The seller said that it stopped working after someone used a db25 to db9 adapter. I got it cheap, and would be nice to see if I can get it working.What I know is that using the provided 12v adapter makes it light up.However, using the built in battery compartment does not do anything at all (without 12v adapter connected. And reading the manual states that the unit should start with batteries.And finally, if I just connect the provided lpt/db25 cable between the unit and the computer makes the power led on galep turn on, but very very dim. This is something that it should not do.So my best uneducated guess is something shorted out when they used the db25 to db9 adapter.And as I am no EE I figured I try here and see if anyone got some ideas?When I took it apart there was no magic smoke smell, and visually everything looks good.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 06:27:45 pm
content: So it sounds like the DB25 is intended to connect to a PC parallel port (5V logic), which can be confirmed at this web pagehttp://www.conitec.com/english/galep4.phpIf someone used a DB25 to DE9 adapter, then they most likely connected to a RS232 voltage level serial port - potentially subjecting the input circuitry to +/-12V or so.That wouldn't cause visible damage, or any aroma of magic smoke, but could have damaged IC internals permanently.You'd need to take some photos of the PCB to show us what circuitry it has, or have a go at tracing out the circuit yourself.It may just have a damaged TTL buffer chip, or worse a damaged PAL/GAL/microcontroller which you can't replace without having the original programming.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 06:55:21 pm
content: I have a GALEP-4, and I can confirm the DB25 is a parallel port.When you plug the power pack in, without anything else connected, the red LED next to the circle-X symbol should light. If you start their software on a PC connected to the GALEP-4 (via the LPT port), after a few seconds of initialization the green LED next to the check-mark will come on and the red LED will go off.Here's their software page:http://www.conitec.net/english/software.phpI would hope the design is robust enough to stand up to RS232 voltage levels, but I guess I'm not surprised since this is my second GALEP-4. My first one died because it was fighting with some other signals while doing some in-circuit programming. I don't do in-circuit programming with it anymore. Conitec repaired mine (actually replaced it, I think) for a flat fee, but I don't know if they're still supporting this model.Parallel ports are getting pretty scarce now-a-days. I don't know if any of the USB parallel adapters will work with it, so you might need to dig up a PC with a real parallel port.I've never used the battery option. Seems like a weird thing to have on a programmer anyway.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 07:21:23 pm
content: USB parallel ports definitely don't work with the GALEP programmers. Over 2 decades ago I bought the Galep-III. Excellent programmer but outdated due to parallel ports dissapearing. Nowadays you can buy a cheap programmer from Ebay/Aliexpress which work using USB. I hope the OP didn't pay more than 5 euro.

author: Hayvosh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 07:59:56 pm
content: @MarkL, plugging the power pack in without anything else connected does make the red LED turn on.But when I plug the DB25 cable into the unit and to the LPT port on my ancient laptop the software just says that it cant find the galep unit and the red led stays on.It says something about cannot configure port or something similar like that, and the Test Galep function does not work either.Anyhow, I have attached two pictures of the PCB.

author: Hayvosh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 08:12:19 pm
content: Also, I'd love to repair this Galep programmer, as a start.But I'd also love some advice for another programmer that can deal with Fujitsu MCU flash chips, such as mb90f497g.New into this world, and would like something to start with, preferably if it does not cost me a kidney or a lung :-)

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 09:24:55 pm
content: Quote from: Hayvosh on March 14, 2021, 07:59:56 pmDid you select the right parallel port? Try different addresses. But chances are the parallel port isn't compatible (laptops are notorious for that) and it simple can't work.However, looking at the photos I think the device is just broken. There is no protection at all on the data lines at all (not even some rudimentary ESD protection) so plugging it into an RS232 port will destroy it for sure. The parallel port is connected directly to the Xilinx chip which -I think- is a CPLD with internal flash so even if you manage to replace the chip, it will need to be programmed.All in all I'd give up on this and buy a cheap USB based programmer from Ebay.

author: Hayvosh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 09:31:41 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 14, 2021, 09:24:55 pmOk thank you for looking, but are we talking total carnage or some simple component swap? The computer only have one lpt port, tried to change address on it but made no difference.Any other advice on compatible programmer that can read/write fujitsu mcu?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 09:37:40 pm
content: I'd say total carnage. And why do you want to use that specific microcontroller?

author: Hayvosh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 09:40:31 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 14, 2021, 09:37:40 pmI have a few of old lighting controlboxes I got, and was planning on learning on those to clone/swap mcu software.So was hoping to find some good programmer that I can use

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 09:53:53 pm
content: The GALEP-4 supports the MB90F497G. You can search for it in the GALEP32 application or you can also look at the device list on-line. There's a link on the software page I previously posted:http://www.conitec.net/english/galep4device_list.htmAs for getting your GALEP-4 running, it's not clear if yours is dead or there is a driver problem. I haven't a clue about windows so I can't be much help in trying to figure out which way to point. (I run GALEP32 under WINE on Linux.)My clueless approach would be to probe the LPT port with a scope to see if GALEP32 is doing anything. I would look at at least pin 1 (HostCLK, aka. nSTROBE) for activity when GALEP32 starts up.https://pinouts.ru/ParallelPorts/ParallelECP_pinout.shtmlnctnico is probably right it got cooked. I wouldn't invest a a ton of time either, but I wouldn't give up on it just yet.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 10:16:32 pm
content: Quote from: Hayvosh on March 14, 2021, 09:40:31 pmDo you have a compiler for these microcontrollers? If not then I'd use an Arduino, Raspberry Pi or something else with a more mainstream processor and better tool support in there.

author: Hayvosh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 10:55:09 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 14, 2021, 10:16:32 pmNo compiler no, I was thinking of trying to read the flash to clone/swapping between mcu's. I am very new to this, and trying to start easyso read the flash from one unit, and write it to another as a start. Not sure how to apply it to an arudino, I do have an arudino mega somewhere.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 11:16:48 pm
content: Quote from: Hayvosh on March 14, 2021, 10:55:09 pmIf the MCU has a flash readout protection feature, and it's been enabled (likely if it's from a commercial product), you're not going be able to copy it.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2021, 11:19:23 pm
content: Quote from: MarkL on March 14, 2021, 11:16:48 pmI checked the datasheet but oddly enough this MCU doesn't seem to have a feature like this. Or it isn't mentioned in the datasheet. Hitachi (nowadays Renesas) was very secretive about their code protection feature and since Fujitsu is also a Japanese company it might be the same. OTOH the datasheet mentions the flash technology comes from AMD so it could be that there are 2 dies inside the package.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 15, 2021, 01:44:15 pm
content: Based on the PCB photos, I have to agree with nctnico. The ony reason for someone to use a 9 pin to 25 pin converter is for a RS232 serial port connection, and the voltages from that would almost certainly damage the Xilinx chip. The effort involved to diagnose and repair this just isn't going to be worthwhile. If you absolutely need this model of programmer, then start looking for another one.

author: Hayvosh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 15, 2021, 01:54:49 pm
content: Quote from: Kean on March 15, 2021, 01:44:15 pmAh well, thank you for your time to look into this :-)Any of you do not happen to have any suggestion on a ebay unit that will do the job instead?The light controlboxes I have here already have some pre-installed headerpins that match up with the programming pins for the MCU, so I cannot say 100% that the readout protection is there, but still something to fiddle withSo I will not take any further action on the Galep, that thing is beyond repair then.Is there anyone then that might have a good suggestion for a suitable programmer that can handle the fujitsu mcu's? mb90f497g primarily