CKS32F103C8T6 not going to programming mode - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: chuyeu123
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 10:01:58 pm
content: Hello,I'm new to the forum I hope someone can help guide me to the right direction. I normally bought the STM32 board for my DIY drone and they all working fine however, I just bought a new board From Hiletgo the chip label CKS32F103C8T6 even though I put the jumper cable to the programing mode but when I press the reset button the PCB13 green LED still keep flashing. I can't seems to get to the programing mode with this. I've tried to google it the past hours but still no luck. Can some one please help me? I have another STM32 board and I can upload the program fine so I don't know what is the problem. I am connecting the board via FTDI to USB cable via A9and A10 pin for RX and TX. Thank you

author: uer166
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 10:18:08 pm
content: What do you mean by "programming mode"? Do you mean enter an embedded bootloader in the CKS? Did they copy not only the STM32 functionality but the ST embedded bootloader?I would ditch all that and just program via normal JTAG.

author: chuyeu123
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 10:30:10 pm
content: First off. Thank you for reply to my question."programming mode" as when you click the reset button with the jumper in the 1 position, the board will stop operating so I can upload my sketch. Previously all my board worked fine but this board even after clicking the reset button and the jumper in the 1 position, the LED still blinking. indicating the board is still operating hence I cannot upload my sketches.I'm not sure what you are talking about the embedded bootloader. will JTAG worked with windows and arudino IDE? I'm not a programmer, I'm just a normal hobbyist.

author: uer166
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 10:41:48 pm
content: Understood, let me try to explain how your STM32 (from ST, not CKS) boards usually work:You move the jumper that makes the BOOT0 pin on STM32 high, instead of lowYou reset the STM32When the STM32 starts, it checks the BOOT0 pin. If it is low, it goes onto your code that you wrote, if it is high, it goes into abootloaderThen with the STM32 inside the bootloader, you can program it with the TX/RX pins via the FTDI to USB cableThe reason why it might not be working is, the CKS32 might not have implemented the bootloader that makes this all possible, it simply may not exist inside the CKS32. Since you are a beginner, I would recommend to only buy boards and chips with a real STM32, from ST. That way you know they will work as advertised, and will have all the documentation to refer to, and no surprises. Also if you link the boards that you are using, it may be easier for other people to help.

author: chuyeu123
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 10:52:01 pm
content: Oh, yes,The procedure you explain is exactly what I normally do to upload my program. I bought it on Amazon prime too and I thought it was genuine but apparently, it wasn't. I normally pay way less around $2 for the board and it work, this one I pay $5 each board and it turn out to be counterfeit. I just didn't realize I bought a counterfeit one.May I ask do you know how I can make it to go to the bootloader with this one then? I tried to use the steps from this website to download the Flasher program but since the board keep running so the program cannot connect to it.You say link my board you mean where did I buy it? I purchase it from herehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VKSVM21/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1and the website I followed the step for flashing is from herehttps://circuitdigest.com/microcontroller-projects/programming-stm32f103c8-board-using-usb-portThank you so much for your time

author: uer166
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 11:22:39 pm
content: The top review on the Amazon page you linked says:" Until a few months ago they came with the original STM32 chip. The last purchase came with fake chips. It is not possible to debug with ST tools. I will not buy more from Hi-LetGo "Trash that board and get some legit ones?Why waste time trying to make a fake work, life is short.

author: uer166
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 11:24:23 pm
content: Quote from: chuyeu123 on June 04, 2020, 10:52:01 pmMost likely it doesn't even have a bootloader, therefore it is not possible to do what you're asking.

author: chuyeu123
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 11:39:02 pm
content: Hi XD,Yeah I contacted amazon and asked for money refunded. I just got so frustrated that it took me 5 hours to solder everything and then didn't even look twice about the chip. My time wasted.Do you know where do I go to buy a genuine "Blue Pill" board? I've searched on amazon and now realized most of them are fake with the CS chips.Thank you so much

author: techman-001
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2020, 11:51:11 pm
content: Quote from: chuyeu123 on June 04, 2020, 10:52:01 pmIf the chip is marked "CKS32F103C8T6" then it's a genuine "CKS32F103C8T6" and not a fake anything.However the "CKS32F103C8T6" is a 'clone' of the original STM32F103. The chip die itself is very different as has been shown in the decappings by the renowned "noopy".Being a "clone" there are differences, some we know about, many we don't. It's definitely NOT a STM32F103 replacement.I guess the lack of a serial bootloader is one difference, but SWD and JTAG probably still work fine.I have a page highlighting some of the pitfalls of the infamous 'blue pill' here.https://mecrisp-stellaris-folkdoc.sourceforge.io/rants.html?highlight=blue%20pill#quick-grab-a-bargainI also have a bootable diagnostic program here, but as your chip is clearly marked as a "CKS32F103C8T6" you won't need ithttps://sourceforge.net/projects/mecrisp-stellaris-folkdoc/files/stm32fxx-diagnostics-v1.4.bin/downloadAs usual the best way to get into STM32 is with a genuine "discovery" or "nucleo" board made by STMicro because everything is guaranteed to work.

author: uer166
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2020, 02:21:40 am
content: Quote from: techman-001 on June 04, 2020, 11:51:11 pmI'm sorry, the Amazon listing specifies STM32F103 and ST Micro in multiple places. This 100% makes it a fake product. If it was advertised as a CKS chip (like it should have been), then it would be a clone.

author: techman-001
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2020, 04:14:45 am
content: Quote from: uer166 on June 05, 2020, 02:21:40 amI totally agree the actual product is not as advertised, and therefore unsuitable. I'm hardly one to support Chinese fakes as readers here know,It's just a pleasant change to see a "CKS32F103C8T6" actually marked as a "CKS32F103C8T6" and not a "STM32F103".Imagine your quandary if your new Blue Pill wouldn't bootload and you had no idea why because the MCU was a clone but marked as a "STM32F103" ?There have been about 4 different clone MCU's marked as "STM32F103" and supplied in Bluepills over the years as far as we can tell.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2020, 10:28:08 am
content: I wonder why the Chinese are shooting them self "in the foot" by doing thisI have switched to STM32F401/F411 blackpills , because i'm tired of the F103 "lottery".They kill their own market, by doing this./Bingo