Programming (or Reprogramming) a Picaxe chip.

If you are building an Analyser from scratch, then just believe that this is the simplest loading
process around and jump straight to the third paragraph.

If you have assembled an analyser from a kit, and in the process managed to damage the Picaxe
(maybe the display is showing all black squares or the processor is producing very odd results) by
static zapping it or even putting it into the socket upside down, then believe that hard experience
with thousands of these chips clearly shows that Microchip processors (used for all Picaxe chips)
are very hardy little beasts indeed. Unless the damage is very severe, reprogramming will almost
always bring the little monster back to life, and should always be tried before you race off and
purchase another processor.

Here is how….

First, make up the 3 wire interconnecting cable between the serial port (COM1- RS232) on your
computer and the Analyser motherboard. For details, see the main Analyser homepage.
Interconnect the two using this cable. You may need to add 10K and 22K resistors and
connecting pins to the Analyser motherboard if you have built a kit. I don’t think the radio clubs
normally supply these components because the chip is preprogrammed. Also connect a 12 volt
DC power supply to the Analyser motherboard but do not switch on yet.

Go to the Revolution Education site http://www.picaxe.com/Software and download and install
the FREE Programming Editor (full file name bas805.exe) on your computer. Next, select the
Picaxe 28X2 processor and then click <Apply> then <OK>. Now download the wanted software
from my website. This file is called “VE3LUMVK5JST.bas” and the data should be copied and
pasted into a file with a name you choose. Use a .bas extension on the file name!!

Load this file into the “Programming Editor”, switch on the power to the Analyser motherboard,
and then click on the heading “Picaxe” in the Programming Editor, and then click on “Program”.
If all is well, you should see the code squirted into the Picaxe, and then the LCD should come
alive, displaying figures. That’s it!

All of these comments refer to the Programming Editor version 5.3.2 which I use. Later versions
may have very slightly different headings but I have no doubt, will be very user friendly, as this
software has always been.