Upgrading Logic Cube 16032?

[spinnaker]

I found this thread

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/zeroplus-lap-c-16032-logic-analyzer-logic-cube/

Which mentions a utility to flash the 16032 Logic Cube to the 16064 or 16128.   Exactly what does the utility do?  The readme in the utility mentions it patches the EEPROM but it does not say what it does.  Does it simply change the model number?   And can it be changed back?

How would I know if I have a "patchable"  device?

I have had my device for some time now.  In the earlier days, you had to buy most protocols but it looks like a number of them are now free.   I have already registered my device as 1032.  Will these free protocols still work?  If I have a paid protocol, can I just register?

[Fraser]

The best advice I can offer is a Google search as that is how I found out about the whole upgrade thing. I bought another unit in the end so did not keep the information. From what I remember, there is a file that changes the firmware but you can still register the unit on the OEM website to activate functionality. This upgrade used the unused additional memory capacity that was installed on the PCB. Another upgrade involved fitting more memory and enabling it with 'hot wiring' a chip.

IIRC only early version of the unit could be upgraded as the OEM made changes and in some cases did not fit the large memory chip. Its all in the forums that detailed the hack. Hence why a Google search is needed. I do not remember a web site detailing the hack, just a thread on a forum.

[Fraser]

Hmmmm, 10 seconds Google searching for Logic Cube upgrade provided this:

http://openschemes.com/2010/03/23/zeroplus-logic-cube-review-and-teardown/

http://openschemes.com/2010/03/27/zeroplus-logic-cube-the-modification/

There is lots about this on the NET.

Its even on Hackaday !

http://hackaday.com/2010/03/30/zeroplus-logic-cube-modification/

And more useful info here.

http://hackedgadgets.com/2010/03/29/zeroplus-logic-cube-hacked/

There is a forum thread (not EEVBlog) somewhere but I will let you find that yourself.

Me thinks Google is your friend ! 

[Fraser]

Just found this:

http://edvoncken.net/2011/06/zeroplus-lap-c-16032-logic-analyser/

The 'Lostscrews' forum appears to have gone. That may have been where I saw the discussions.

[spinnaker]

Hmmmm, 10 seconds Google searching for Logic Cube upgrade provided this:

http://openschemes.com/2010/03/23/zeroplus-logic-cube-review-and-teardown/

http://openschemes.com/2010/03/27/zeroplus-logic-cube-the-modification/

There is lots about this on the NET.

Its even on Hackaday !

http://hackaday.com/2010/03/30/zeroplus-logic-cube-modification/

And more useful info here.

http://hackedgadgets.com/2010/03/29/zeroplus-logic-cube-hacked/

There is a forum thread (not EEVBlog) somewhere but I will let you find that yourself.

Me thinks Google is your friend ! 

Yes I found most of those.  But if I am reading it right,  that is the hardware hack that adds channels to the device.  I am not confident enough with SMD to risk my analyzer.    All I am interested in is hacking the eeprom to make it think that my device is 128K. 

It looks like all of those articles point to the same hardware hack which doesn't answer my questions.  In fact they don't know how to hack the eeprom:

http://openschemes.com/2010/03/27/zeroplus-logic-cube-the-modification/5/

The specific post to which I was referring is from 0xdeadbeef
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/zeroplus-lap-c-16032-logic-analyzer-logic-cube/msg206779/#msg206779
From the sounds of it, it is a software only mod.   Perhaps I will PM  0xdeadbeef.

[0xdeadbeef]

When I did this > two years ago or so, it was a hack of the EEPROM only. No HW mods needed at this time.
From the last reports I received, the 4.5MBit SRAM (CY7C1347G) is still placed which allows the 128k upgrade.
Then again, usually some (4) of the address lines are now cut on the ASIC and have to be resoldered.

Anyway, keep in mind that you have to register the device as the patched device, because you can use
the protocols only for the device that they were registered for.

[spinnaker]

When I did this > two years ago or so, it was a hack of the EEPROM only. No HW mods needed at this time.
From the last reports I received, the 4.5MBit SRAM (CY7C1347G) is still placed which allows the 128k upgrade.
Then again, usually some (4) of the address lines are now cut on the ASIC and have to be resoldered.

Anyway, keep in mind that you have to register the device as the patched device, because you can use
the protocols only for the device that they were registered for.

Thanks

What do I do if I am already registered?

Do I even need to worry if I am using the free protocols?

Can I go back to the original eeprom settings if the change does not work?

[spinnaker]

You would think zeroplus would know by serial number that it is not a 128k when you register.

[0xdeadbeef]

Indeed the serial number contains the device type and still they didn't care when I registered - and I didn't hear anything indicating that this changed.
Anyway, some months ago most of the default decoders were released as free package, so 30 decoders tied to the registered device are not so interesting any more.
And yes, you can change the EEPROM back to your original configuration, but then you can't use the additional RAM (and/or channels) or course.

[spinnaker]

Indeed the serial number contains the device type and still they didn't care when I registered - and I didn't hear anything indicating that this changed.
Anyway, some months ago most of the default decoders were released as free package, so 30 decoders tied to the registered device are not so interesting any more.
And yes, you can change the EEPROM back to your original configuration, but then you can't use the additional RAM (and/or channels) or course.

Thanks,   I will give it a try.  I hope I can register again.  Maybe under another email? 

I think most of the free protocols.  are all I am interested in anyway.    It would be nice to unlock some of the advanced features of those
protocols.

I am glad you got back to give me some peace of mind.  I was just getting ready to wing it.

[spinnaker]

It took a couple of tires but I got it working!  The only thing  I had a problem with was uninstalling the WinUSB driver.   The instructions are not that clear.  It says uninstall from Hardware Manager  .  I would assume that means Device Manager?    I could not find the driver in there,  Were is it?   I had to use a restore point to get the driver uninstalled. 


 I actually have a setting for 256K.   I assume it is because I am using just 1 channel?  It seems like I have more memory from how much additional that I can sample but is there a way to confirm the amount of memory?

[ttt256]

I have a similar problem with a previously registered protocols.
Is it possible to re-register the protocols?

[Muessigb]

Since these units are still sold, I bought one two years ago (~2015) and infrequently used it since.
The sample memory of 32K was just such a show stopper. Since my Oscilloscope does not support any serial decode, I needed to get this thing upgraded.
So, first, mine comes with 128k * 36 bits from the manufacturer. The 4 pins are cut on mine too.
However, I have read through the datasheets, and for the 128*36 bits RAM chip, these pins are NC pins and are reserved for the bigger chips.
This means, you will never have to re-connect these pins, unless you need the 32 channels.
My unit is dated around 2014 and uses the first generation ASIC dated 2009.
The EEPROM is still the same and I was able to change the numbers. I will now properly test it.

EDIT: I have tested it with serial decode and an Arduino sending out ASCII test patterns at 115200 baud and yes, the 256K option in the software works fine with my model. Nothing has been soldered or replaced.