exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

rubber_jonnie wrote: 12 Aug 2023 09:29
@PhilC Out of interest I tried that diagnostic software after @olivier.jan suggested it, and it didn't work at all for mine, again casting doubt on mine despite Blinky working.

It seemed to flash ok, but then didn't do what was suggested it should when I followed the instructions. I'm interested to see how others fare with it.

olivier.jan wrote: 12 Aug 2023 22:32

rubber_jonnie wrote: 12 Aug 2023 09:29
@PhilC Out of interest I tried that diagnostic software after @olivier.jan suggested it, and it didn't work at all for mine, again casting doubt on mine despite Blinky working.

It seemed to flash ok, but then didn't do what was suggested it should when I followed the instructions. I'm interested to see how others fare with it.

Last week, after the discussions here I tried flashing again and i managed to get the test software running on 2 out of 3 bluepill I had in stock. Just one thing as it took me a few minutes to get it to work: the software doesn’t display anything, not even the menu, before you press « Return » in the serial console.

BrettRogersUK wrote: 14 Aug 2023 18:25 Hi All,

I've just tried this (https://mecrisp-stellaris-folkdoc.sourc ... 1.640.html) on my bluepill board that I sent to @rubber_jonnie to test. I've also tried it on the spare one that I have here.

The results of the bluepill I sent to @rubber_jonnie to test are below. I run a linux system and the blue pill was detected when plugged in via usb cable to the blue pill itself (No serial device or STlink in the middle just a straight connection from bluepill to laptop). Results are below:

===========================================
Bluepill Diagnostics V1.640 - GPL3 Licensed
===========================================
h - test for Hidden second 64kb flash block: 0x10000 - 0x1FFFF - PASSED

f - how much Flash is declared in the Flash Size Register ?
131072 flash is declared in the flash size register at 0x1FFFF7E0

d - Print DBGMCU_IDCODE
DBGMCU_IDCODE [@ 0xE0042000] = 0x20036410

a - STM32F103C8T6 Authenticity test, don't use with SWD/JTAG.
STM32F103C8 Authentication failed on one or more tests:______________________________
FAIL - Declared flash not 65536
FAIL - DBGMCU_IDCODE is readable with no SWD/JTAG Connected
PASS - Second 64KB flash block verified
PASS - JDEC Manufacturer id IS STMicroelectronics

j - Jdec manufacturer id
Jdec Contunation Code: 0x00
Jdec Identity Code: 0x20
Jdec Manufacturer id: STMicroelectronics

The spare blue pill I have here (the one I got from eBay) isn't recognised when plugging in the usb cable from the bluepill to the laptop so I am unable to test even though the BIN file was uploaded both with the ST Link v2 device and also through USB serial.

The blue pill I sent for testing shows up on my system as a STMicroelectronics Virtual COM port but I think the results above show that the chip is not a genuine STM32F103C8T6 but it is however a genuine STM chip according to the manufacturer ID test just not sure which one as it has clearly been rebadged/remarked.

Hopefully my two IC's I brought from RS Components will show up tomorrow and I can get the chips swapped and see what happens. I've got nothing to lose really if they don't end up working.

PhilC wrote: 14 Aug 2023 20:09 @rubber_jonnie @BrettRogersUK the USB serial port is not particularly reliable, I use a program called serial tools on my iMac and it works most of the time with that

BrettRogersUK wrote: 21 Aug 2023 15:08 Just a quick update.

The hiletgo boards that I got from America (link in my previous post) work flawlessly.

They pass all the diagnostics and the blinky as well.

I also swapped a chip on one of the boards that didn't work in my project. I bought some genuine chips from RS components and desoldered one if the suspect ones from one of my BluePill boards and soldered the genuine one on.

To my surprise it worked a treat. The board that didn't work before now works flawlessly in my project. So the chip that was on my board before was definitely NOT an STM32F103C8T6 or it was and was a defective chip.

So just thought I'd post this along just for more info on these so called fakes and clones.