I am totally new to flashing, and its somewhat scary to blow something. What should I do with all this?

Common sense says that steps should be like that:

- Insert a GAL chip into a programmer
- Run the software
- Plug the programmer into USB port
- Select the chip type (GAL16V8a)
- Load the JED file
??? can't imagine what's further

^ ??? can't imagine what's further = press burn/program button
- verify content of chip
- remove chip
- unplug programmer/turn of computer whatever you want
- use chip

that's the general idea of programmers, also you don't need to insert the chip before connecting the programmer, you can have the programmer connected and insert/remove chips as you like

I remember reading on the G540 manual (in wonderful Engrish) that you shouldn't leave a chip in the programmer when connecting or disconnecting the programmer from the USB host - the pin drivers start in an unknown state at power-up and could be putting out erroneous voltages before they stabilize, so device insertion/removal should only be done with the programmer fully powered up and ready. It goes against the "hot-plugging is unsafe" wisdom but it makes sense.

By the way I've found out through experience that this programmer is very sensitive to the build quality of the USB cable you're using. Cheap cables have given me false connection errors and general erratic behavior which completely go away when using a better USB cable.

That's what I get when trying to program my NS GAL16V8A with SB2CMS.JED posted by DonutKing:

What am I doing wrong? I haven't found any switch to remove the chip write protection (if there's any). The only one 'unprotect' option in G540 software is greyed out:

From memeory I think I had success if I went into the Set menu and changed the program sequence to remove the Encrypt step.

Looks like you're running win 8, I never got mine working on anything newer than XP.

Remove the encrypt because it makes the data unreadable. That's why it gives a verify error. If you remove encrypt and you have the same error then you are facing a defective GAL. Try another one. But always remove encrypt from the program sequence.

I have removed the Encrypt step, but to no result. Nothing changed either when I took another GAL chip.

Can you take a screenshot of the FUSEMAP? Right when you load the .jed file?

Yes, it is all zeros somewhy.

It's not loading the FUSEMAP properly dude... That won't work. I had that problem too, and i had to tamper with the file. You can also try to put the numbers there carefully, opening the JED file with notepad, and put the 1's in the correct places.

Or you can wait until tomorrow, i'll upload you my modified file that will work.

I'll wait tomorrow, since anyway I don't have the hardware to test SB 2.0 with me here.

Try deleting any comments at the beginning of the jed file. I think I had problems with that too.

Ok bristlehog, try with this file i've just attached. Make sure the encrypt is out of the programming sequence. It has a nasty habit of coming again.

Good luck!

Oh well. The fuse map now looks correct, thanks to carlostex's JED-file. But I continue getting verify errors:

I have read the GAL contents into a buffer though and it looks same with JED-file fuse map. Maybe it is burned correctly despite the verify error. I have to test the GAL against SB 2.0 I think.

Yeah you need to try the GAL's. Exit the software and then run it again. The first thing you must do is to read the GAL. If the DATA reads the same values as the file then it should be OK. If not the GAL's are fucked up and you need new ones. Try Lattice. They will work the same.

Yes, the GAL reads back values that appear to be correct (I am way too lazy to thoroughly compare all of them).

bristlehog wrote:

Yes, the GAL reads back values that appear to be correct (I am way too lazy to thoroughly compare all of them).

Then all you need is a card to test.

Hearye, hearye! To all brave an' loyal dwarves!

My 059316 revision card seems to be working ok. I hear CMS from Codename:Iceman, and SB PCM/Adlib music from Warcraft 2. No time to do further tests for now, but I will do it in future.

Sorry for being so lazy and procrastinate it till nowadays. Big thanks to carlostex who greatly helped me with GAL flashing.

bristlehog wrote:

Hearye, hearye! To all brave an' loyal dwarves!

My 059316 revision card seems to be working ok. I hear CMS from Codename:Iceman, and SB PCM/Adlib music from Warcraft 2. No time to do further tests for now, but I will do it in future.

Sorry for being so lazy and procrastinate it till nowadays. Big thanks to carlostex who greatly helped me with GAL flashing.

Glad you got it working.

BTW, does your 059316 revision card sport the CT1336A bus chip?

Here's my card and it for sure has DSP v. 2.02 and CT1336A bus chip. The reason for other cards' failure must reside elsewhere.