CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[barclay66]

Hi,

As my project (building a passive 3D stack with two Marquee Ultras) slowly progresses, I found out that different Firmware versions between the two PJs could have counter-productive effects. E.g. the behaviour at G2 and tube drive settings is quite different between newer and older versions.
Therefore I've invested into some technology: A professional Reader/Programmer for PROMS, EPROMs, FPGAs and OTP Controllers (OTP = One Time Programmable) together with the required programming adapters for the essential components that hold the Marquee's firmware (see Picture 1).
Then I sourced blank and rewritable chips and used them for the creation of two identical sets of CLM/DPB boards with the newest firmware available to me (see Picture 2 and firmware list).
Well ... it works!
So I can say that I'm able to read and write all relevant parts needed for a specific firmware version.

Now this is my proposal: I'd like to build a library of available firmware versions and make it available to other Marquee owners (Of course only as long as nobody has a problem with this approach).

What do You guys think about this?

Regards,
barclay66

[mx83toy]

This is awesome!! great work and im sure you'll have people taking you up on this...

[stridsvognen]

Thats cool..

I have a 4.0- 4.2- 5.0 if you should be missing any of those.

[Nashou66]

I too have made copies before. I think it be useful to some. I forgot what VDC charges for the firmware chips some have to be used together and will not work alone( u35) some U35's will work with other parts of the software chain.

Barclay there are also versions for the HDM chips you know.

Athanasios

[HK-Steve]

I have version 6 something.
Will pull it later and let you know the exact number

[barclay66]

[barclay66]

[stridsvognen]

Im just looking now, and i have..

U35 V4.2C / U7 D5.5 / U16 3.1

U35 V4.0C / U7 D5.3 / U16 3.0

U35 5.0.1 / U7 5.6 / U16 3.1

[barclay66]

Very good,

so, the ones that I don't have are:

U7 5.3
U7 5.5

U16 3.0

U35 V4.2C
U35 V4.0C
U35 5.0.1

I will have to think about a secure and efficient method of transporting single chips and/or boards for interchanging this kind of stuff.
Not everyone has a chip puller (see picture) and will be comfortable with shipping his working CLM and/or removed chips.

Regards,
barclay66

[stridsvognen]

I have a puller just like that, if i can find it..

And your right,, I would not dare put them all in one bag, and ship them, emagine if they all got lost..

Maybe it would be better to just meet in the future, and bring them.

[barclay66]

I'm thinking of some kind of exchange program:

- Somebody tells me he has a CLM board with firmwares that haven't been archived yet
- If it's a spare then he might consider sending it to me right away
- I not, then I will send him a temporary replacement (packaged with extreme protection)
- He can use my board, pack his board into my box and send it to me
- I dump the firmware and can optionally replace it with a newer/preferred version
- I send his board back inside my box
- He sends my board back inside my box

We could do the same for single chips when there's an extraction tool and the owner is comfortable with it.

There's only one technical issue involved:

I used to have a CLM with version 4.0E on U35. When I got the newer CLM with version 5.0 I installed it right away. Result was that I lost all settings and presets. The newer software uses other memory locations and can't carry over the settings from the older one. It will do a restart and set everything to default settings. I don't know in which cases this will happen.
This is something I'd like to prevent if someone uses my temporary replacement CLM.

Regards,
barclay66

[Nashou66]

J, I wonder if saving the downloads from a different Chip set will carry over with out any issues since your setting were erased?

So if you saved the settings first on the Marquee loader program from the CLM memory when it had 4.0E and then swapped to 5.0 and then reload the settings if they'd go to the appropriate locations or screw things up?

Athanasios

[stridsvognen]

I can try upload my firmware 5.0 settings to my pc, and download them onto my 4.2, but ill guess that it will not be usefull, with the sub brite and different menu layout.

It would be interesting if other 5.0 have the same bugs as mine, when adjusting G2 or Gain i always use the MUTE to remove the OSD, but if i press exit when its muted i cant acess the menu anymore, and neet to restart the projector, and start all over.

And i have experienced that convergence dont work right, and i need to change the conections out of the board, adjust, and set them back and it will work.

Happens when i do a factory reset.

[Nashou66]

No Kurt go the opposite, from your 4.2 into the 5.0 .

Nashou

[stridsvognen]

[Nashou66]

How will it mess it up? You have it all saved pop the old chip back in and upload..... done!

[barclay66]

[CasetheCorvetteman]

Ive used GAL chips as a replacement for PALs, if your programmer will do those. I cant remember the full name on the chips cause ive got none left at present.

[the big E]

I will be glad to hear the outcome of this as my marquee has version 4.2c and I want to update it if possible

Downside is I don't have a computer to use the loader program or a chip puller

[CasetheCorvetteman]

A TOP3000 will probably do what you need, theyre not expensive. Youll need a computer with 32 bit windows on it.