A minor software and firmware release for the ZX-24e, ZX-24ae, ZX-24pe, ZX-24ne has been issued by Elba Corporation that includes an updated version of the ZBasic installer for the compiler and update to the ZBasic firmware and library.

The new ZBasic installer version 2.5.1 is available from the our ZBasic Software Downloads page. The updated ZBasic compiler has following new System Library routines, enhancements and bug fixes:

• Modified the type checking to allow conversion functions like CByte(), CInt(), CUInt(), etc. to take a Boolean parameter as documented.
  


• Corrected a VM code generation for CBit() with a constant string parameter with optimization off.
  


• Corrected a VM code generation problem for CNibble() with a string parameter.
  


• Added support for pins B.4 to B.7 for Oak Micros native mode devices with SPI EEPROM.
  

See the ZBasic website for the complete history of ZBasic compiler changes.

The updated firmware version 2.5.1 for the ZX-24e, ZX-24ae, and ZX-24pe is available from the ZBasic Firmware page. The following fixes have been incorporated into the firmware:

• Corrected a problem with the low level X-10 functions (OpenX10(), etc.)
  

See the ZBasic website for the complete history of ZBasic firmware changes.

The updated ZBasic library version 2.5.2 for the ZX-24ne is available in the ZBasic installation version 2.5.1. The following fixes have been incorporated into the library:

• Added support for pins B.4 through B.7 for the ZX-24ne.
  


• Corrected a problem with the low level X-10 functions (OpenX10(), etc.)
  

See the ZBasic website for the complete history of ZBasic library changes.

Mike

I just updated my compiler from the ZBasic website to the newest version and I updated my ZX24ae to the V2.5.1 firmware. When I try to download a program, I get this error:

Code:

ZX24ae v2.5.1 0000,0000 No response to firmware version check.  Please update your firmware. ZBasic v2.5.1

What do I do to get it to work?

I have not seen this error before and I cannot reproduce it.

What happens when you move back to the previous version of the ZVM (attached below)?

If that doesn't work then try the ZBasic forum to see what Don says.

If nothing works I can send you a replacement ZX-24ae.

I tried the old version of the VM and got the same results. It seems as if there is some sort of ID that the ZX's VM is supposed to send, and it is just sending z bunch of zeros. I have no idea what the problem is because the VM update works fine as far as I can tell.

It is probably not necessary to replace the ZX because I have the OM128. It is not a ZX, though, and I like the rapid development the ZX affords, but if I damaged the ZX, I would not expect a free replacement.

I have posted a question over at ZBasic as you suggested.

-Tony

spamiam wrote:I tried the old version of the VM and got the same results. It seems as if there is some sort of ID that the ZX's VM is supposed to send, and it is just sending z bunch of zeros. I have no idea what the problem is because the VM update works fine as far as I can tell.The zeros are the CRC of the last program downloaded. It is curious they are zeros.

spamiam wrote:It is probably not necessary to replace the ZX because I have the OM128. It is not a ZX, though, and I like the rapid development the ZX affords, but if I damaged the ZX, I would not expect a free replacement.It is a software problem that is probably easily resolved by reflashing the VM and EEPROM. But first we need to understand what went wrong.

spamiam wrote:
I just updated my compiler from the ZBasic website to the newest version and I updated my ZX24ae to the V2.5.1 firmware. When I try to download a program, I get this error:

Code:
ZX24ae v2.5.1 0000,0000
No response to firmware version check. Please update your firmware.
ZBasic v2.5.1


Just to close up this original problem report. The ZX-24ae is being used with a socketed FRAM SPI memory (FM25256). For some reason the CS pin on the FM25256 is stuck low and causes the error. Replacing the bad chip with another SPI FRAM or EEPROM (AT25256A) chip resolves the problem.