When the firmware program requests information from the flash ROM, it sends the request over the data bus and waits a preset amount of time for the requested information to appear on the data bus. If that information does not appear the firmware program crashes. The flash rom module supplied by Atmel in the past put the information on the data bus in an approiate amount of time, however Atmel replaced the flash rom without notice and the new flash rom responded slower. Under normal circumstances, everything was fine. When the temperature rises in the chip, the response time slowes down. The slower response time makes the flash rom place the requested information on the data bus to late (after the firmware program quits waiting) and the system fails.
The hardware is still functional at higher temperatures but the firmware does not wait long enough for the information to be supplied. This is why a firmware update can fix the problem and it is not called a hardware failure. I hope this helps -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Barry at Mutual Data Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 9:08 PM To: Dan Petermann Subject: Re[3]: [smartBridges] Firmware Issue Hello Dan, So explain why heat is affecting it? And why the long power down time? Barry Monday, July 21, 2003, 7:18:10 PM, you wrote: DP> If you had read the archives you would have found out that it is not DP> "flaky" hardware but a timing issue. DP> Big difference. Amtel changed the specs of the chip and SB had to change DP> the firmware to compensate. DP> If you have been in the business as long as you say then you know that this DP> is possible. DP> Dan Petermann DP> Wyoming.com DP> At 06:36 PM 7/21/2003 -0400, you wrote: >>Hello sB, >> >>This is not the response I want to see or hear about a product that is >>in my network. "MAGIC" is BS when the customer quits telling me they >>are always down. >> >>I don't believe for an instant that "firmware" is fixing an >>overheating issue. I was trained as an Electronics Tech and have 12 >>plus years of fixing electronics to the board level as experience. >>Adding some code is not going to change a flaky component. Basically >>is the firmware degrading the radio operation to the point the >>component does not overheat? >> >>Fortunately, I only have a few SB products left in the system plus the >>ones in the junk box. >> >>Barry >> >>Monday, July 21, 2003, 2:05:44 PM, you wrote: >> >>sTS> I know this is hard to believe. Sometimes when you try to >>sTS> associate to AP that has no WEP enabled, it tell you to check the >>sTS> authentication and WEP, try do a power cycle the unit or reboot >>sTS> the PC, it may work then. It is just a magic trick. >> >> >> >>sTS> Alex >> >>sTS> sB Tech Support >> >>--- >>[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] >> >>The PART-15.ORG smartBridges Discussion List >>To Join: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type subscribe >>smartBridges <yournickname> >>To Remove: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type unsubscribe >>smartBridges) >>Archives: http://archives.part-15.org DP> The PART-15.ORG smartBridges Discussion List DP> To Join: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type subscribe smartBridges <yournickname> DP> To Remove: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type unsubscribe smartBridges) DP> Archives: http://archives.part-15.org DP> --- DP> [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] -- Best regards, Barry mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] --- [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] The PART-15.ORG smartBridges Discussion List To Join: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type subscribe smartBridges <yournickname> To Remove: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type unsubscribe smartBridges) Archives: http://archives.part-15.org The PART-15.ORG smartBridges Discussion List To Join: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type subscribe smartBridges <yournickname> To Remove: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type unsubscribe smartBridges) Archives: http://archives.part-15.org
