forums.ps2dev.org

hno · Joined: 10 Apr 2004 Posts: 7

Is it known which is wich of the CTS/RTS pads, or where/if these are reflected in the SIO registers?

I am planning on building a cable for debugging/tracing purposes and is planning on utilizing the higher speeds, where CTS/RTS plays a vital (but not critical) role.

mrbrown · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 1536

Looking at http://www.ocgnet.org/0xd6/ee_rxd_and_txd.jpg, if you count starting at EE_TXD and go to the left, RTS and CTS are pads 3 and 4 respectively. Please verify that though, as I havent :).

If you do build a cable that utilizes those signals, please let us know about it. Oh, it shouldn't be too hard to find RTS and CTS in the SIO registers.

hno · Joined: 10 Apr 2004 Posts: 7

Thanks for the clarification.

I have the hardware soldered and ready done, and will wire it into the PS2 shortly. Based on the MAX3322E. Was a good experience in sm soldering.

redcoat · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 21

I've built the SIO board and soldered the wires to the PS2's mainboard (v4 afaik). Trying to solder to a 'via' (approx. 1/2 millimeter in diameter) is definitely a nerve-racking experience, especially when you know that too much heat will destroy the 'via' and possibly your PS2 too :S.

Both the PS2 and SIO board appear to be functioning. However, the PC doesn't receive any data--yes, I verified that the PC's COM port was working ;).

I used a RS232 break-out box (with LEDs) to verify that there does appear to be data coming out of the EE (via the SIO board) after reset, but the signal appears to be too weak (-5.5V). Based on the RS232 info. (see http://www.zytrax.com/tech/layer_1/cables/tech_rs232.htm) -3V to +3V is the 'dead area' so I infer that -5.5V to +5.5V would be strong enough to constitute a signal(?)

Using a digital multimeter I checked the voltages that appeared on each pin of the MAX3323E IC. Do the values below look correct?

I'm in the process of building a second SIO board. Based on the MAX3323E datasheet I figured that I would try using a 0.22uF cap. for C1, and 1uF cap. for C2-C4. I'm dubious that this will increase the PC-side Tx & Rx voltages, but I suspect that one (or more) of the capacitors on the first SIO board is faulty.

Thoughts/ideas/tests/suggestions?

(all voltages are based from GND [pin 15] which I assume is 0V)

C1+ (pin 1) = +6.07V
C1- (pin 3) = +3.43V

C2+ (pin 4) = +6.07V
C2- (pin 5) = -0.05V

V+ (pin 2) = +6.10V
V- (pin 6) = -5.48V

Tout1 (pin 7) = -5.47V [PC-RXD]
Rin1 (pin 8 ) = -0.91V [PC-TXD]

Tin1 (pin 10) = +1.67V [EE_TXD]
Rout1 (pin 9) = +1.67V [EE_RXD]

TXenable (pin 11) = +3.46V
RXenable (pin 12) = +3.46V

VL = +1.67V
!SHDN = +3.46V
Vcc/Vcore = +3.46V

TyRaNiD · Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 918

From what I have seen changing the caps will only help for differring Vcc voltages, at any rate perhaps your serial port doesn't like the voltage levels, RS232 as far as I remember is supposed to be +/-12V, however I doubt that the MAX chip get those kind of levels, have you tried it on a different pc ?

redcoat · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 21

Eureka! It's working! And, more importantly, I understand why it wasn't working before.

Caveat: If you are following mrbrown's instructions from his web site (see http://www.0xd6.org/ps2-ee-sio.html) or his chapter in the book "Hardware Hacking" (see Chptr. 9 of http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1932266836/qid=1095575718/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-2057502-5534309) you *must* use a "Modem Cable" (PC-to-Modem) to connect your PS2 SIO board to a PC.

My problem was I had assumed that the PS2 SIO board would be DTE, as is the PC--after all it is a computer, right?
So I had been using a "Null Modem Cable" (PC-to-PC). I was wrong mrbrown has the PS2 as a DCE. My bad <blush>
Hope mrbrown see this and add this tidbit of information to his web page. ;)

Personally, I prefer to have the PS2 SIO wired as DTE (computer) so I altered the wiring from the MAX3323E to the DB9 pins:

PC_RXD [Tout1 pin 7] to DB9 pin 3
PC_TXD [Rin1 pin 8] to DB9 pin 2

Just to emphasize that this wiring is the complete opposite of mrbrown's!

For anyone wonder what the heck DTE or DCE are please read up on RS232 stuff at http://www.zytrax.com/tech/layer_1/cables/tech_rs232.htm

BTW: For the technically anal amongst you, did you know that there is no such connector as a DB9 (9-pin serial connector), it is actually a DE9 connector. Don't believe me? Check out this page http://epl.meei.harvard.edu/Engineering/d-subminiature.html

Drakonite · Site Admin Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 989

Guest · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:21 am Post subject:

Drakonite · Site Admin Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 989

redcoat · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 21

redcoat · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 21

Just a quick update, I discovered that the wire to the EE's Rx pin had detached on my PS2. After 14 attempts I finally got the wire, via, and solder to make friends and stay together.

As mrbrown says "gently scratch the surface of the via to remove the soldermask that covers it." Even after doing this don't be surprized if the solder joint doesn't take first-time. Be patient, be very, very patient!

If you need source code to test that you have two-way communication with your new EE serial port, please see this article: http://forums.ps2dev.org/viewtopic.php?t=643

Treat · Joined: 26 Sep 2004 Posts: 16

I have little experince when it comes to hardware hacking ( i have aldready broken one ps2 trying to mod it =P and it didnt even require soldering LoL i suck ).

Tho this cable is so useful i just must try to build one. But i cannot find the MAX3323EEPE anywhere except the MAXIM homepage (they want $50 for shipping eh ....) So i was wondering if it will work with a MAX3227E ??? From what i can tell it does pretty much the same thing.

Better yet anyone know where i can get the MAX3323EEPE or a possible replacement in sweden?

blackdroid · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 564 Location: Sweden

check www.elfa.se they have MAX 3227E ( and I bet hno bought em from elfa aswell :)
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Kung VU

redcoat · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 21

tumnes · Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Posts: 23

I understand that the serial cable can be used to print out debug messages from the kernel, at this point is there any way to have homebrew programs print to the serial connection terminal?

[edit] A question for redcoat
Is there any advantages/disadvantages to making the ps2 DTE, or is it really just the same thing?

Drakonite · Site Admin Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 989

Yes, homebrew programs can have full access to the EE-SIO.
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Makeshift Development

redcoat · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 21

[edit] A question for redcoat
Is there any advantages/disadvantages to making the ps2 DTE, or is it really just the same thing?[/quote]

A simplified answer is that they are the same, but the Rx and Tx are swapped around.

On my setup I have a 9-pin male connector sticking out of the top of the PS2 (the same connector as you'd see on the back of a PC) so I can connect the PS2 and my PC/laptop using a "null modem" serial cable. This arrangement is convenient to me, but differs from mrbrown's design.

Derek8588 · Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 62

Once u have the serial cable properly installed... what program do u use on ur computer to view the assembly code being run on the PS2? Where could i get it? thx

Guest · Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 2:09 pm Post subject:

You would open it like you would any serial port or terminal.

On a PC, Minicom or some similar terminal program should work for Windows.

On Linux or BSD, I just use tip (actually a related command, I just forget what it is).

But as for viewing assembly code, not sure what you mean. The kernel and some commercial softwares output debugging messages typically. These are messages along the lines of "Well, doing this now..." or "This is started / this is complete" or even "Just saw this value, WTF?".

Maybe commercial debugging software suites will use the serial port for other information, but you won't be using any of that I gather.

Derek8588 · Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 62

What i mean is... isnt the serial cable used to view the assembly code on the ps2? or could it be used to do so?

Guest · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: Assembly

Silentkilla · Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 4

socom · Joined: 28 May 2006 Posts: 1

longboy · Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

Hello
The 3323EEPE is becoming hard to get hold of. What alternatives are there? I.E. what features of the EEPE made it useful? There are plenty of relatives of the chip; I guess that low-voltage operation is key, however the EEPE has high-impedance inputs - is this required?
I'm looking at the 3232CPE as an alternative; can anybody tell me if this is suitable?
cheers...

Saotome · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 182

I'm using an ST3232 (more precisely ST3232CN). It has exactly the same pinout as the MAX one, and works without problems.
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infj

Pasky · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

Sorry to bring this back from the dead but a couple of questions...

Is there a link or mirror to the old site? It's not up anymore and archive.org says it marked for blocking.

Is it possible to do some live debugging with this cable?

Thanks.

tesla · Joined: 26 May 2008 Posts: 4 Location: /dev/urandom

Hi,