Program a ChamII+ with PSP v2.0 ----I think not...

[Bobodude]

I have been trying to do message programing on a ChamII+ with PSP v 2.0 with no success.  When I connect to the Cham with a laptop, selecting CON 1 as the type on the main menu, I get a good connection in that I can download various items with no errors, IE controller test modes, JP info and date and time.  When I hit the F1 send key, the led display shows LOADING... message for a few seconds and then goes back to displaying the current jackpot amount. So I know I am talking to the logic board ok using the modified serial cable with pins 1 and 5 tied together at the logic board end.  What I have is a real problem understanding why the files that are called out for in the ChammII+ user manual are different from the files that PSP is sending. The Cham manual dated Aug 17, 2005, chapter 5 states that the files are backgrnd.bat and jpwinX.bat with supporting files with pdf  and fnt extentions. Using the Windows Download program, I can see that the files in the ROM C drive are identical files.  But the PSP program on page 4, Message programing, wants to download ****.DO files. When I hit F1 send, the PSP happily downloads the files to the logic board but after board resets, nothing happens. My current jackpot amount just sits there and changes colors as usual.  The ChamII+ does not recognize these files.  I want to program the board to show text messages and then go back to the jackpot amount for a period of time and just cycle between them. I am really missing something here but apparently people out there are programming this guy ok.  My bootup display shows  Drive A:, Drive B:, Drive C:, ROM Test....., Ver STA 2.07, Save to Ram C:, Show Load=Yes, Show C1=No, Symbol=$, Sound=Disabled, Proto=Con2, GrpAdd=255, IDadd=64, JP Limit=Yes, RTRAddr=Off, #Disply=1, JPGrp=SA, Mfile1=5, ODSspeed=5, Font=ODMTR8W, and Mid=00000.  So what are the correct files for the ChamII+ and what program will download them? Or is the ROM ver too old?  Help anyone...

[Bobodude]

OK, just found one gotcha in that my Mfile was a 5 instead of a 0. It now will recognize the jpot.do file.  However, on download, the PSP also loads the demo.do file which is now displaying all of the differnet display modes. I can't seem to find a way to remove this file or shut it off. It is stuck on this file even after power downs. Any suggestions?

[rickhunter]

The chamII+ does not support messages in that way.  Messaging is only supported in linked configurations with a con2 controller.  In the mikohn thread I posted a workaround which involves heavily changing the jackpot.do file to include the message you want plus the jackpot information.  Everything is done out of the one file, and you must manually configure the chamII+ to use "M-file=0" internally.  I also posted on that thread my sample jackpot.do file that you can edit at your leisure.

Here's the thread that was imported from the old site explaining the situation.

[rickhunter]

There's a "re-birth" function that restores all settings back to factory default if all else fails.  I don't remember exactly how I got around the demo.do file (It's been a while since I've programmed my chamII+), but I could swear there was an option to not send it in PSP.

[knagl]

It's been ages since I programmed mine, but I thought I had to select "old" from the PSP menu to program it?  If it's working when you select CON1, though, then I guess that's just fine.

Is there an option in the ChamII+ configuration menu to "show demo.do"?  I can't remember, and I'm just grasping at straws right now.  You're close, though, and making great progress -- I'm sure you'll get it solved soon!

[Slottex]

Kevin, The only way i can program my Cham II 's is using Old  on the PSP !

[knagl]

Kevin, The only way i can program my Cham II 's is using Old  on the PSP !

Thank you for confirming that my brain isn't totally rusty, Danny.   

[Bobodude]

The chamII+ does not support messages in that way.  Messaging is only supported in linked configurations with a con2 controller.  In the mikohn thread I posted a workaround which involves heavily changing the jackpot.do file to include the message you want plus the jackpot information.  Everything is done out of the one file, and you must manually configure the chamII+ to use "M-file=0" internally.  I also posted on that thread my sample jackpot.do file that you can edit at your leisure.

Here's the thread that was imported from the old site explaining the situation.

I think you forgot the link to your post.  I would be very interested in your sample file. I created a modiified jpot.do but the Cham is reading the demo.do first. I did change mfile to a 0 and that caused demo.do to reapeat and repeat.  I wish there was a way to flush it. I even F1 sent a empty demo.do file and it still continues to show the original demo.do.

[rickhunter]

here it is...

http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=184.0

[StatFreak]

Don't forget that the CHAMII+ has a nasty habit of only uploading the (modified) jackpot.do file immediately following a reboot.

If you make changes and send them to the unit but don't see the changes reflected in the message, kill the power to the CHAMII+ and restart it, then press <F1> right after the boot sequence ends. Many of us have found that this must be done each and every time we want to upload a change to the file.

[Foster]

The way I programmed my Cham II+ was to append my text to end of the default jpot.do.
Starting with a new block command.
Another thing 1 press F1 like 10 times or more until the new jpot.do filea is transferred and is working.
 

[Bobodude]

Don't forget that the CHAMII+ has a nasty habit of only uploading the (modified) jackpot.do file immediately following a reboot.

If you make changes and send them to the unit but don't see the changes reflected in the message, kill the power to the CHAMII+ and restart it, then press <F1> right after the boot sequence ends. Many of us have found that this must be done each and every time we want to upload a change to the file.

Thanks Rickhunter for the file. I take it that the brackets around every function key are just there for looks?  I don't see them in any default files.

OK Now i got the whole entire picture. I have never tried loading files right after a boot. Yeh the jackpot info will load anytime but nothing else will change. I will try the load after reboot trick.  Ya know, the manual for the ChamII+ is so lame it is pitaful. It explains programing in Chptr 5 but there is no way to load these bat or pdf files using PSP. Why do they have that in there...... just to confuse everybody? Besides the PSP program is a dos program right out of the 80's.  You would think they could have done better than that.  One last question ... what is the sequence of files read by the ChamII+ at bootup?  If the demo.do is read first, then why not just modify that file instead of the jpot.do? Who cares what file it is that does the job?  Oh what fun this is.

[stayouttadabunker]

  You gotta love it or hate it!
Personally, I just like learning how these old creatures work more than I like to play them...
You're right, there are outta da eighties...but so are CHAM boards and the machines!
The documentation of every single CHAM board and PSP program is just not available to us homeowners.
People either threw that stuff into the garbage or the casino employees
are just plain not allowed to share to the public this type of copy-righted information.
Remember, you are dealing with machine that exchanges
billions of dollars in an industry that just plain thinks you have no business to stick your nose into!
Learning how these machines work is not as easy as walking into Radio Shack and
paying money to an cashier to activate your TracFone.
Much of the information we have has taken years to compile from thousands of sources.
Be very thankful you have whatever information you have in your hand...
it will be about all you will get for years to come until we find
some more reading material and documentation.

[knagl]

I take it that the brackets around every function key are just there for looks?

I think he did that to distinguish "button presses" versus letters.  (ie.  ESC  vs.  [ESC])  You are correct, you would not type the brackets into the file.

Besides the PSP program is a dos program right out of the 80's.  You would think they could have done better than that.

Nowadays it's rather ancient, but as Bunker said, this is old technology that we're working with!  Despite the fact that some of these meters and signs can still be found in casinos, they were created many, many years ago.  Sure, it would have been nice if there was a newer method made to program them, but using the old tools for the old technology still works.  For their age, I'm actually really impressed with what they're able to do.


For what it's worth, I, too, have to send the new jpot.do file right after the boot sequence finishes in order for it to "take".  One tip I remember someone previously posting is to put a unique number at the start of your jpot.do message when you're editing it as a way of confirming on the sign that it has received the latest edit of your message (change the number each time you make a change and re-upload it to the sign).  Once you're satisfied with the message, then remove that number, upload one final time, and you'll have your final product.

[Bobodude]

I have now found that if I enter the PSP as OLD, I can upload at will. It will upload everytime, showing me a Loading.... message. But I did a stupid thing. Thinking I could get the board to ignore the demo.do file, I sent a demo.do file that was empty. WHAT A MISTAKE THAT WAS. Now it boots up normally then shows a blank display for 30 seconds then reboots. Not only that but when I slide the config switch on the board to config position, nothing happens.....No config screen...it just goes about its merry way booting and rebooting. Just when I was making head way by programming the demo.do file and having my message travel across the screen.  Geez bad luck just won't leave me alone.  I think the only thing I can try is remove the ram so it won't find the empty demo.do file and I can then get to the hardware config screen to change the Mfile back to 5. Any easy way to erase the C: ram drive?  Birth won't do it. 

[stayouttadabunker]

Demo.do really only plays when you press F5 only when you're in the programming page.
If you wanted to shut it off ( the demo) after you've started it,
then all you had to do is hit F1 when on that same page.
Now by erasing the demo.do file - you've screwed up the PSP program
that's presently installed on your computer..
Here's a fix.>>>

Go into your computer, find all the files associated with PSP V2.0 and
delete them from your computer.
When you have deleted everything...I mean everything...
go back to the NLG "Submit a New File" section and
re-download a fresh copy of the PSP V2.0 program onto your computer's hard drive.
The new PSP download will run correctly...

[knagl]

On the Supreme, I found that you can force it to clear its RAM by doing the following.  I can't promise that it'll work with the ChamII+, but if you're out of other ideas (try Bunker's idea first) it's worth a shot.

- Unplug the power
- Move the configuration slider switch to the "config" position (in the direction that the arrow on the board points to)
- Hold down BOTH of the buttons normally used in the config menus
- While holding both buttons, plug the power back in
- Release the buttons once you start seeing some signs of life/clearing RAM on the display.

If it works, you'll see a message that it's clearing the RAM.  On the Supreme it takes a while (3-5 minutes) to finish, while displaying various messages and even a failure message at one point.  Leave it plugged in and be patient.  It should eventually reboot and bring you to the config menu (since the switch is in the config position).  It should then be back to its factory defaults.  You'll likely have to change it to use MFILE 0 and be stand-alone again.

[Bobodude]

Demo.do really only plays when you press F5 only when you're in the programming page.
If you wanted to shut it off ( the demo) after you've started it,
then all you had to do is hit F1 when on that same page.
Now by erasing the demo.do file - you've screwed up the PSP program
that's presently installed on your computer..
Here's a fix.>>>

Go into your computer, find all the files associated with PSP V2.0 and
delete them from your computer.
When you have deleted everything...I mean everything...
go back to the NLG "Submit a New File" section and
re-download a fresh copy of the PSP V2.0 program onto your computer's hard drive.
The new PSP download will run correctly...

No, I didn't erase the demo.do file in the PSP directory. It is still there but I modified it with the editor to contain NO characters. I also tried multiple F1 reloads that did not change anything, the demo kept playing. The thing is in the manual it states that the demo will only play when you hit F5, which it did. It also states that F5 does not load the demo.do file into RAM. Then why did continue to play even after multiple power ups and F1 downloads? Repeating my first gripe, the manual sucks and is nebulus about just about eveything.  What a challenge.

Thanks Knagl, your ram clear worked. I am now able to get back into config menu. I think I will clear and reload PSP with all default files and STAY AWAY from the F5 key!

[Firebird]

I have a chamII+ that I want to program the mess.do file to run when the machine sits idle for more than 2 minutes like it says in the manual, but every time I send the command on page 2 of PSP turning the attract mode on, I load the page again and the setting is back off again. The chamII+ manual says this option is supposed to work on this board and I want to program some messages into it to run only when the machine is idle. Does anyone know why this option is not staying enabled on the chamII+? any help would be great.

[StatFreak]

As far as I know, the only file that works in the CHAM II+ is the jackpot.do.

Contrary to its name, it is not the message that is displayed when a jackpot is hit, but rather is displayed as long as the jackpot has NOT hit (go figure). There is no concept of an idle message for the CHAM II+, so it is important to program your jackpot.do file with several jackpot tokens paragraphs (♣8, or whatever it is {CRS}) or you will never see the progressive amount.

Also note that the CHAM II+ is notorious for failing to upload changes to the jackpot.do file unless the file is sent immediately following a cold boot. Therefore, SOP is to pull the power, reconnect it, wait for the boot sequence to end, and immediately press the <F1> key, every time you make a change that you want to upload.