Passive probing of JTAG programming of a uC

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The discussion centers on troubleshooting JTAG programming failures of a microcontroller in a new version of a test fixture, despite no apparent changes to the JTAG connections or circuitry. The user seeks advice on passive monitoring tools to compare successful and unsuccessful programming data streams, mentioning past experience with an HP logic analyzer and the availability of a TotalPhase Beagle analyzer. Issues with programming have been linked to potential misalignments of pogo pins in the fixture and changes in decoupling capacitors. Suggestions include checking PCB artwork for unintended changes and updating device drivers for the test fixture. The conversation highlights the importance of thorough testing and monitoring to resolve JTAG connectivity problems.
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I'm working on an old test fixture that uses JTAG to program a microcontroller (uC) and its Flash memory chip on production PC Board Assemblies. The programming works fine with an old version of the PCBAs, but for some reason it is failing with a new version of the PCBA that should have had no changes to the JTAG connections, uC or Flash memory chip circuitry.

I'd like to passively monitor the JTAG programming stream to compare the passing and failing datastreams. Does anybody know a good tool or Pod or other way to do this? I've used an old HP logic analyzer in the past to do such probing for short datastreams, but the serial-to-parallel conversion is a bit of a pain for a vanilla tool without some formatting capability.

The JTAG programming Pod I'm using is the TI MSP-FETU430IF (and the Gang programming equivalent), and the uC is the TI MSP430F5437A with external serial Flash memory. I do have a TotalPhase Beagle SCI/SPI Serial Analyzer Pod available, if there is some way to adapt it to JTAG...

Thanks for any ideas.

https://msharmavikram.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/msp-fet430uif.jpg
msp-fet430uif.jpg
 
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berkeman said:
The programming works fine with an old version of the PCBAs, but for some reason it is failing with a new version of the PCBA that should have had no changes to the JTAG connections, uC or Flash memory chip circuitry.

Does it fail all attempts to program them? If so I'd want someone to check the PCB artwork for unintended changes in those areas.

In the distant past I've had issues with changes to decoupling capacitors affecting programming.
 
I am able to program the new devices just fine at my desk using my TI programming Pod. But the programming fails in the Mfg Test Fixture with an error complaining that the device uC JTAG ID is wrong (which I know is not true from my testing at my desk). I suspect some tiny misalignment of the pogo pins in the fixture and the new layout, but visually the connections look good.
 
I've used a Saleae for this. Their software is amazing. They have a bunch of protocols already but it is very easy to add your own as well.

https://support.saleae.com/hc/en-us/articles/208666936-Joint-Test-Action-Group-JTAG-
https://support.saleae.com/hc/en-us/sections/201990583-Supported-Protocols
https://www.saleae.com
 
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