rowe cd-wb firmware

I have a software ..issue? with my cd-wb its running 1.3 firmware.. anyone know what is "new" firmware.. here is my glitch I assume is software problem?
on freeplay the wallbox just says 255 on the display. I assume this is for the 255 selections remaining.

if I press popular it flashes random CD/Track numbers for a while no apparent reasoning to them (i think its previous plays by the wallbox)

is there newer roms for this? anyone happen to have them?

Hi --Man,
I have never had any experience with this WB--however, if I re-call correctly the CD WB used the same CCC as did the phonograph ? --What is the part # on the CCC? The last CCC chip is 4.3 for the phono--
I am somewhat confused by the"255" as this was the old vinyl phono's "free play setting" ?
Are you sure it's a CD unit ?
Pushing the pop button should show "different" selections---these would be the "most popular" ones on the phono--and it should also program each one to play, as you push the button ?
You might try "defaulting" the CCC--

The ccc and wb seems to use different firmware.. On viewing the Eprom it's a very different contents .. But I will try popping a ccc chip in there see what happens haha!

Yes I am very sure it's a cd-wb.

I polled all the ebay sellers who have wb's and I got 1.4 back as the newest reply for people selling them.. So on the hunt for that now.. Or if anyone who happens to still run one.. What happens in free play?

Is the CCC # the same ?
Ron Rich

No the cd-wb technically isn't using a ccc like the main unit.. It's a little board with a Intel CPU and a ram and rom chip that's mostly it.. Has some settings for modifying the address and a reset button. Afaik it's a special unit dedicated to the wall boxes. I don't expect anything to happen with the ccc rom, but sounds like a fun test. One of the ebay sellers will dupe a 1.4rom for me but the price is spicy. Hoping to learn a little more about it first like is 1.4 the latest .. And do any fellow collectors happen to have the file in binary.

so I have a binary for v1.4 now. but initial reports from others show that the freeplay will indicate "255" on the secections remaining all the time. per the FSM for the unit it supports free play but no information about what the display would be.. I still feel this is a bug of sorts.. but not one that is ever going to be corrected. Since its just serial data on the rowlink there isnt much reason I cant make a audrino or something to enhance the software. looking into that.

It would be interesting to see what you could hack into the hardware and/or software.

my inital thoughts are it should be easy given some time.. after getting that CD100MP3 I understand how he did the work he did..

inital project milestones would be documenting roughly the serial commands for the rowlink heartbeat. once that is done its just messing around with serial port sniffers to watch the communications and see if its replicate-able if its clear text or easy un encoded binary communications its likely possible.. dont suppose anyone has any tech documents on reverse engineering rowlink!

anyone know if the datasynch engineering team would share info?

Mr Grumpy (aka. Ed Fisher, Datasync) might--call him and see "what kinda mood" he's in --
Do not tell him I suggested this till AFTER !! Then, PLEASE do so--
908 362-6299
Ron Rich

I will reach out to him. I just ordered a few MAX485 chips to see what the feasibility of this is without much effort. I also looked at decompiling the code for the cd-wb last night not sure how these SC80C processors work I just assumed its a 8051... need to parse thru the results.. if i can just prevent the CPU from showing the 255 and only displaying the "current playing" I think that would be a good win. however the idea of making a little PC interface or a webinterface for the jukebox is sounding fun. Think of the possibility.. a Iphone interface for your CD-100...

Hi,

Here is my experience with 255 and the CD-WB, Not sure if it will help but I thought I would post it just the same.

My CD-WB shows 255 all the time, At first it said 255 and was not working with the jukebox (selecting, etc...) I then read the manual and put all the trip switches to the Down/On position and hit that little flat white button on the computer board and all of a sudden, everything worked as expected..... Although the display still says 255, I can now select from the CD-WB and hear them and selections that are made at the jukebox play thru the CD-WB as well. When a selection is made it shows the selection made then goes back to saying 255.

That is the behavior that is intended.. I don't want that behavior I consider it a bug.. Or a failure to enhance the feature.. As it's just a memory register maxed out ... I don't know I have the chops to edit the rom (I'm gonna try anyway) to alter the behavior.. And if all else fails the other hack that I would like to accomplish now is just remove that LED display and run it off an arduino as long term there is a lot better use of time there and no one at rowe can get pissy with that method..(vs altering and distributing code they wrote)

My expected behavior is that if the replay credit was 255 then it would ignore that and just displays he currently playing title and not the credits remaining.. Since the FSM calls out using free play with the cd-wb someone had to have seen this problem and didn't care or realistically.. Who would ever put free play on permanent when you invest in a wall box.. This was after all a money maker device!

One step further is I could have the track name loaded in a program and display the current playing song by name and not by number ... A little lcd that would fit in the credit value window for example.. The 4 red lcd numbers are easily controlled by new hardware and 10 seconds of code.

We will see .. I have a decoder ordered from mouser it's in the mail and then I can get to work testing how hard this concept will be .. If I can get time... And a nice lab setup (might need to buy another ccc as my jukebox is now installed in its locations and being used) i mean the cdmp3 people did it so I should be able to at least get something to work! Think happy thoughts if I can pull it off I can make some real nice stuff I think. iPhone wall box, search your juke box. A free or cheap mp3 adapter for the jukebox. Who knows only time and some tinkering will answer ..... If you have a spare cheap ccc you want to sell me

Have you tried to contact Rowe tech support yet and discuss the issue with them? I have found them to be very helpful with older products, including sending me the TSB's and engineering drawings on older stuff.
I typically email them.

Clay

Hi Spudman,
I am wondering--can you "default" that system? I would think that the default should put it back on "coin play"--? If you have a manual , it should say how to do this--but it may be "buried" somewhere in it--as the 45 rpm model books are--
I also am thinking that the "255" is a "carry-over" from the last 45rpm CCC. On that CCC, the "255" display, indicates "free play". Ron Rich

Oh yea it works fine when on coin drop.. But I want it to work different on free play.. 255 is a special number for programming.. Why it's there..it's a maxed out credit. I just want it to work ...better you know go to 11