chipKIT® Development Platform

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Microchip PIC32 Starter KIT?

Created Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:14:49 +0000 by fabitencourt

fabitencourt

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:14:49 +0000

One of the board options is the Microchip PIC32 Starter KIT. How can we use this board (I have one) ? And is it necessary to download the bootloader and how ? Which are the differences and uses ?

Thanks

Mark

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:11:24 +0000

Yes all of the microchip starter kits are now supported.

The bootloader needs to be burned in using MPLAB. The entire MPLAB-X project folder is on github. I think anyone can download the beta of MPLAB-X. [url]http://www.microchip.com/mplabx[/url]

You can use that to burn the bootloader.

I am also working on support of the graphics card that attaches to the some of the starter kits.

I am also working on other microchip boards such as those from [url]http://www.mikroe.com/[/url]

Mark

fabitencourt

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:39:04 +0000

This is great !!!

I'm really happy to know this, I have many development boards from microchip...

But now my question is, where is the bootloader ? I allready have mplabx installed in this Ubuntu computer, and I am learnig how to use it. I've already ported some programs to mplabx and to use with mpide (Arduino) I need to know how to program the Bootloader from mpide to mplabx ?

Thanks.

Mark

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:22:37 +0000

The bootloader is on github [url]https://github.com/chipKIT32/pic32-Arduino-Bootloader[/url]

download and then do new project from existing project, select the project, then select which board you want, and program.

I hope to find time to do a tutorial about it

Mark

fabitencourt

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:18:20 +0000

I've built this program successfully on MPLABX and it seemed ok, but when I turned MPLABX off and MPIDE on it doesn't see any Serial to connect. Have I done something wrong ?

Thanks.

Mark

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:23:27 +0000

Depending on which starter kit you have, you have different options

I use an FTDI cable and connect it to the uart pins directly

If you have an Explorer16, it has an RS-232 DB9 connector on UARt2, the bootloader is configured to use uart2 IF you specify Explorer16, you can use either an old fashion com port cable on com1 or a USB -> DB9 serial cable.

Mark

fabitencourt

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:59:19 +0000

I understood for my explorer 16, haven't tried yet.

But the board I was trying to use have only one small usb connector. I think it was one of the first PIC32 starter kit, no second usb and no ethernet only three buttons and three leds (or four leds).

It doesn't have a ftdi chip on it but a 18LF4550. Do you think I can use this usb or I'd better look for the UART pins?

Thanks.

Mark

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:22:01 +0000

I started some docs about this on the wiki

[url]http://www.chipkit.cc/wiki/index.php?title=Running_on_Microchip_Starter_Kits[/url]

KM6VV

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:08:54 +0000

I just realized that I have a PIC32 Starter Kit!

So I'll be interested in running it from the UNO32 IDE.

If one were to patch up the boot vector and just load the HEX file, can one just use a ICD3 or Real ICE and program the chip? Either on UNO32 or the PIC32 Starter Kit?

Seems like one could use the Microchip PIC 32 compiler, or the new UNO32 IDE on either platform. Make any sense? Would want to port some library functions for the Microchip compiler.

What would you say "wiring" and the other stuff actually adds to the venue? I see a modified print function, some portable pin I/O functions, EEPROM; I'm sure there's more in "core" (Just started looking). Just super portable? Lots of LIBs? Something else?

Not criticizing, just trying to figure out what I'm getting here! Maybe there's a "features" list somewhere?

Thanks!

Alan KM6VV

caroper

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:35:15 +0000

The application I am working on used an Arduino Mega 2560 as a prototype and I have been asked to transfer the code to the PIC32 platform.

I have a PIC32 Ethernet Starter KIT, so I am very keen to use the mpide Library's with it rather than waiting for a chipKIT MAX32. (I need this in a hurry and shipping to Africa is a bit slow, though I have got boards on order)

Having read this thread I have my hopes up, but have two more questions:

  1. Is it possible to use the Starter kit's built in debugger/programmer to burn the boot-loader ? Unfortunately I have a PICKit 2 but no PICKit 3 as I thought it redundant with the Starter Kit Board.

alternatively:

  1. is it possible to use/port the Library's from MPIDE in the MPLAB IDE and then build and program from there, rather than using the MPIDE to build the sketch?

Thanks in anticipation

Cheers Chris

rtestardi

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:37:50 +0000

  1. Is it possible to use the Starter kit's built in debugger/programmer to burn the boot-loader ? Unfortunately I have a PICKit 2 but no PICKit 3 as I thought it redundant with the Starter Kit Board.

Yes, most certainly. You can either use the normal chipKIT bootloader and you'll have to wire up a serial port, or you can use a USB bootloader and set a button on the Starter Kit to be your "PRG" switch to enter the bootloader. You can see the discussion here on the USB bootloader: [url]http://www.chipkit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=166[/url]

To use the USB bootloader, you probably want to rebuild it in MPLAB X and just use the "default" configuration and change the processor to the MX795 and redefine your heartbeat LED and PRG switch in the avrbl.c. Then you can program it to the board by just selecting the Starter Kit tool.

  1. is it possible to use/port the Library's from MPIDE in the MPLAB IDE and then build and program from there, rather than using the MPIDE to build the sketch?

I have built code in MPLAB and then downloaded it to the chipKIT bootloader as described here: [url]http://www.chipkit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=97[/url]

But maybe you're asking to do this without the chipKIT bootloader at all? If so, the source files for all the libraries are actually in your MPIDE install directory -- you can certainly copy them into MPLAB, with the normal amount of pain associated with an operation like that (those source files may include C++, which you'll need to C-ify to use in MPLAB, I believe, and a small number of other environmental differences with paths, etc.).

caroper

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:42:55 +0000

Yes, most certainly. You can either use the normal chipKIT bootloader and you'll have to wire up a serial port,...

Thanks Rich,

I already have UART2 connected to a MEGA 2560, acting in pass through mode as a USB to Serial converter, so as long as I can get the boot-loader into the PIC It looks like I am set to go.

You were correct on the second interpretation of my second question. I meant import the libraries. I had not considered the C++ issue so thanks for that, you have saved me countless hours in trying, especially as I am new to C programming as well. I have a Motorola / PIC assembler background so my only C exposure has been the Arduino code.

I will give it a shot and report back here for any others wishing to try it.

Cheers Chris

jhdgkss

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:48:29 +0000

HI there first of let me just let you all know iam a newbie :)

I have an Arduino and i love it. And recently i purchased a PIC 32 USB starterkit 2 and just found out about this project. So of course i what to be able to program my new board with the arduino code.

I have downloaded the bootloader code plus MPLAB X loaded the project and selected the board. However when i go to program it it says

The programmer could not be started: Please select a connected tool in Project Properties to continue. PM3PlatformTool

Iam new to MPLAB X After using the previous version what settings do i need to have to allow me to program the baord useing the normal Usb lead.

Mark

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:30:07 +0000

You have to have a programmer connected and selected. I believe the USB starter kit has an on board programmer, connect the usb cable to the DEBUG port on the board. Then, AFTER it is connected, go into MPLAB X, and go to project properties, there should be a place to select the programmer.

Mark

jhdgkss

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:48:45 +0000

HI thanks for the reply. However i am still having no luck. I have tried ICD3 PICKit3 PM3 Real ICE SKDE PIC 32 On board debug

But still no luck mplabX just keeps saying cant find programmer.

caroper

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:27:00 +0000

You have been more persistent with this than I have, so I can't really help other than to let you know you are not alone.

I gave up on mplabx almost immediately. I was climbing the wall just trying to create a project, let alone attach a debugger/programmer, and didn't have time available to learn a new IDE, especially one in Beta that probably had no support for the hardware.

I reverted to Mplab8.x which at least recognizes the Starter-kit as a debugger. I also found that the PICKIT2 standalone software supported the chip if you power the starter kit from the PICKIT2 and not from it's own usb port.

I used the PICKIT2 to take an image of the existing FLASH and then burnt the Boot loader, but unfortunately it didn't work, as MPLAB8.x then no longer recognized the Starter Kit, so I think it has to use MPLABX.

The good news is that the PICKIT2 still recognized it, so I was able to re-flash with the image I took and get MPLAB8.x to correctly recognize it again.

At this point I decided it would be quicker to write the code I needed, rather than wast time on a new tool chain, but I would still be interested to do this when I have the time to play with it.

Cheers Chris

medampudi

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:25:41 +0000

I understood for my explorer 16, haven't tried yet. But the board I was trying to use have only one small usb connector. I think it was one of the first PIC32 starter kit, no second usb and no ethernet only three buttons and three leds (or four leds). It doesn't have a ftdi chip on it but a 18LF4550. Do you think I can use this usb or I'd better look for the UART pins? Thanks.

How did you get over this problem... I was not able to find a way to connect the device even though i was able to load the bootlader into the pic32 starter board rev 1.