Having fun with the new MPLAB® Xpress PIC16F18446 Evaluation Board or lets call it... XpressFrankenBoard
10 real easy to use demos! See the demos on GitHub @ https://goo.gl/ktP2D4 , also includes documentation... as this documentation was hard to find.
Based these demonstrations on what we had from Chris Roper and Bill Roth - cheers gents.
Demo #10. A serial demo. The XpressFrankenBoard has an odd initialisation. Seems to needs kick into the USB CDC driver to start communications. This could be a quirk here, or, something more sinister - I cannot isolate. If you have the same issue then I will open up a ticket with support.
Why XpressFrankenBoard. When you merge two companies you do not typically see products that reflect the two companies… this has a bit of Microchip, a bit of ATMEL and the merger it is not quite right yet in this board.
Enjoy XpressFrankenBoard. It is a bit of a puzzle to me - clearly Microchip are up to something with the new debugger port, the odd USB CDC driver and the missing Windows drivers.
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The XpressFrankenBoard has an odd initialisation. Seems to needs kick into the USB CDC driver to start communications.
That is an idiosyncrosy of the EDBG
This notefrom the documentation is the issue you are seeing:
"Note that the UART pins of the EDBG are tri-stated when no terminal program is connected to the Virtual COM Port on the computer. This mechanism relies on the terminal program sending a DTR signal."
Could be the root cause, but, I have terminal connection at all times, the port is transmitting garbage, changing baud rate fixes it.
And, the RX and TX are different pinout for board and the USB/CDC. Good job we have PPS.
I wonder if they know this not the norm or is this the new norm where they don't bother to provide documentation, operations require new tools and only one operating system is supported.
No wonder the VP of 8bit Business Unit resigned.
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and, just to catch new users..... the LED is ON when the Port is Low.
Explain that to a new user. But, it must be ok as they put it in the documentation. .... Oh that document is not provided. They provide a URL to a totally different board.
Frankenstien lives.
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12 real easy to use demos! See the demos on GitHub @ https://goo.gl/ktP2D4 , also includes documentation.
10 from the orginal post plus:
A complete working GLCD demonstration - you will need to upgrage the firmware on your board to make this work.
A CLC demo.... no operational code to turn the LED on and off. COOL!
Last edit: Anobium 2018-07-10
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I think demo 11- ssd1306 is wrong file.
The ssd1306 demo you posted in the forum has led on/off and config but the github demo doesn't.
Also unlockpps and lockpps are missing.
Last edit: Anobium 2018-07-10
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No. Stan. 11 GLCD OLED Hardware I2C for SSD1306.gcb is it the correct file. The demo I posted previously was a test for the hardware bug and all that stuff is not needed.
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How much of a health warning was the list of bugs?
The board is a new product and as such there will be issues and that is the price you pay for evaluation products. The price is fustration.
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"A complete working GLCD demonstration - you will need to upgrage the firmware on your board to make this work."
How?
I just filled in a microchip email survey. I mentioned the free board was messing hex files.
Will it be re-released...working?
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I have atmel studio on a desk top pc but like mplabx, I've never used it.
Does this work via usb lead?
I'll downdoad the files then mess up my board using unfamiliar procedures... I don't care anynore!
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I tried to upgrade the firmware on a jytech scope and now the bootloader don't work and the device don't show up in the flasher.
Fills one with confidence.
Let you know if it worked.
Who recommended xpress boards for beginners.
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When programming the board you should use LVP=ON in the Programmer Preferences/Required Config. Then, Great Cow BASIC will automatically adapt the HEX to handle LVP=ON. As follows:
Having fun with the new MPLAB® Xpress PIC16F18446 Evaluation Board or lets call it... XpressFrankenBoard
10 real easy to use demos! See the demos on GitHub @ https://goo.gl/ktP2D4 , also includes documentation... as this documentation was hard to find.
Based these demonstrations on what we had from Chris Roper and Bill Roth - cheers gents.
Demo #10. A serial demo. The XpressFrankenBoard has an odd initialisation. Seems to needs kick into the USB CDC driver to start communications. This could be a quirk here, or, something more sinister - I cannot isolate. If you have the same issue then I will open up a ticket with support.
Why XpressFrankenBoard. When you merge two companies you do not typically see products that reflect the two companies… this has a bit of Microchip, a bit of ATMEL and the merger it is not quite right yet in this board.
Enjoy XpressFrankenBoard. It is a bit of a puzzle to me - clearly Microchip are up to something with the new debugger port, the odd USB CDC driver and the missing Windows drivers.
That is an idiosyncrosy of the EDBG
This notefrom the documentation is the issue you are seeing:
"Note that the UART pins of the EDBG are tri-stated when no terminal program is connected to the Virtual COM Port on the computer. This mechanism relies on the terminal program sending a DTR signal."
(Atmel-42096-Microcontrollers-Embedded-Debugger_User-Guide.pdf)
Cheers
Chris
Last edit: Chris Roper 2018-06-30
Could be the root cause, but, I have terminal connection at all times, the port is transmitting garbage, changing baud rate fixes it.
And, the RX and TX are different pinout for board and the USB/CDC. Good job we have PPS.
I wonder if they know this not the norm or is this the new norm where they don't bother to provide documentation, operations require new tools and only one operating system is supported.
No wonder the VP of 8bit Business Unit resigned.
and, just to catch new users..... the LED is ON when the Port is Low.
Explain that to a new user. But, it must be ok as they put it in the documentation. .... Oh that document is not provided. They provide a URL to a totally different board.
Frankenstien lives.
More demos added!
12 real easy to use demos! See the demos on GitHub @ https://goo.gl/ktP2D4 , also includes documentation.
10 from the orginal post plus:
A complete working GLCD demonstration - you will need to upgrage the firmware on your board to make this work.
A CLC demo.... no operational code to turn the LED on and off. COOL!
Last edit: Anobium 2018-07-10
I think demo 11- ssd1306 is wrong file.
The ssd1306 demo you posted in the forum has led on/off and config but the github demo doesn't.
Also unlockpps and lockpps are missing.
Last edit: Anobium 2018-07-10
No. Stan. 11 GLCD OLED Hardware I2C for SSD1306.gcb is it the correct file. The demo I posted previously was a test for the hardware bug and all that stuff is not needed.
You could have mentioned that earlier... I thought it was normal pic stuff :)
serious, that's why I don't use pics.
How much of a health warning was the list of bugs?
The board is a new product and as such there will be issues and that is the price you pay for evaluation products. The price is fustration.
"A complete working GLCD demonstration - you will need to upgrage the firmware on your board to make this work."
How?
I just filled in a microchip email survey. I mentioned the free board was messing hex files.
Will it be re-released...working?
Ignore my warning in the folder- follow the process I documented yesterday. It works.
https://github.com/Anobium/Great-Cow-BASIC-Demonstration-Sources/tree/master/Vendor%20Boards/MPLAB%20Xpress%20PIC16F18446/BoardUpdate001
Last edit: Anobium 2018-07-10
XpressFrankenBoard lives!!!
Last edit: Anobium 2018-07-10
I have atmel studio on a desk top pc but like mplabx, I've never used it.
Does this work via usb lead?
I'll downdoad the files then mess up my board using unfamiliar procedures... I don't care anynore!
This is not a debate about what IDE/Tool you like. :-)
This is a process that you need to follow. You cannot upgrade the firmware from MPLAB-X.
The instructions do assume the board is connected via a USB cable.
These are procedures that you need to follow.
Stan is near the leading edge. Stan is not happy.
I tried to upgrade the firmware on a jytech scope and now the bootloader don't work and the device don't show up in the flasher.
Fills one with confidence.
Let you know if it worked.
Who recommended xpress boards for beginners.
Not sure what to do.
download zip file where
in studio dos box do what. change directory to atfw.exe dir ?
Please help.
Programming:
When programming the board you should use
LVP=ONin the Programmer Preferences/Required Config. Then, Great Cow BASIC will automatically adapt the HEX to handleLVP=ON. As follows:Last edit: Anobium 2018-07-11