Reply by Steve KA5YFC June 15, 20042004-06-15
Sorry that this information is not accurate for the -R20 and above. I
have an older system and it does require the changing of the micro.

BUT the big thing that is hard to believe is that I sent this on
Thursday and it is just now coming through on Monday.

Again, sorry about the bad info on the newer PICSTART+.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve KA5YFC
Subject: RE: [piclist] Re: PIC16F84A and "This device requires firmware
version 2.1.0 or higher" message The PIC17C44 is the processor in the PICStart Plus. You need to get the
C44 and load the latest firmware into it and then replace the C44 in the
PICStart Plus. That should get rid of your error message. Then you will
be able to program all the listed chips.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Hsu
Subject: [piclist] Re: PIC16F84A and "This device requires firmware
version 2.1.0 or higher" message --- In , Chad Russel <chadrussel@y...> wrote:
> The lastest firmware versions are at the microchip site. I do not
know
> the address off hand, but will look it up if you have problems. It
is
> then a matter of downloading the hex file, buying a new 17C44,
burning
> it, and plugging it in.
>
WHAT? I need to get a PIC17C44 and then burn it? I thought the
PIC16F84A is supposed to be a widely used starter microcontroller for
newbies trying to learn microcontrollers!

Jason Hsu, AG4DG

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Reply by Jason Hsu June 11, 20042004-06-11
I just talked to Microchip technical support. (It's a good thing I
have a speakerphone, because I had to spend a lot of time on hold.)
I learned that I'm supposed to use the "download PICSTART OS" command
under the Programmer menu in MPLAB. It should give me a selection
of .hex files to choose from, but no window whatsoever popped up when
I tried this. So the Tools people at Microchip are now going to
attempt to duplicate my problem (Win 98SE, version R21 of the
PICSTART Plus, MPLAB v6.50) and try to solve it.


Reply by Allan Lane June 11, 20042004-06-11
Jason, just downloading the HEX file onto YOUR
hard-drive doesn't get the HEX file into the
PIC which is on your PicStart Plus.

The PicStart Plus has an on-board PIC, which is
used to properly cycle the lines of your
PIC-to-be-programmed. We're talking about
two PICS here. The one which needs a firmware
upgrade is the one soldered to the PicStart Plus.
The on-board PIC.

Using MPLAB, you need to download the
psfs31100.hex file FROM your PC's hard disk
into the on-board PIC. MPLAB should have an
option to do this.

--- In , "Jason Hsu" <mailinglist@j...> wrote:
> --- In , Chad Russel <chadrussel@y...> wrote:
> > Have you checked the Help > PICStart Plus menu in the program?
Mine
> > gives complete troubleshooting infomation and step by step
> instructions
> > to upgrade.
> >
> > The lastest firmware is 3.11.11 and all the upgrade info is
> available
> > at:
> > http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?
> IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId06&dDocName=en010020&part=DV003001
> >
> I already downloaded the .zip file listed and extracted the
> psf31100.hex file into C:\Program Files\MPLAB IDE\Programmers .
This
> didn't solve the problem. Is this where this file belongs? How do
I
> tell if this file is actually being used by MPLAB?
>
> > All the software revs are at:
> > http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?
> IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId95
> >
> I already have MPLAB v6.50 on my computer, and this new version
> didn't take care of the problem.





Reply by Jason Hsu June 11, 20042004-06-11
--- In , Chad Russel <chadrussel@y...> wrote:
> Have you checked the Help > PICStart Plus menu in the program? Mine
> gives complete troubleshooting infomation and step by step
instructions
> to upgrade.
>
> The lastest firmware is 3.11.11 and all the upgrade info is
available
> at:
> http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?
IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId06&dDocName=en010020&part=DV003001
>
I already downloaded the .zip file listed and extracted the
psf31100.hex file into C:\Program Files\MPLAB IDE\Programmers . This
didn't solve the problem. Is this where this file belongs? How do I
tell if this file is actually being used by MPLAB?

> All the software revs are at:
> http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?
IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId95
>
I already have MPLAB v6.50 on my computer, and this new version
didn't take care of the problem.



Reply by Chad Russel June 11, 20042004-06-11
Have you checked the Help > PICStart Plus menu in the program? Mine
gives complete troubleshooting infomation and step by step instructions
to upgrade.

The lastest firmware is 3.11.11 and all the upgrade info is available
at:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId06&dDocName=en010020&part=DV003001

All the software revs are at:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId95

Chad

--- Jason Hsu <> wrote:
> I just downloaded and ran the .exe file from the sparkfun.com site,
> but that STILL hasn't solved the problem.
>
> What's wrong with Microchip? Why can't they just have a link to all
> the firmware upgrades on the front page and put on that page the
> files to link to firmware version 2.1.0, 2.1.1, etc.? Do they fail
> to understand the concept of instant gratification?
>
> I emailed Microchip's technical support. Hopefully, they'll be able
> to point me to the firmware upgrade software I need.


=====
My software has no bugs. Only undocumented features.

__________________________________




Reply by Jason Hsu June 11, 20042004-06-11
I just downloaded and ran the .exe file from the sparkfun.com site,
but that STILL hasn't solved the problem.

What's wrong with Microchip? Why can't they just have a link to all
the firmware upgrades on the front page and put on that page the
files to link to firmware version 2.1.0, 2.1.1, etc.? Do they fail
to understand the concept of instant gratification?

I emailed Microchip's technical support. Hopefully, they'll be able
to point me to the firmware upgrade software I need.



Reply by Daryl Berryhill June 11, 20042004-06-11
you could try the PIC-MCP programmer from http://www.sparkfun.com click on "Programmer" scroll down to "MPLAB Compatible 8/14/18/28/40 Pin ZIFF+ ICS Programmer"" The one below is the USB/Serial version. They  is comparable with the PIC Start Plus form Micro-Chip. That's the one I use with MLAB Ver 6.51 and it supports all PIC's.
 perhaps the firmware upgrade will work for the your PICSTart Plus . you can go here to D/L it. 
http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorial/MCP-Upgrade/MCP-Upgrade.htm

At 10:21 PM 6/10/2004, you wrote:
I uninstalled MPLAB v6.40 and installed MPLAB v6.50. It didn't solve
the problem.  I STILL get the message "This device requires firmware
version 2.1.0 or higher" when I try to enable the programmer (never
mind trying to load something into it).  The COM port connection
seems fine, and I'm not using USB. My PICSTART Plus is the R21
edition, which is recent enough not to require another chip
(thankfully).

How do I check what version of the firmware I have? How do I know
when I have found firmware versions 02.01.00 and 02.10.01? How do I
know if MPLAB is using a certain version of the firmware? I don't
understand the firmware as well as I should.

And why doesn't MPLAB v6.50 have the right firmware for something as
basic as the PIC16F84A to begin with?

MY BACKGROUND:
I am BRAND NEW to the world of microcontrollers.  I have NO prior
experience.  I'm trying to complete a simple starter project with a
PIC16F84A, and I can't even do that so far.  I purchased the PICSTART
Plus from Digi-Key.  Either I'm having the mother of all Jessica
moments, or somebody has been smoking something nasty.  I hope it's
the former, as it would be easier for me to correct this.  Is there
a "PICSTART Plus For Dummies" reference out there?  I've tried
the "PICSTART Plus User's Guide" that came with the PICSTART Plus,
but I can't find the answer I need.  The guide is from 3 years ago,
and today's MPLAB doesn't seem to be the same as the one described in
the manual.
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Reply by Jason Hsu June 10, 20042004-06-10
I uninstalled MPLAB v6.40 and installed MPLAB v6.50. It didn't solve
the problem. I STILL get the message "This device requires firmware
version 2.1.0 or higher" when I try to enable the programmer (never
mind trying to load something into it). The COM port connection
seems fine, and I'm not using USB. My PICSTART Plus is the R21
edition, which is recent enough not to require another chip
(thankfully).

How do I check what version of the firmware I have? How do I know
when I have found firmware versions 02.01.00 and 02.10.01? How do I
know if MPLAB is using a certain version of the firmware? I don't
understand the firmware as well as I should.

And why doesn't MPLAB v6.50 have the right firmware for something as
basic as the PIC16F84A to begin with?

MY BACKGROUND:
I am BRAND NEW to the world of microcontrollers. I have NO prior
experience. I'm trying to complete a simple starter project with a
PIC16F84A, and I can't even do that so far. I purchased the PICSTART
Plus from Digi-Key. Either I'm having the mother of all Jessica
moments, or somebody has been smoking something nasty. I hope it's
the former, as it would be easier for me to correct this. Is there
a "PICSTART Plus For Dummies" reference out there? I've tried
the "PICSTART Plus User's Guide" that came with the PICSTART Plus,
but I can't find the answer I need. The guide is from 3 years ago,
and today's MPLAB doesn't seem to be the same as the one described in
the manual.



Reply by Scott Thompson June 10, 20042004-06-10
Are you using a virtual COM port?  That is, are you using a USB to serial-port device?  I cannot get my PicStart+ to work with a virtual COM port unless I use < V6.xx.
 
Try searching for "blueelectron9" or "electronguy" for the user name.  I forget which one I post on.  Mind you, I just recently started to post to that site.
 
Best,
Scotty
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Jason Hsu
To: p...@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 6/10/2004 09:50:26
Subject: [piclist] Re: PIC16F84A and "This device requires firmware version 2.1.0 or higher" messag

Thanks for your help.  (Especially from you, Scott.)

I'm pleased to hear that my programmer (R21) is FLASH upgradable. 
From what you tell me, I should be able to upgrade from MPLAB IDE
6.40 from the "Download PICSTART OS" command under the "Programmer"
menu.  I've tried that, but nothing seems to happen.  I realize that
my download speeds will be slow since I'm on dial-up, but is there
any way I can tell whether or not the file is actually downloading? 
Better yet, is there a URL I can go to so I can download the file?

By the way, is there a way I can search this forum?  I would like to
search for your posts Scott, but the search feature only applies for
the last few hundred posts and doesn't go back to the very
beginning.  So if there were some very relevant posts here a year
ago, I can't reach them.



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Reply by Dave Mucha June 10, 20042004-06-10

> By the way, is there a way I can search this forum?

Check out a program called PGoffline

It will allow you to download the whole list archive onto your hard
disk for you to review at will.

It may take some time to download the whole list, but I'd be happy to
use my version and see if a file is readable to you.

I'm a beta tester so I may have a verson that is not compatable.

If that is the case, I can have Wilson put a ZIP version on the
official home page and let you pull that down.

Dave