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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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PIC16F84A and "This device requires firmware version 2.1.0 or higher" message
Started by ●June 10, 2004
Reply by ●June 10, 20042004-06-10
Reply by ●June 10, 20042004-06-10
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At 08:55 AM 6/10/2004, Jason Hsu wrote: > > >OK, except that I can't believe that Digi-Key sold me an old, >obsolete programmer. I should give you more information in case it >would help. The bottom of the PICSTART Plus programmer has >the "Flash Upgradeable" sticker. The Assy# is 10-00157-R21, and the >Serial# is JIT041411685. I *think* that you need to upgrade your version of MPLAB. The problem is that the new firmware updates don't work with the older versions of MPLAB. (I think that's a big mistake on Microchip's part <sigh>.) It sounds as if you have the latest programmer available - head over to Microchip and download MPLAB 6.50. Or install if from the CD you received with the programmer - that should also be 6.50. One other possibility is that you may need to flash the programmer. Again working from foggy memory - look under the Programmer header in MPLAB, select PicStart Plus, then "update firmware" or something like that. However, if this takes more than a few minutes to sort out, phone Microchip's tech support line. Those folks are pretty quick at coming up with the right answers. dwayne -- Dwayne Reid <> Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax Celebrating 20 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2004) .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .- `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' Do NOT send unsolicited commercial email to this email address. This message neither grants consent to receive unsolicited commercial email nor is intended to solicit commercial email. |
Reply by ●June 10, 20042004-06-10
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> 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 |
Reply by ●June 10, 20042004-06-10
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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
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Reply by ●June 10, 20042004-06-10
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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 ●June 11, 20042004-06-11
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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 |
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Reply by ●June 11, 20042004-06-11
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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. |
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Reply by ●June 11, 20042004-06-11
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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. __________________________________ |
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Reply by ●June 11, 20042004-06-11
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--- 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. |
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Reply by ●June 11, 20042004-06-11
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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. |
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