Using PICkit3

Flashing on Linux using pickit-3

This document describes how to enable flashing a pic32-wifire from Linux with a PICkit3 using pic32prog.

It will require flashing a specific firmware on the PICkit3. As this can only be done from a Windows computer, that not many Linux users have, the following steps explain how to setup a Windows VirtualBox virtual machine and flash the PICkit3 from it.

Informations come from this comment

https://github.com/RIOT-OS/RIOT/pull/6092#issuecomment-261987955

Steps

Setup your computer

The steps were run on Ubuntu 16.04

• Install VirtualBox
• Add yourself to the 'vboxusers' group

  sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers your_username
  

• Reboot

Setup Windows VM

You can download a free 90 days valid windows VirtualBox image from:

https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/

This document was tested on a Windows 10 VirtualBox image

• Create a machine in VirtualBox in File-Import Appliance.
• Start the virtual machine and wait until you are on the windows desktop
• Install VirtualBox Guest-additions for USB support
  • Doc: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04.html#additions-windows
• Shutdown the virtual machine
• Plug the PICkit3 flasher USB to your computer
• In the virtual machine settings, go to USB:
  • Select "Enable USB Controller" with "USB 1.1"
  • Click the small '+' sign on the right and add the Microchip devices.
  • Doc: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch03.html#idm1640
• Start the virtual machine

Downloads

Download and extract:

• PICkit3-Programmer http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/PICkit3%20Programmer%20Application%20v3.10.zip

The steps were adapted from the archive's README:

• Extract PICkit3 Programmer Application Setup v3.10.zip
• Run setup.exe
• Run PICkit3
• Tools/Download PICkit Operating System
  • Select c://Program Files/Microchip/PICkit3/PK3OSV020005.hex
• Device will be flashed with the new firmware
• The GUI status should now say that the board is found
• Close the program (it crashes when closing it but it is ok)
• Turn off your VM

pic32prog

Download and compile pic32prog flasher

https://github.com/sergev/pic32prog

Run the following command with PICkit3 connected in usb but without the chipKIT-Wi-Fire board connected

$ pic32prog
Programmer for Microchip PIC32 microcontrollers, Version 2.0.221
    Copyright: (C) 2011-2015 Serge Vakulenko
      Adapter: PICkit3 Version 2.0.5
No device attached.

No target found.

You should see the Adapter: PICkit3 Version 2.0.5 line.

Troubleshooting

If you do not get the Adapter: PICkit3 Version 2.0.5 line, try running it with sudo pic32prog. If it works with sudo it is a permission issue.

Add yourself to the plugdev group, add the following udev rule to /etc/udev/rules.d/26-microchip.rules and reboot.

# Adapted from http://en.microstickplus.com/mplabx-on-linux
ATTR{idVendor}=="04d8", MODE="664", GROUP="plugdev"

Flashing

• Connect the chipKIT-Wi-Fire to USB
• Connect the PICkit3 to JP1 ICSP holes
  • https://docs.creatordev.io/wifire/guides/wifire-programming/
  • The triangle ▶ goes into the port number 1 (a hole with a square around it) Opposite side of the JP1 ICSP text.

Run pic32prog again

$ pic32prog
Programmer for Microchip PIC32 microcontrollers, Version 2.0.221
    Copyright: (C) 2011-2015 Serge Vakulenko
      Adapter: PICkit3 Version 2.0.5
    Processor: MZ2048EFG100 (id 1720E053)
 Flash memory: 2048 kbytes
  Boot memory: 80 kbytes
Configuration:
    DEVCFG0 = fff6fff7
                     3 Debugger disabled
                     4 JTAG enabled
                     8 Use PGC2/PGD2
                   3   Flash ECC disabled, unlocked
    DEVCFG1 = 03743cb9
                     1 System PLL
                    8  Internal-external switch over enabled
                   0   Primary oscillator: External
                   4   CLKO output disabled
    DEVCFG2 = fff9b11a
                     2 PLL divider: 1/3
                    1  PLL input frequency range: 5-10 MHz
                  31   PLL feedback divider: x50
                 1     PLL postscaler: 1/2
              4        USB PLL input clock: 24 MHz
              8        Enable USB PLL
    DEVCFG3 = 86ffffff
               2       Default Ethernet pins
                       USBID pin: controlled by port

Now try flashing the chipKIT-Wi-Fire with RIOT default example compiled for pic32-wifire with pic32prog path/to/firmware.hex

$ pic32prog bin/pic32-wifire/default.hex
Programmer for Microchip PIC32 microcontrollers, Version 2.0.221
    Copyright: (C) 2011-2015 Serge Vakulenko
      Adapter: PICkit3 Version 2.0.5
    Processor: MZ2048EFG100
 Flash memory: 2048 kbytes
  Boot memory: 80 kbytes
         Data: 117020 bytes
        Erase: done
Program flash: ########################### done
 Program boot: #### done
 Verify flash: ########################## done
  Verify boot: ### done
 Program rate: 6159 bytes per second