DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx USB DMX Dongle => Topic started by: MSL on June 05, 2011,
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First let me say up front… Yes… I am a newbie… but I follow directions well (ask my wife!).
I just finished building a v2 Dongle.
I downloaded the firmware for the v2 Dongle and used an MPLAB IDE and the instructions from the Wiki to program the chip using a PICkit 3.
I downloaded the FTDI drivers and installed them on my laptop.
I plugged in the Dongle to the USB on my laptop. The computer recognized the hardware.
I have a red light lit on the Dongle / No green light (as it should be).
Opened Vixen and configured it as per the Wiki. Hit the button to test the channels… Nothing happens. No green light.
I hooked the Dongle up to a (new build) Lynx Express. Ran the test on the Lynx Express. No DMX light. I hit the button in Vixen to test the channels… Nothing happens. No green light, Lynx Express does nothing. No DMX light on the Lynx Express.
When I programmed the chip the instructions on the Wiki state that the “Checksum” should show the name of the firmware loaded. The Dongle firmware name I assuming is “0A6F”. The MPLAB “Checksum” is showing “0xc233”. I can read and verify the firmware.
I went over all the soldered joints. I cannot see any cold joints or bridges. I don't know enough about electronics to test anything else.
Any help would be appreciated.
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Haven't looked at the pics yet, but on the WIKI page it says to not use MPLAB to program the PIC.
Soldering looks fine, good job.
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I was a little confused. The Wiki has a link on how to use the PICkit 3 with the MPLAB and mentions programing the Dongle. I thought it was alright to use it.
I used the PICkit 3 without the MPLAB to program the chip and got it to work.
Thank you.
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Cool, glad you got it working,
Bill
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with the pickit 3...
use the programmer to program pics.
use MPLAB to update the firmware on your pickit 3 (it's own programming, not RJ's files)
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How did you program the PIC? I am in the same boat.
<wd..
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Use the Pickit 3 programming utility not the MPlab program.
Let us know if you need more help and we will get you going.
RJ
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As RJ stated:
Use the Pickit 3 programming utility not the MPlab program.
I used a PICkit 3 clone from Sure Electronics and their Universal ZIF socket. If that is what you have this is how you can program the Dongle chip:
I am assuming you have the PICkit 3 software installed.
First, download the “DONGLE2.HEX” firmware from the Wiki. Go to “Equipment Info” on the Wiki and click on the “Dongle” link. Click on the Dongle “Firmware” and save it somewhere on your computer where you can find it.
Put the chip in the 40-pin socket on the Universal ZIF socket. Make sure you have pin #1 on the chip at pin #1 on the socket.
Plug the socket into the PICkit 3 using the supplied wire.
Plug the PICkit 3 into the USB on your computer using the supplied wire.
Open the PICkit 3 software
Click on “Device Family” in the top menu. Choose PIC18.
In “Device Configuration, choose PIC18f2450 for the “Device”.
Click on “File” in the top menu. "Import" the “DONGLE2.HEX” file.
The Checksum will show “0A6F”.
Click on “Write”. It should write to the chip.
Once it is finished writing you can click on “Verify” to verify that the chip was written to.
The chip should be programmed.
I by no means am a pro at this. In fact, this is the first time I used a PICkit for anything. If someone sees a step I forgot or an easier way to do this please chime in.
There is a PICkit 3 on eBay with the correct size socket from “j1sys” that I have read is very easy to use and has documentation. The Sure Electronic clone did not come with any documentation. I had to fumble through it.
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Where is the link to the utility? Is it this in the WIKI-Pickit3 Stand Alone Programmer App V1.0 (Windows)? I saw a how-to on the wiki but it only covers the MPlab software. Or is it on the cd that came with the programmer.
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Yes. You can get it here:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en538340&redirects=pickit3
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Might be worth coming up with a new tutorial in the WIKI to eliminate confusion. I used MPlab on the dongle a couple months back. I never tried this before but should have parts on my doorstep waiting for me to build and program! Thanks!
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Here is a thread I started that has the method I used to program the dongle PIC. I will try and look at the PIC programming section to see if I can make some clarifications.
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=4863.0
Rich
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I second to this, as I was having the same issue last week with my USB Dongle. It took me couple hours to research on this forum and found my problem was.
I'm sure newbie like me would really appriciate this.
Might be worth coming up with a new tutorial in the WIKI to eliminate confusion. I used MPlab on the dongle a couple months back. I never tried this before but should have parts on my doorstep waiting for me to build and program! Thanks!
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Direct link to the software is
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/PICkit3%200.2.0.3%20Setup.zip
Ron
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Direct link to the software is
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/PICkit3%200.2.0.3%20Setup.zip
Ron
That is a link to an early beta version of the PICKIT 3 Stand Alone Programmer application. While it may work, I would really recommend that you use the newer V1.0 release. The link is in the Software section of the Wiki:
http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=Software
but the direct download link is:
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/PICkit_3_Programmer_1_0_Setup_A.zip
I had some troubles with the V0.2 version, but have been able to successfully program Dongles, LE's, and SSC's with the V1.0 release.
-Mike
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has anyone been able to get the pickit3 programer-to-go function to work. I have tried a couple of times, and could not get it to program once the firmware was loaded. It knew it was loaded but would not program correctly on button push....
Also, the autodetect chip option is always greyed out - ideas there?
Myk
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Yeah I think the pickit two was a much more refined unit but it does not support the newer stuff I am working with.
RJ
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I finally did get the programmer-to-go function to work last night. After it reads the current chip and stores the image, you need to remove from usb cable and plug back in. After that it worked like a charm.
Might start looking for a usb battery pack (have seen them before, never really knew what they would be used for) that you can plug into the pickit3 and power it up. Would be useful if you need to go outside and reprogram a BUNCH of controllers for some reason.
Myk