MSP430 spy-by-wire programmer? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2013, 08:49:13 pm
content: Can anyone recommend a good USB based MSP430 programmer (especially the MSP430F2013 series)? What I need is some USB based device with a piece of software dedicated to programming a device from a hex file. I already tried the Olimex programmer but its total crap. The software keeps goofing up.

author: enz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2013, 09:00:01 pm
content: I don't know the MSP430F2313. But for the MSP430F147 and MSP430F247 i used (even for production programming) the TI tool: MSP-FET430UIFhttp://www.ti.com/tool/msp-fet430uifAs programming software i made good experiences with FET-Pro430 from elprotronichttp://www.elprotronic.com/fetpro430.html. Worked always very reliable.Martin

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2013, 09:07:12 pm
content: I've seen the tools from TI but it is not clear to me if and how they can be used with standalone programming software. I have no need for the IDEs TI provides.

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2013, 09:10:06 pm
content: TI has standalone programming software for use with the MSP-FET430UIF:http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_Flasher_-_Command_Line_ProgrammerThe Elprotronic software also works well.

author: komet
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 27, 2013, 09:36:08 pm
content: You can use the Launchpad to program any SBW device. Simply disconnect the target chip with the jumpers and connect to your target device.

author: andyturk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2013, 10:47:32 pm
content: Quote from: oPossum on May 27, 2013, 09:10:06 pmI use the Elpotronic stuff with a USB-FET and it works pretty well. That's just for programming and when I need a debugger (I know you don't like 'em, nctnico :-), it's CCS, because that's what the rest of the group uses. In the past I've used mspdebug with the FET too.If you want to go the open route, take a look at:http://goodfet.sourceforge.net/

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2013, 11:37:39 pm
content: Thanks for all the excellent suggestions! I think I'll try the ez430-F2013 with the command line tool (nice find!) first. If that doesn't work I'll order the Elpotronic from Mouser.

author: komet
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 28, 2013, 12:35:51 am
content: Quote from: andyturk on May 27, 2013, 10:47:32 pmI tried the GoodFET in both SBW and JTAG modes. After a while I gave up in disgust and ordered a 340UIF. Have you managed to make the GoodFET work consistently?

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2013, 08:30:06 pm
content: I'd give the launchpad a try ... Shouldn't be expensive in "versand" from here to NLhttp://www.watterott.com/de/MSP430-LaunchPad-MSP-EXP430G2I made one work under Linux , and getting the usb-part to work as a RF2500 debugger/programmer wo. any problemshttp://mspdebug.sourceforge.net/http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=756652#756652/Bingo

author: chibiace
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2013, 10:53:03 pm
content: the ti launchpad works pretty good with msp430f2013

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2013, 08:56:42 pm
content: The launchpad smells like installing loads of software and then spending hours trying to find the 'load hex file' and 'upload to flash' buttons.

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2013, 12:55:28 am
content: All you need isMSP430 Flasherif you're on Windows or mspdebug if you're on Linux. It's pretty trivial.On Windows you might need to wank around with drivers, I can't remember, but that's Windows.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2013, 08:07:26 pm
content: OK, I got it figured out:It seems the eZ430 isn't easy at all. As I expected you need to install other useless software first before you can get to the drivers... and then it doesn't work from a virtual machine. TI used a TUSB3410 chip on the ez430 which is a pretty bad choice. Almost 10 years ago I have tried to design this chip into a product but quickly threw it out in favour of a real serial to USB chip. Its just too frugal and cumbersome and it seems it still is.Then I tried the Olimex programmer again with mspdebug from Linux. It got detected but it didn't work so just for fun I tried a different USB cable instead of the cable that came with the Olimex programmer and.... it worked! Even from Windows in a virtual machine. The problem is the friggin' 10 cents cable Olimex supplied with their product. A neat way to get rid of your customers.