Re: IR Board Problem
 

Man... beat again at a good idea!

Re: IR Board Problem
 

Thanks! Ours went down last night and I cannot find a pic programer. I will give this a try.

Re: IR Board Problem
 

So I did this, I was able to initialize (once I used a desktop, not a laptop) and I was able to erase the program currently on there. But when I go to load the FIRSTIR.hex, it gives me an error saying there is a problem with the file. If I ignore that fact and try to load it onto the PIC then it goes through and fails during verification. Any ideas? I'm using the FIRSTIR.hex posted here. Is it possible something is wrong with that file? Or am I doing something wrong? Thanks.

Re: IR Board Problem
 

Humm, sorry to hear that. Did you unzip the hex file? :yikes:

I didn't have any problems and I used the same file you mentioned. Can you read from the device without error? I wonder if your PC serial port voltage is too low, I saw mention that that could cause problems when I was researching. I guess since it worked for me, I don't have much insight into figuring out what can go wrong.

Re: IR Board Problem
 

Yes I unzipped the hex file. I can read from the device without error (although now its empty!). I don't think the serial port voltage is too low, it erased the device fine. As soon as I open the hex file (before loading it into the device) I get the following error:

Also though, do I need to manually select the device (PIC1687)? Is anything to be changed in Device config? When I select the device that it says:

Re: IR Board Problem
 

what programmer are you using? (ICD2?)
what software do you use with it?

Re: IR Board Problem
 

Check out the screen shot in my powerpoint slides. Under the interface tab I selected "JDM (2) for serial port" under Interface Type, and then I loaded the ElCheapo_PCB.ini for the definition file. This was via trial and error before I got "success". Maybe that will help if you didn't do that.

Re: IR Board Problem
 

I'm using iambujo's method of a serial dongle connected to the board.

Yes, I saw that and set both of them. Maybe I'll try again on a different computer. Thanks for your help. Its strange because I can connect, erase, read, verify, etc. I just cannot write the hex file. Perhaps it is the voltage levels.

Re: IR Board Problem
 

The IR PIC hex file has also been posted by FIRST on their Additional Technical resources page
http://www2.usfirst.org/2008comp/Manual/FIRSTIR.HEX

Re: IR Board Problem
 

To anyone with IR board problems that's coming to the oregon regional, team 2273 (shameless plug) will graciously give you a hand in getting it to work. It'd be a shame for any teams to not get their robot to do at least SOMETHING in hybrid. We have a PicKit2 and the know-how to get your boards up and running.

Re: IR Board Problem
 

Thanks. The files are identical. So that's not the problem.

I'll keep fiddling with it and post if I have any success...

Re: IR Board Problem
 

i have the same problem as DarkJedi613
No luck so far.

Re: IR Board Problem
 

I got it to work!

The things I changed (note I don't know if all these are necessary):

Devices Tab:
Choose PIC16F87

Options Tab:
Provided the MPLAB devices directory (you really only need one file - "PIC16F87.dev" and it was asking for a 16F716 algorithm, but also providing PIC16F716 didnt help).

Interface:
Interface type: JDM (2) for serial port
Custom interface definition file: ElCheapo_PCB.ini

And that was it! Note: it gave me LOTS of errors, but the device works now (through test it with a remote) so I'm not sure whats up with that. I just tried it again on my laptop (through a USB to serial adaptor -- I changed the Option "I/O Port Access Driver" to "no direct access at all, only use win API"). This DID NOT work however -- I could not even erase the board. It is possible a true serial port would work however. Good luck!