PBP,MicroCode ICD and EasyPIC4

[mister_e]

but... mmm did you also modified your board as i suggested (http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...9&postcount=21) ?

Not sure if this could be one part of the problem...

[exelanoz]

Hello Hello Mister_E,

Yes, I did read your post on that too, but no, I haven't modified the board yet, but I don't think that is the problem. It means I must press the RESET button before I used the ICD.

I have some positive results this morning when I wake up...in WIN XP control panel | system | hardware | Com Ports, - I slowed down my COM1 to 4800bps baud (8-N-1) No flow control.

Seems to connect everytime, but slow and *sometimes* freezes.
I use a simple test program like:

DEFINE OSC 4

Main:

HIGH PORTB.0
PAUSE 500
LOW PORTB.0
PAUSE 500
HIGH PORTB.1
PAUSE 500
LOW PORTB.1
PAUSE 500

GOTO Main

END

Hihihihihi......I don't think I need to use the ENABLE DEBUG and DISABLE DEBUG for a simple program! :-)))))

I will check the XTAL, I have some really cheap ones.

Possibly my older DELL computer is dying and needs a really big hammer or drop it off a tall building :-)))

I try some other things and then I give up...

I don't really need ICD, but just wanted to try it.

[exelanoz]

Hello Mister_E

Many thanks for you reply....I lost much hair over this problem, but it is FIXED!

I'm so stupid...

Ok here goes...after getting a BIG BIG hammer ready for my computer...I try one more thing.

My wall plug (errr....americans call it wall wart?) you know what I am talking about, - so it was a switchmode 2A 12V. I put it on my scope and it was really noisy, the crystal was also drifiting quite a bit.
Soo.......I replaced the plug pack with a nice linear 500mA 12V and replaced the crystal with a nice stable 4Mhz and then viola...it works...ICD on serial port and MicroCode is super happy and back to 2m Serial Cable!

Hmmm...I had some 'other' hair loosing problems on my board before. Somehow I think it was caused by the switchmode supply. No more switchmode for me...:-)

I am surprised the PIC still runs really well, even with a switchmode, but looks like other stuff don't like it.

[mister_e]

That's a bit weird at the same time because it has this Voltage regulator in between. Maybe i'm missing something here, maybe it miss one capacitor or two here and there on the board to filter some high frequency noise coming from your Switching psu.. One thing i can say, is that i added a 10uF tantalum on each DIP socket too.

You could still use a AC psu, as this board have it's own diode bridge.
Oh well, at least it works