Introduction
There are two ways to flash new firmware onto the device. The preferred method is to flash over the air using the Bluetooth link. You may also use the traditional method of connecting an ICSP connector to the PICSTART Plus and flashing from MPLab.
Bluetooth Flashing
- Your device must have already been flashed with the bootloader (if you're CCG and don't have an old PCB this has already been done for you) See the bootloader section below if you need to install it.
- Only known to work under Linux currently
- you MUST have #org 0x0F00, 0x0FFF void loader16F873(void) {} in your source code (For CCSC only. Go here for help with other compilers)
- You'll need the picdl program
- create an RFCOMM connection to the device as per the Linux Usage instructions
- assuming /dev/rfcomm0, issue 'picdl -P/dev/rfcomm0 <myfile.hex>'
- at "searching for device" press the board's reset button to initiate download
failure!success!
Traditional ICSP Flashing
- Requires an adapter to bring MCLR, VDD_PROG, PCD, PGC, and GND off the Picstart Plus to the board
- Connect adapter to Picstart Plus and Bluetooth board.
- Use MPLab to flash the device
- make sure power-up reset and brownout-reset fuses are disabled
Bootloader
Any of the new boards (not these) have already been flashed with a bootloader. You can find more information on this handy tool here.
If you accidentally erased the bootloader you'll need to reload it using the ICSP method. Use the 16F873_19200_04Mhz file from the bootloader distribution.