Having problem with BSL...Can't initialize on FG42x0

Hi Gerry,

What hardware are you using to interface the MSP430FG4270 to the PC? Is it the Olimex MSP430-BSL Rocket board? There was a very similar thread recently having an issue: http://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/msp430/f/166/p/303039/1060322.aspx#1060322

The 1xx/2xx/4xx devices have a different BSL entry sequence than 5xx/6xx/FR5xx devices, and some of them also don't have a TEST pin (the device you are using is included) - this is noted in the BSL user's guide www.ti.com/lit/pdf/slau319 . The problem in the above thread was that the MSP430-BSL Rocket board code was not configured correctly to do the 1xx/2xx/4xx entry sequence on devices that do not have a TEST pin (devices that use TCK instead for the BSL entry sequence). In addition, by default the BSLDEMO2.exe does not have the command to force the Rocket board to send the entry sequence, so you need to use a modified version of BSLDEMO2.exe.

I included a link in the thread to a wiki with information on how to update the BSLDEMO2.exe to work with the MSP430-BSL Rocket board (there is even an already built updated executable linked from the page), and how to update the Rocket board firmware to work with devices without a TEST pin. http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430-BSL/Using_2xx_4xx

We are working to get some of this updated in the released versions of all of the BSL collateral.

Note that if you are using other hardware (like the Launchpad BSL interface) then this doesn't apply.

Regards,

Katie

I got the following from SLAU319

4.1.2.2 Control of RST/NMI and TEST or TCK Pins

The two pins used to invoke the bootstrap loader software of the MSP430—RST/NMI and TEST or TCK (for devices without a dedicated TEST pin)—are controlled by the DTR and RTS signals, respectively. These signals also deliver a positive voltage to supply the bootstrap loader hardware. For devices with a dedicated TEST pin, the levels at RST/NMI and TEST during normal operation are logic 1 and logic 0, respectively. To achieve these levels and to use the corresponding RS-232 signals as power-supply lines, it is necessary to use two inverters (IC1A, IC2B) for the RST/NMI pin and one inverter (IC2E) for the TEST pin. Devices without the TEST pin require the inverted TEST pin sequence on their TCK pin to invoke the bootstrap loader. Thus, the corresponding signal is inverted (inverter IC2F).

So It looks to me that the solution is to invert the TEST line and use it as the TCK line for these other MSP430 as you mentioned above. We will try this unless you indicate we are not on the right path.

By the way, when we first started with the 5419A we had problems with the BSL. The specifications for the double transition on the TEST line was too fast for our computer. We added some inline hardware that fixed this problem but it took over the DTR and the RTS from the computer. We are controlling the DTR and the RTS manually to get the required pulse sequence. It looks now that I need an inverted TEST to come out of our inline hardware..

Excellent! I'm glad that it's working now :-)

-Katie