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How to program the MSP430F5528

John Sampson
Prodigy 200 points

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430F5528, MSP-EXP430F5529LP, TDC7200, TDC1000, MSP-FET, MSP430F5529

Is the ti MSP430 LaunchPad Value Line Development kit the best method to learn how to program the MSP430F5528? I assume they are the same family of chip? I am starting from the beginning and need some guidance and suggestions about to get get started. Thanks in advance.

www.ti.com/.../msp-exp430g2

  • 0
    Guru 74080 points

    Hi John!

    The MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad cannot program and debug larger devices like the MSP430F5528. It is only for the smaller F2xx series devices and most of the G2xx series ones. But if you use a LaunchPad that contains an eZ-FET (lite) emulator like the MSP-EXP430F5529LP, you can program all MSP430 parts.

    Dennis

  • 0 in reply to Dennis Eichmann
    Prodigy 200 points
    So you have any suggestions for programming the MSP430F5528? I bought an eval board with the tdc1000/tdc7200/MSP430F5528, and attempting to figure out where and how to start programming the MSP430F5528 in C.
  • 0 in reply to John Sampson
    Guru 74080 points

    This one?

    For the MSP included in this EVM, I would recommend to buy the MSP-FET:

    The EVM has an unpopulated 14 pin JTAG header where the MSP-FET can be connected:

    Dennis

  • 0 in reply to Dennis Eichmann
    Prodigy 200 points

    Yes, that's the correct eval board. Looks like I'll be buying the MSP-FET. $115 is hard to bite off but I need the right tools. Thank-you so much for your help-I'm new to this and trying to find my way through. Is there anything else you'd suggest for the programming or anything else I should be aware of? Thanks again.

    -John

  • 0 in reply to John Sampson
    Guru 74080 points

    You may also be able to program and debug the device when using the mentioned MSP-EXP430F5529LP LaunchPad. It is much cheaper than the MSP-FET. If you look into the design files of the EVM at the end of the User's Guide you will see the connections of the unpopulated connector J1. If you wire RST (pin 11), TEST (pin 8), GND and Vcc to the LaunchPad, you can use the SBW protocol. On the other hand, having a MSP-FET isn't that bad. If you can afford it and if you are willing to pay for it, I would go for the MSP-FET.

    Dennis

  • 0 in reply to Dennis Eichmann
    Prodigy 200 points
    Thanks for getting back to me-that makes sense. One last question:

    The MSP430F5528 has both Flash and RAM. If I wanted to put my program into the RAM in the chip because it's faster, and then have data stored on the Flash, will the MSP-FET also allow me to program the RAM and the flash? I.e, do I need a separate programmer for the RAM and Flash, or is it just a matter of checking off a different box before I send code to the chip? Thanks again-you're help has been amazing!
  • 0 in reply to John Sampson
    Guru 324820 points

    The SRAM is volatile memory, i.e., its contents vanish whenever power is lost.

    When you have any variables in RAM that need to be initialized, the compiler puts the initial values into flash, and the startup code copies them into RAM.

    As for running code from RAM, this is a FAQ; also see Program Execution from Ram?
    If you are not using IAR or CCS but gcc, you just need to put the function into the .data section:

    __attribute__((section(".data"), noinline))
    void ram_function() ...

  • 0 in reply to Clemens Ladisch
    Prodigy 200 points

    Thank-you! To make sure I fully understand you, I restated some of your post. Is the follow correct?

    1) The msp430f5528 data sheet says it has "128KB Flash and 8KB RAM". However, I can't program the RAM separately and have it store data in the flash because the RAM is volatile.

    So I program the Flash memory and when the processor runs a program it gets copied into the RAM and runs there. When power is shut off the program in the RAM is deleted, and the process must be repeated when another program is run. I would think this would cost more energy or take longer time to start up from shutdown or standby but I don't know anything about these.

    2) I only ask because I know nothing about these but what is the advantage to using the MSP-FET over something like the MSP-EXP430F5529LP for programming? Just that I can plug directly into the board and program immediately instead of always having to make other pin connectors to ground, VCC, etc, every time? I read what I could find on the MSP-FET and just don't fully grasp the terminology on the MSP-FET.

  • 0 in reply to John Sampson
    Guru 34973 points

    John Sampson said:

    2) I only ask because I know nothing about these but what is the advantage to using the MSP-FET over something like the MSP-EXP430F5529LP for programming? Just that I can plug directly into the board and program immediately instead of always having to make other pin connectors to ground, VCC, etc, every time? I read what I could find on the MSP-FET and just don't fully grasp the terminology on the MSP-FET.

    MSP-FET support SBW and JTAG, and it is faster than LP.
    LP only support SBW, but there is MSP430F5529 (same as 5528) target chip on-board, that can be used for your project.
    After target device is connected, it can be re-flashed many times.
    If speed is not a issue, than LP is just fine for 5528 development
  • 0 in reply to John Sampson
    Guru 324820 points
    2) Most of the low-power modes take care to keep the RAM contents intact. But after a reset, or when waking up from LPMx.5, the initialization indeed is redone.

    In most cases, there aren't actually that many variables to initialize.
  • 0 in reply to Clemens Ladisch
    Prodigy 200 points

    Thanks everyone for all the help. I ordered the FET flash programmer and it should arrive shortly. Then the real learning begins :)

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