• State Resolved
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 4 replies
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 79 subscribers
  • Views 1910 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Related

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

MSP-GANG programmer USB Connection Problem

Thomas Lucas
Prodigy 110 points

We purchased new MSP-Gang programmers to replace our older models. We installed the current software and we are using the interactive mode at this time. Things operate normally most of the time but occasionally the desktop will loose USB communication with the programmer while removing our PCB from the bed of nails interface. The software will then begin "looking" for the MSP-Gang. The software continues in this loop, never finding the MSP-Gang, until the MSP-Gang is disconnected, the PC is restarted, and the programmer reconnected.

We did end up installing a small cap & resistor on the bed of nails in order to be able to program at high speed.

Has anyone else experienced something similar or the same?  The only thing we changed was the programmer.

Thanks!

  • 0
    TI__Guru* 82391 points
    Hi Thomas,

    Thanks for posting - hopefully we can help get you past your present issue.
    Can you provide more information about the old and new MSP-GANG hardware? Are they both MSP-GANG (not MSP-GANG430 which is a grey box with LEDs and no LCD display)?

    What GANG HW version number is listed? (You can find information by going in the GUI to About > About).
    What SW version is used? (You can find information by going in the GUI to About > About).

    Does the same SW version work fine with the older MSP-GANG but have issues with the new MSP-GANG you just received?

    Can you provide more information about the cap & resistor - what lines are these on? If you use the same setup with the old GANG do you have issues as well?

    Regards,
    Katie
  • 0 in reply to Katie Pier
    TI__Guru* 82391 points
    Hi Thomas,

    Any update on the questions above? Are you still encountering the issue?

    Regards,
    Katie
  • 0 in reply to Katie Pier
    Prodigy 110 points

    Katie,

    We originally had two problems: inability to program and software losing communication.

    The inability to program was resolved see below: 

    We found an app note that recommended using a 4.7K resistor on the TCK line. we tried that but it didn't fully resolve the issue. Our MSP430 program fixture has a lever that locks the board down and is connected to via Pogo pins. Normally the board is then hands free. It was observed that whenever someone was also holding the board down and their finger touched the TCK line it always programed, otherwise it sometimes failed. We added the 10pF cap in parallel to the 4.7K resistor from TCK to GND. It programs flawlessly now. The old programmer, the Gang 430 occasionally suffered from this problem, randomly a board would not program the first time. In the case of both programmers it probably was due to the wiring and Pogo pins in our program fixture.  

    The loss of communications problem was also resolved, see below:

    The tech using the fixture was newer. When he realized he may be shorting the pogo pins when inserting/removing boards he used more care and that problem has now disappeared.  

  • 0 in reply to Thomas Lucas
    TI__Guru* 82391 points
    Hi Thomas,

    Thank you so much for the update - it is great to hear that both of your issues are now resolved, and your detailed update also can help shed some light on things others may want to check when encountering similar issues (e.g. connectivity concerns with pogo pins). Thanks for sharing!

    Regards,
    Katie

**Attention** This is a public forum