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CCS/MSP-TS430PZ100AUSB: MSP-TS430PZ100AUSB development board, MSP430FG6426 controller & MSP-FET for debugger tool.

Part Number: MSP-TS430PZ100AUSB
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430FG6426, MSP-FET,

Tool/software: Code Composer Studio

Hello Guys,

I have MSP-TS430PZ100AUSB development board, MSP430FG6426 controller & MSP-FET for debugger tool. I need to establish a UART connection for communication MSP430 controller to PC for one of the project. I checked with other MSP430 FZ series they need a breakout board for establishing UART connection. However the MSP-FET has the UART communication option available. It is not clear to me if I need to use an additional break out board for UART connection or it can be done using MSP-FET. Also the MSP430FG6426  has UART BSL I think I can use this not sure though. 

Also I have written a code activating the UART for MSP430FG6426. I am able to compile and debug this on the flash however I can't read any string output on the Teraterm on the PC.

[#include <msp430.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdio.h>
volatile char i=0;


void main(void)
{
char wel[]="Hi ! Good Morning !";

// stop WDT
WDTCTL= WDTPW | WDTHOLD;
P2SEL |= 0x03; // Assign P2.0 to UCA0TXD and...
P2DIR |= 0x03; // P2.1 to UCA0RXD
UCA0CTL1 |= UCSWRST; // **Put state machine in reset**
UCA0CTL1 |= UCSSEL_2; // SMCLK
UCA0BR0 = 6; // 1MHz 9600 (see User's Guide)
UCA0BR1 = 0; // 1MHz 9600
UCA0MCTL = UCBRS_0 | UCBRF_13 | UCOS16; // Modln UCBRSx=0, UCBRFx=0,
// over sampling
UCA0CTL1 &= ~UCSWRST; // **Initialize USCI state machine**
UCA0IE |= UCRXIE; // Enable USCI_A0 RX interrupt
/

while (1)

{i=0;
while (wel[i]!='\0');
{
UCA0TXBUF = wel [i];
while (UCA0STAT&UCBUSY);
i++;
}

UCA0TXBUF = 0X0a;
while (UCA0STAT&UCBUSY);
UCA1TXBUF = 0X0d;
while (UCA0STAT&UCBUSY);
}

}

]

Can anyone recommend the resources on how do I make the UART communication for this microcontroller.  Would be thankful. 

Thanks.

  • Hi,

    Please see the MSP430 Hardware Tool User's Guide (ti.com/lit/pdf/slau278) to see where each pin (including the UART pins) is exposed on the board. On the target board that you are using, the UART pins are not connected to the JTAG connector. So, if you want to be able to use the back-channel UART on the MSP-FET, you will need to connect the UART pins on the MSP-FET to the UART pins that you are using on the MSP430. You can find details on this and the schematic here: ti.com/lit/pdf/slau647. You can, for example, do this using jumpers.

    Regards,
    Nathan
  •  Hi Nathan,

    Thanks for the input. However can you please elaborate on how do I make jumper connections from target pin to MSP-FET UART. I don't see any pins dedicated for connecting the with MSP-FET on the target board for which I can make connections.

    Also can you please provide the pin out diagram for instance if am using P8.1,2,3. as highlighted in the above figure. how do I connect these pins to JTAG FET-MSP for establishing UART Connection. Please suggest if m not on the right path. 

    Regards,

    Veena

  • Hi Veena,

    The pins dedicated for connecting with the MSP-FET are in the JTAG connector, which can be seen in the schematic for the target board. However, the JTAG pins for UART are not connected to the MSP430 on this target board. Each pin is connected to one of the 4 connectors (J1-4). You may need to solder on the headers for these pins (they should have been provided with the target board). You can then use these pins to connect with a jumper wire to the correct pins on the MSP-FET. As you are using UART (not SPI), you will only need to use UCA1RXD and UCA1TXD (P8.3 and P8.2). Please see the pin diagram in the MSP debugger user's guide to see which pins on the MSP-FET you need to use. Remember that you will need to connect the rx pin on one device to the tx pin on the other, and vice versa. Please see the device family's User's Guide for more info on UART if you need.

    Regards,
    Nathan
  • Hi Nathan,

    Thanks for the response. I connected the MSP-FET 14 -RX pin to TX pin P8.2 & MSP-FET pin to RX pin P8.3. However when I run the code I don't see anything on Putty. I haven't connected the clock for MSP-FET which is pin 10 to any pin on target. Do I need to connect it.

    Also this the code which amtrying to get on Putty. However unable to Can you please go thorught the code and notify me where it needs modification.



    #include <msp430fg6426.h>
    #include <string.h>
    #include <stdio.h>

    const char wel[] = { "Hello World\r\n" };
    unsigned int i=0; //Counter

    void main(void)
    {
    WDTCTL = WDTPW + WDTHOLD;

    P8SEL|=0x06; //P8.3,4 setting TX, RX
    P8DIR|=0x06;
    UCA1CTL1 |=UCSWRST; //pg.142
    UCA1CTL1 |=UCSSEL_1; //CHOOSE 3276 MHZ
    UCA1BR0=6;
    UCA1BR1=0X00;
    UCA1MCTL=0X06; //
    UCA1CTL0=0X00;
    UCA1CTL1 &= ~UCSWRST;

    while (1)

    {i=0;
    while (wel[i]!='\0');
    {
    UCA1TXBUF = wel [i];
    while (UCA1STAT&UCBUSY);
    i++;
    }

    UCA1TXBUF = 0X0a;
    while (UCA1STAT&UCBUSY);
    UCA1TXBUF = 0X0d;
    while (UCA0STAT&UCBUSY);
    }

    }

    I am working on this since a week . MSP430 platform is new to me. I understood few concepts however not everything clear. I went throught the UART sample code for MSP430FG6426. They have used Pragma vector and Interupts. Will I need to add these too in the above code. If possible can you please suggest modifications in the code.
  • Hi Veena,

    Yes, the clock signal on the MSP-FET (TCK) needs to be connected to the SBW_RST pin on the target board. Also, please make sure the TDO/TDI pin on the MSP-FET is connected to the SBW_RST pin on the target board, and that your ground and VCC pins are correctly connected.

    Regards,
    Nathan
  • Hi Nathan,

    Thanks . But can I have ur contact details so that I can call u directly.
    I have not connected the MSP-fet directly to the target pins. I have connected it to the jtag using jumper wires and the Rx and tx pins of the target pins to MSP-FET. I can see the string in the above code in the values however there is nothing that I can see on putty or tera term.

    Regards,
    Veena
  • Hi,

    To clarify, are you seeing the correct values by viewing them in Code Composer Studio? If so, the issue is likely due to your configuration setting in your terminal window. Please see the documentation for whichever one you are using, and make sure that everything matches what you are using on the MSP430 (baud rate, start and stop bits, etc.).

    Regards,
    Nathan
  • Hi,

    Has this issue been resolved? If so, please mark it as answered. If no response soon, this thread will be closed due to inactivity.

    Regards,
    Nathan
  • Hi Nathan,

    Thanks for the response. Your suggestion worked with few changes. TX-Pin of target is connected to TX of MSP-FET, RX-Pin of target to RX of MSP-FET. Also we don't need clk because it was UART. CLK would be used in SPI communication.

    Also I tried connecting the MSP-FET directly to the target pins however that was too complex and did't work. So eventually I connected the jumpers from JTAG to FET and connected the TX & RX via jumpers to MSP-FET directly. That worked.

    Thanks for it. Your advice gave me a workaround to the issue.

    Veena

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