What about PIC32?

[Serge.V]

Is it possible to use Firewing board with pic32mx1 microcontroller?
Looks like it's pin-to-pin compatible with pic24.

Thanks,
--Serge

[David John Barker]

You can use the board with PIC32 but the pins will not map correctly to the Arduino standard and the compiler will only generate code for PIC16. However, we hope to have R2 of the board available in the future which will be pin compatible with Arduino. In addition, the Firewing compiler will also support PIC32.

[Serge.V]

Thank you, David.
Pin mapping is actually not a big issue. Except I2C port, which goes to A3/A4 instead of A4/A5. Anyway, having an R2 board and a compiler would be great.

Thanks,
--Serge

[Serge.V]

Hi,
I received recently a Firewing board from Majenko Technologies, and played a bit with it, using pic32mx150 instead of pic24. It works pretty well with Olimex LOL shield and SainSmart Graphics LCD4884 shield. You can find demo hex files and sources here: https://code.google.com/p/uos-embedded/ ... d_firewing

The only problem that I cannot get USB port working: pic32mx1 is not flexible enough to remap UART signals to needed pins.

Regards,
--Serge

[David John Barker]

I've attached an image of the pin-outs on R2, which will address many of the issues in mapping a PIC32 device. I would welcome any input!

> Except I2C port...

This is a real problem - in order to get Arduino shield compatibility you have have the "A" pins capable of analog input. But the non-remappable SCL and SDA pins sit on pins not capable of analog in. In most case this isn't a problem, as most devices are happy to use a bit banged I2C. I've still not found a solution to this problem that I am happy with. Again, I would welcome any feedback.

[roger]

Hi,
I received recently a Firewing board from Majenko Technologies, and played a bit with it, using pic32mx150 instead of pic24.

David,

The Firewing board has a location for a 6 pin push fit ICSP programmer adapter. The pins are, unfortunately staggered, so a pcb cannot accept a standard 6 pin header However, I can find no reference to the actual push fit adapter for a pickit3 anywhere. Are you able to give any details of the push fit adapter, supplier, part number etc?

Re Firewing compiler for pic32, is this likely to be available in weeks - months - or years? Just curious!

Thanks

Roger

[David John Barker]

Hi Roger

> The Firewing board has a location for a 6 pin push fit ICSP programmer adapter. The pins are,
> unfortunately staggered, so a pcb cannot accept a standard 6 pin header

They are only very slightly staggered, allowing a nice friction fit without having to solder a header onto the board. You don't need any special adapters. Any standard 6 pin header will do. I use it with a pickit3 all of the time, see attached images...

> Re Firewing compiler for pic32, is this likely to be available in weeks - months - or years? Just curious!

Certainly not weeks

[roger]

David,

Many thanks, that is a really good solution, works a treat. Can't think why I didn't think of that - maybe too much programming and not enough building.

Re Pic32 - A Firewing compiler would be fantastic when it is available, I am finding the Pic32 a great piece of silicon. Meantime I will continue with C (yuk!!).

Thanks

Roger

[David John Barker]

Just an update of Firewing 32 - I've attached the prototype R2 board and a picture of the IDE, targetting a 32MX150F128B...

[roger]

David,

That is great news. I was just planning a new Pic32mx250f128 spdip polyphonic audio project, which I may just put on hold until the R2 board and Pic32 compiler are available. Hopefully that will not be too far away.

Roger