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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : MICROMITE EXPLORE 64 BOOTLOADER
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| kiaandre Newbie  Joined: 21/11/2017 Location: FrancePosts: 18 |
hello, I wanted to update the micromite explore 64 in version 5.05.02 and by flashing I have all overwritten firmware + bootloader, the micromite is unusable, no more usb connection, how to do and where to find the bootloader of the PIC32MX470F512H, what is the procedure ? THANK YOU MICROMITE EXPLORE 64 - PCB RICTECH |
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| PicFan Senior Member  Joined: 18/03/2014 Location: AustriaPosts: 133 |
Hello, please look in the Manual (Micromite plus) on Page 6, i think you need a PicKit for Programming the Firmware. Wolfgang |
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panky Guru  Joined: 02/10/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1114 |
@kiaandre, Can you tell us if you have version 1E of the Explore 64? If you do, all you need are 2 free programs that run on a Wndows PC and all you need to do is connect the Explore 64 via usb and run the programs. If you can confirm you have version 1E of the Explore 64, I (or someone else on the forum) can provide detailed instructions on how to burn the latest version of MMBasic. panky. PS. There is no bootloader for the MM plus, just the .hex file that is the whole MMBasic program. ... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it! |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9592 |
Further to the other member's posts, yes, if you have the 1E version, all you need is the free firmware updater program available for download from my website here. Scroll down - third item. If you have an earlier version(1B,1C or 1D) then you will need a PicKit-3 and the Microchip IPE. I think you will most likely have the 1E version, but let us know which one and then we can help you from there.  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| kiaandre Newbie Joined: 21/11/2017 Location: FrancePosts: 18 |
Hello, I had the 1D version and I finally managed to upgrade to version 5.05.02 thank you |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9592 |
Awesome. Well done.  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| arvindk Newbie Joined: 31/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 21 |
I have just started using the Exploer64 which I have had since 2026. It was purchased as the complte PCB fron RICTECH in NZ. It had Ver 5.02 already loaded and it is working fine. I added the SSD1963_7 lcdpanelas described in the addendum to this Manual. I have checked and re-cheked all connections. On entering OPTION LCDPANEL SSD1963_7, L I get "ERROR: pin 27 is reservered on startup". Nothing can work any further with the LCD, but the Basic on the PC console still works as expected. Can any one please help? ak |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9592 |
Wow! You got it from me, in the future! (Re:2026)  Sorry, could not resist that!  Use the command OPTION LIST, to find out what special feature is using pin27 - something else has gobbled it up BEFORE you tried to issue the LCDPANEL command. Option List command will show you what pins are reserved by the system, and by what special feature. You'll either have to re-assign the pins to free up pin27, or use another pin for whatever is CURRENTLY using pin27. With the SSD1963 LCD panels, certain pins are reserved for use by that command, when you first issue the command. They are set in the firmware, and cannot be changed. Pin27 is one of those - it is reserved for the SSD1963 RS line(Register Select), and so when you run the command, you are getting the error, cos something else has already been assigned to pin27, and so therefore, when you try to issue the LCDPANEL command, and it tries to assign pin27 as the RS control line to the LCD.....it can't do it, so falls over with the error you are seeing. EDIT: See the MM+ manual for the 64-pin MM chip, page 14 - there is a chart there showing what pins the firmware will try to claim for use with the LCD if you issue the LCDPANEL command. Edited 2024-12-28 13:27 by Grogster Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2605 |
It may be worth updating the firmware to the current v5.05.05. In v5.05.05 the MM+ manual pages 7 and 12 show the pins to use. More info at https://geoffg.net/Explore64.html Firmware and manuals at https://geoffg.net/Downloads/Micromite/Micromite_Firmware.zip Footnote added 2024-12-28 15:25 by phil99 An easy way to update the firmware is with MM Flash and an Arduino Nano :- https://www.c-com.com.au/stuff/MMflash.zip |
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Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1639 |
I don't know but maybe the pin is reserved because you had previously entered the LCDPANEL command. You could try entering the: OPTION LCDPANEL DISABLE command before trying the LCDPANEL command again. Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| arvindk Newbie Joined: 31/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 21 |
Many thanks to Grogster,Phil99 and Turbo46. You people are wonderful. I have learnt so much! Yes Grogster, I have comeback with a thud from 2026 and back to end of 2024. I am already 85, so may or may not see 2026. Seriously though, I have had some success. First of all I used "OPTION LCDPANEL DISABLE". Confirmed taht pin27 is RS also on the lcdpanel pin for RS.Switched off everything for a new beginning. This time, when I type OPTION LCDPANEL SSD1963_7, L I got promptto "restart Micrmite+" When I did, lo and behold, the result was " Micromite Plus MMBasic Ver 5.2 Copyright 2011-2016 Geoff Graham " There was no error about pin27 anymore. The next step was to "GUI TEST LCDPANEL". Sadly, therewas nothing at all on the LCDPANEL. The command waited for a response but no result. I tried "Backlight 60" in case it was needed. Would you guys think I have somehow "cooked" the lcdpanel? I had somewhat heated the solder a little when connecting to the PWM rather than the LED1 both of which was shorted on the new part.. ak |
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| Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1639 |
Possibly bad wiring or maybe you have "cooked" something, you are probably the best judge of that. I found this in the manual though: Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2605 |
That is a good point and worth a try, although the SSD1963 LCD panel is parallel rather than SPI so I don't think the two chips share any pins. As T_DO and SD_DO share SPI MISO they can interfere with each other if not correctly initialised. Adding 3.3kΩ to 4.7kΩ pullup resistors to T_CS, SD_CS and T_SDO (MISO) may also be worth a try. Also, can you see if the backlight leds are on? They can usually be seen at an edge of the screen. The display might be working but if not illuminated it won't be visible. |
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| arvindk Newbie Joined: 31/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 21 |
Yhanks to all and Best Wishes for 2025. I was back to try again. My explor-64 is cannecteded to a female Header pins as if it is a breadbord, and I have sildered more febale sockeds for ease of connections. It was the first thing I checked. Therre are mo mistakes and using the USB (connecting JP1in place) evry thing works as far as expected,, dhecking simple Basic commands. I have then used male header pins to each of the necessary female header pins to the ssd1963_7 panel. All connections are exactly as directed in 5,2 manual and the addendun. This includs the T_CS and T_IRQ pins, as also the Parallel ins. also 3.3,gnd. as well as 5V to the lcdpanel. Initially, I has wrong connections fir RS and WD. This was the cause for error for "pin27" which I first asked for help for you guys. The correct pins are RS for 27 and WR for 24. , this I have now fixed. I have again checked and re-checked all connections. I have not connected any pins for SD. I tried again and there not even a glimmer from the backlight or "GUI test lacpanel". Can crossed adjacent pins RS(27) and WR(24) could have "cooked" the lcdpanel? My USB (sufficient for upto 1A) connection th\o the PC for console adequate ? Thanks in advance for any help ak |
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| phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2605 |
The backlight is the number one priority. Without that working there is no way to know if the display is working. Measure the voltage on the LED pin of the panel at 10%, 50% and 90%. You should get either 0.3V, 1.6V and 3V or the other way around. |
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disco4now Guru Joined: 18/12/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1000 |
What jumper is bridged on the rear of the SSD1963 for Backlight Control. You need the 1963_PWM one as the backlight is via a software command and is not driven via a voltage on the BL pin. Latest F4 Latest H7 FotS |
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| arvindk Newbie Joined: 31/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 21 |
Thanks Phil99, I have tried to solder-in 1963_PWM right at the start. I have tried "backlight 50" and "back;ight 80" options (which do not show in OPTIONS LIST) with no sign of any illumination. Will the voltage on Led 1 pin of the lcdpanel should still show? Disco4now, when got the lcdpanel, none of the 3 options had been soldered-in. I tried to solder the 1963_PWM . I say tried because I overheaded the points which are tiny and there is a distinct brun smudhes around, but did not seem fatal damage. Could it be that it is stopping the backlight altogether? Just for the record, I had the Explor64 and the ssd1963 on the "waiting list" since 2017. I am now 86 yo and wanted to finish all my projects, because I have a number of completed projects which I want to give away before I die. I thoght of getting a new lcdpanel, but I do not want to accumulate more purchase when I am trying to "finish" or give away what I have. I am happy to give away the lot of complete and working projects. ak |
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| phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2605 |
So it would appear my idea of measuring the voltage on the LED pin is a red herring, taking you in the wrong direction. The SSD1963 driver uses a different method to control the backlight. |
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| disco4now Guru Joined: 18/12/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1000 |
If you find out how to finish all your projects let us know!!! I think its a common problem on TBS. Stop starting new ones is probably part of the answer, but that is not much fun. To you current problem. You can used the PIXEL function to see if display is working and it only a backlight thing. Try this. If PIXEL returns a different value after a CLS and CLS RGB(WHITE) then its probably working. > cls > ? pixel(100,100) 0 > cls rgb(WHITE) > ? pixel(100,100) 16317688 > Gerry Latest F4 Latest H7 FotS |
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| arvindk Newbie Joined: 31/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 21 |
phil99 and disco4now, I have checked and re-checked and tried everything as you have suggested. I have concluded that the lcdpanel must be dead. This is a real failure I think. Are any of you gentlemen in Sydney ? I live in Pymble, and maybe you could possible help. If not I am going to give up the lcdpanel. At least the Explor64 is working fine. Thanks to all of you ak |
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