Introduction

Note that this page has been updated with the introduction of BV-Basic version 2. For the original page see here

The firmware on the BV513 can be updated or modified through the USB interface using a serial connection. The firmware consists of three parts:

  1. The Emergency Boot Loader
  2. The Application Loader
  3. The Application (PIC32-Basic)

The Emergency Boot Loader is used to load a new or updated Application Loader using the USB serial interface and this in turn is used to load the Application (PIC32-Basic). The Application Loader is unique to the BV513 in that it allows very easy installation of applications or C programs without the use of a specialist programmer.

Reloading The Application Loader Using USB

NOTE It is unlikely that you will ever need to reload the Application Loader.
If you have damaged the application (PIC32-Basic). For example by creating an endless loop and saving it as auto in Flash then you do not need to reload the App Loader, you only need to reload the application, this is describe in the PIC32-Basic section here.

  1. Power up the BV513 as normal, connect to the USB and BV-COM terminal. Make sure com settings are 115,200 Baud, TWO stop bits 8 data bits. Most of the time the stop bits don’t matter and the BV513 normally works best with 1 stop bit, however for downloading firmware two stop its are required.
    Starting screenshot

  2. In the text transfer settings make sure that the ‘End of line wait for character’ check box is ticked and that it is set for 6
    Text transfer screenshot

  3. Short pins 2-3 on jumper 7 together.

  4. Click the reset icon. reset icon There will now be a #? prompt at the screen.

  5. Remove the short from pins 2-3, the prompt will still remain.

  6. Press the # key and there will be a ‘>’ prompt. At this point all of the Flash has now been erased, there is no Application Loader or PIC32-Basic. If something goes wrong repeat from step 2

  7. From the BV-Com menu > File > Send Text File.. Select the Application Loader hex file (in the downloads section) and this will begin to download.
    The file takes a while to complete using BV-Com and there is a progress bar to indicate the amount of data downloaded which should progress slowly.

  8. When the download has completed, indicated by the progress bar. Change the Baud rate to 2000000 and press reset reset icon
    Micro-Bos downloaded
    App Loader Downloaded
    When the download has finished the App Loader menu is available

  9. The BV513 is now ready to load the application (BV-Basic). See the PIC32 into page for how to do this.

Using the PICKit 2

The BV513 has a programming connector that consists of 5 pins, details are on this page. The connection is basically a 1 to 1 with the PICKit, pin 1 is the square pin on the BV513 and it is the pin marked with a white triangle on the PICKit. You will need the PICKit 2 programmer; (PicKit3 will probably be okay but not tested) load into it the Application Loader Hex file and program in the normal way.

The Application loader hex file also contains the Emergency boot program and so using a PicKit will restore the device to its factory condition.  Once the App. loader is in place you can use the loader to install C programs or BV-Basic, it is much faster then programming with the PIC programmer.