What is the downside of using the TI programmer at ti.com/ez430 over the MSP-JTAG-Tiny? The price is right.
ez430 can program only the F2013 by 4 wire interface
MSP430-TINY can program all MSP430 microcontroller both by JTAG and spy-by-wire
Tsvetan
I just got back from the TI 430 seminar - got a free ez430. they claimed that the ez430 will program all the 430F2xx series parts.
Looks like a pretty nice chip set though it’s missing some things. good low power support though.
I got one of these neat little things and have been having fun implementing a little PWM pulser for the built in LED, but I just got some MSP430F2013 DIPs for playing with on a breadboard…but how would I go about programming them using the EZ430?
There are a few pins on the actual USB interface (not the target board): P2, P4, P5, P6, P7, TP1, TP3 but I can’t find much information about using the interface with an external microcontroller.
After testing the pins with a multimeter and looking at the datasheet I think the 4 wire interface is as follows:
[P14] [P10] [P11] [P1]
Gnd Data Clock Vcc
There also seems to be a pullup resistor on P10 (which would make sense since it’s also /RST)
Can someone who knows more about this verify it?
Should I just solder some wires to my EZ430 or is there a better way?
There are schematics of eZ430-F2913 in the User’s Guide - slau176a.pdf. (-; Read the documents before you start to do reverse engineering 
On the USB tool, the test points TP1 through 7 are 5V power and the 4-wire JTAG pins for the MSP430F1612 (part of the tool, NOT the target). TI probably has already blown the JTAG protection fuse of MSP430F1612. That renders these test points of little value to the user.
The target only needs to connect to the four pins at J2:
J2 pin 1: 3.6V-regulated power ==> target MSP430F20xx pin 1 (Vcc)
J2 pin 2: Spy-bi-wire TCK ==> target MSP430F20xx pin 11 (TEST)
J2 pin 3: Spy-bi-wire TDIO ==> target MSP430F20xx pin 10 (RST)
J2 pin 4: Ground ==> target MSP430F20xx pin 14 (Gnd)
Ooops I guess I didn’t get that far in the user guide :oops:
Now how would you recommend I connect my existing EZ430 to my new MSP430 DIPs? Ideally I would get some of the connectors mentioned in the user guide…
What are the part numbers for the connectors between the MSP-
EZ430U and the MSP-EZ430D target board?
• Header: Mill-Max 850-10-004-20-001000
• Socket: Mill-Max 851-93-004-20-001000
Mill-Max: http://www.mill-max.com
But you need to be a distributor and/or buy pretty large quantities for all the places I’ve checked. Can someone point me to where i can get these sampled or in low quantities (<10 maybe?)
Otherwise, I suppose I could solder some wires directly to the board. Any better ideas?
Well, so much for that great idea, I managed to destroy it 
Now I have to wait another for months to get one. At least it was only $20.
Does this work as well as the EZ430?
[MSP-JTAG Parallel Port Dongle Programmer](MSP-JTAG Parallel Port Programmer - PGM-00015 - SparkFun Electronics)
mouser sells the 40 pin version of the sockets and headers. sockets cost $12, headers cost $8. they are snappable. kind of pricey when all you want is 4 pins worth. especially considering that the ez430 costs $20 if you actually buy one. maybe sparky could carry them… I think $3-4 would be a fair price.
has anyone done a solderless BB header for the detachable F2013 module? I’m actually thinking of desoldering the socket and putting 2 sets of right angle headers so the pins are 300 mills apart. then I’d have the programmr connector and easy access to all the pins in a breadboard.
that 2013 is a complex beast. their documentation doesn’t help much. I’m finding it a bit of a slough trying to put all the pieces together. It took me several reads of the DCO stuff to figure out how to get the thing to run reasonably fast. And doing PWM took a lot of flipping between sections.
I’ve found that the eZ430-F2013 can easily be used to program breadboarded DIP F2013’s (haven’t tried other MSP430’s yet) with the IAR kickstart software that comes with the eZ430-F2013.
The one and only thing to be very careful about is keeping track of which pin is which on the 4-pin connector going from the programmer to the daughtercard (or, rather, to your breadboard); if you misread [the schematics on TI’s website (I did) and get Vcc and GND mixed up (I did!), things get warm quickly!
Anyhow, look at page 10 of the PDF document linked above for the schematic. This shows the programmer from above; USB connector is to the left, the 4-pin connector J2 to the daughterboard (or your breadboard) is to the right.
So… top to bottom: Vcc, SBWTCK, SBWTDIO, GND.
You can get a connector that fits the eZ430-2013 from Mill-Max or any of their distributors, but you don’t really need that. Instead, use two micrograbbers to connect pins 2 and 3 on the programmer to your breadboard, then use two AA batteries (+ to Vcc, - to GND) to power the MSP430 on your breadboard.](http://focus.ti.com/lit/ug/slau176a/slau176a.pdf)
Don’t they need a common ground too?
I’ve been on vacation for a week so I’m just getting back to this.
I desoldered/removed the 4 pin connector on the target card, carefully soldered 4 wires to pins (of the connector) and then used shrink wrap tubing to protect the joints. The wire is solid core so I just jammed into the Solderless BB slots and it works great. Originally, I connected the wires to a 100 mil pitch plug to make it cleaner but its actually easier this way.
and yes, common ground is needed but it’s provided by the connector.