Get Started Quickly with the PIC-IoT WA Development Board – Online Programming Guide

Embedded Development Boards, Kits, Programmers
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PIC-IoT WA Development Board ( EV54Y39A) integrates an all-in-one on-board debugger, eliminating the need for an external programmer. Online programming and debugging can be accomplished solely via a USB cable. This built-in debugger supports drag-and-drop programming, virtual serial port communication, and debugging within MPLAB X IDE, greatly streamlining the development workflow.

Core Hardware & Interfaces

The integrated composite USB debugger incorporates four key functions:

  1. MPLAB X IDE Debugger: Enables firmware programming and in-circuit debugging for the PIC24FJ128GA705 MCU.
  2. Mass Storage Device: Supports drag-and-drop programming; simply copy the compiled .hex firmware file to the board’s drive letter to complete flashing.
  3. CDC Virtual Serial Port: Interfaces with the on-board hardware UART to output application logs and support bidirectional interaction via terminal software.
  4. Data Gateway Interface (DGI): Works with a logic analyzer to deliver visual program flow debugging.

Key Status Indications via PS LED

Operating Mode LED Status Description
Power-up / Normal Operation Steady ON
Successful Drag-and-Drop Programming Slow blink (~1 Hz) for 2 seconds
Failed Drag-and-Drop Programming / Power Supply Fault Fast blink (~5 Hz) for 2 seconds
Firmware Flashing / Active Debugging Continuous slow blink (~1 Hz)
External Power Supply / Sleep Mode LED OFF

Key Operation Steps

  1. Connect the USB cable to your PC and wait for the debugger to finish enumeration (PS LED lights up steadily).
  2. Drag-and-Drop Programming: Copy the compiled .hex file to the debugger’s virtual mass storage drive, and check the LED blink pattern to verify the flashing result.
  3. IDE Debugging: Select the on-board debugger inside MPLAB X IDE to perform one-click firmware download and in-circuit debugging.
  4. Serial Port Interaction: After the PC recognizes the virtual COM port, configure the matching baud rate in terminal software (e.g., TeraTerm) to view real-time application logs.

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(Images sourced from Microchip)

CDC (Communications Device Class) Virtual Serial Port of the On-Board Debugger on PIC-IoT WA Development Board

Tech Tip ：The slow blink rate is roughly 1 Hz, and the fast blink rate is approximately 5 Hz. You can rapidly diagnose issues using the LED blink frequency. For example, if programming fails, first verify the integrity of the firmware file and the stability of the USB connection.

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  • PIC-IoT WA Development Board ( EV54Y39A)

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  1. Get Started Quickly with the PIC-IoT WA Development Board – A Quick Start Guide
  2. Get Started Quickly with the PIC-IoT WA Development Board – On-Board Resource Breakdown
  3. Get Started Quickly with the PIC-IoT WA Development Board – Power Supply Configuration Guide
  4. Get Started Quickly with the PIC-IoT WA Development Board – Online Programming Guide
  5. Get Started Quickly with the PIC-IoT WA Development Board – CDC Virtual Serial Port
Get Started Quickly with the PIC-IoT WA Development Board – Power Supply Configuration Guide
Get Started Quickly with the PIC-IoT WA Development Board – A Quick Start Guide
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