How to check if the UART module within the dsPIC is working?

[gsg]

hello

I want to test serial communication between dsPIC33FJ128MC202 and PC. I tried the example code given in the dsPIC manual (Section 17 UART). But there is no output at all. I'm checking output on the Hyperterminal of my PC.

Can someone tell me how I can check if the UART module within the dsPIC is working or if there is some other circuit problem? can I see the ASCII output from dsPIC with oscilloscope?

Here's the code:

#include <p33FJ128MC202.h>
 
 #define FCY 40000000
 #define BAUDRATE 9600
 #define BRGVAL ((FCY/BAUDRATE)/16)-1
 unsigned int i;
 int main(void)
 {
 // Configure Oscillator to operate the device at 40Mhz
 // Fosc= Fin*M/(N1*N2), Fcy=Fosc/2
 // Fosc= 8M*40(2*2)=80Mhz for 8M input clock
 PLLFBD=38; // M=40
 CLKDIVbits.PLLPOST=0; // N1=2
 CLKDIVbits.PLLPRE=0; // N2=2
 OSCTUN=0; // Tune FRC oscillator, if FRC is used
 RCONbits.SWDTEN=0; // Disable Watch Dog Timer
 while(OSCCONbits.LOCK!=1) {}; // Wait for PLL to lock
 U1MODEbits.STSEL = 0; // 1-stop bit
 U1MODEbits.PDSEL = 0; // No Parity, 8-data bits
 U1MODEbits.ABAUD = 0; // Auto-Baud Disabled
 U1MODEbits.BRGH = 0; // Low Speed mode
 U1BRG = BRGVAL; // BAUD Rate Setting for 9600
 U1STAbits.UTXISEL0 = 0; // Interrupt after one Tx character is transmitted
 U1STAbits.UTXISEL1 = 0;
 IEC0bits.U1TXIE = 1; // Enable UART Tx interrupt
 U1MODEbits.UARTEN = 1; // Enable UART
 U1STAbits.UTXEN = 1; // Enable UART Tx
 /* wait at least 104 usec (1/9600) before sending first char */
 for(i = 0; i < 4160; i++)
 {
 Nop();
 }
 U1TXREG = 'a'; // Transmit one character
 while(1)
 {
 }
 }
 void __attribute__((__interrupt__)) _U1TXInterrupt(void)
 {
 IFS0bits.U1TXIF = 0; // clear TX interrupt flag
 U1TXREG = 'a'; // Transmit one character
 }

Please guide me.