Installing a virtual COM port driver on Windows 7 for a USB connection to PIC18F4550

[dskilla]

Hi all

I have a MCP3551 PICtail PCB installed as a USB / HID compliant device on my Windows 7 PC.

This PCB contains a PIC18F4550 MCU, which cannnot be programmed (as I dont have a programming tool for this device).

I tried looking on the internet on how to install this device as a virtual COM port, but I couldnt make sense of the information out there.

Hence my question : Could anyone point me to a tutorial which explains how to install the above mentioned MCU as a virtual COM port on a windows 7 PC please? All hints are appreciated.

 

[embRTS]

https://www.4shared.com/rar/UAWbGxB-/MCHPFSUSB_Setup_v12.htm

Download MCHPFSUSB and install it your PC

 

[paulfjujo]

hello,

maybe you can install mikroE bootlader executable,
but at first,install mikroEbootlader.hex for pic18f4550
with ICSP connections & pickit3
after you only need USB connect to upload your application.
In any case you need a programmer for the 1rst time.
except if you buy a pic18f4550 with allready bootloader installed..
as the Startusb mikroE click card.

 

[dskilla]

Hi all,

Thank you very much for your hints embRTS and Paul and sorry for my late response. I tried installing MCHPFSUSB, but could not figure out how to get a virtual com port (had very limited time to finish my investigation in the lab.). I havent tried the MikroE bootloader. In the end I used a DAQ which was finally repaired, which was a workaround. I hope that somebody else may find your hints useful. Thanks again for responding.

 

[themask]

You said that the MCP3551 is installed as a USB-HID device, why then are you trying to use it as a virtual COM port?

If the PIC18F4550 is pre-programmed with a USB-CDC that implements a virtual serial port operation, then what you are try to do is possible. But this doesnt seem to be the case.

The product page in the microchip website says that there is an example program (Dataview v1.0.2 PC Software Setup) for this hardware. You should install this instead.