Programming and First Run

Once the hardware is configured, you are ready to program the device for the first time.

Open a session of the MPLAB IDE.

1. From the "File" menu, select "Import." Browse to the Precompiled Hex subdirectory in your demo project directory and select the *.hex file that matches your hardware setup. The hex file names describe the hardware that the file has been compiled for. For example, the file "Microchip Solutions v2011-06-02\TCPIP\Demo App\Precompiled Hex\C18-PICDN2_ETH97 18F97J60.hex" corresponds to the generic TCP/IP Demo application for the PIC18F97J60 on the PICDEM.net 2, using the PIC's internal Ethernet module. A document enumerating the abbreviations used in the hex file and project file names is available in the Microchip Solutions v20xx-xx-xx/Help directory.
2. Verify that the MPLAB IDE processor target selection and linker script (if one is present) match the part on your demonstration board (ex: PIC18F97J60).

Note that the projects and source code used to build each hex file are present in the project directory. The hardware and firmware configuration files used to build each project are included in the Configs subdirectory. 

Programming 

Select your device programmer from the Programmer menu in MPLAB, and then use the Program shortcut button or the Program menu option to program the code you imported to your board. 

Clearing the EEPROM 

The TCP/IP Stack stores network configuration settings (such as the host name, MAC address, default static IP addresses, SNMP strings, WiFi network name (SSID), etc) in external EEPROM on the board. The demo project will detect if the default values have been changed in the EEPROM, and if so, use the new values. If not, the demo will use the default values configured in TCPIPConfig.h and WF_Config.h. Checksums stored in the EEPROM are used to determine if the structures stored in EEPROM are valid. Manually clearing the EEPROM will allow the demo to resume using the default settings. 

Use the following procedure to clear the EEPROM:

1. Make sure the development board is programmed and not in debug mode
2. Disconnect the MPLAB® ICD 2/3 or MPLAB REAL ICE^TM from the board
3. Press and hold BUTTON0 (RD13/S4 on Explorer 16 or RB3/S5 on PICDEM.net^TM 2)
4. Press and release the MCLR button
5. Continue holding BUTTON0 until several LEDs flash indicating that EEPROM has been cleared. This takes about 4 seconds.
6. Release BUTTON0
7. Press and release MCLR again to reset the software

Once you see LED0 (right-most LED) blinking, the software is running and ready for use. 

If you are using the MRF24WB0M / MRF24WG0M WiFi PICtail, you'll need to configure your wireless access point first. For all Ethernet devices, Connect your Development Board to your network.