PIC18F4550 USB Dev tool Review

[Asskick]

Index

1. Introduction
2. Packaging
3. The Chip
4. Requirements
5. Installation
6. Usage
7. Our tests
8. Conclusion

*WARNING*
WHEN USING THIS UNIT FOR PS3 JAILBREAK, DONT TRY BOOTING THE PS3 RECOVERY MODE WITH THE USB DEV BOARD CONNECTED. IT *WILL* BRICK YOUR BOARD WITH NO OPTION TO REPROGRAM EASILY VIA USB. (THIS SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING ALL PIC BASED USB DEV BOARDS THAT CONTAINS BOOTLOADER)

PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS ONGOING THREAD PS3 System Recovery bricking PIC18F4550 Based USB Dev Board


1. Introduction

Today we present you another alternative for creating our own --Freedrom (we dont want to get sued too for using the $ony trademark LOL). This time this usb dongle is based on a PIC18F microcontroller

With this version, we received a PS3 power cord that has a built in on/off switch that helps the process of doing the cold boot to jailbreak our PS3.

Official Product Description:

The PIC18F4550 USB Dev Kit is loaded with features, including a large 32kbytes of programming memory, optimized for CSS programs.

The PIC18F4550 microcontroller bootloader is pre-installed, together with the necessary crystal and power supply components, for a ready-to-run solution. Simply connect the power and download the your program, using the easy to use programming interface and software, and your ready to start exploring the New PIC18F USB adapter.




2. Packaging

The chip comes packaged on a purple bag. Just as we saw with the previous version of Max AVR USB, this device comes on a PCB only design, but better designed from our point of view.



3. The Chip

This version of USB Dev Board is based on a PIC18F44550 Microcontroller. Most manufactures want to offer alternatives to other hard to find atmegas versions. Lucky we have a PSFreedrom
port which is able to run on this particular microprocessor.As expected, this chip comes blank with just the bootloader required to do the hex flashing.



4. Requirements

Ok so now were gonna focus on getting this product to work on our beloved PS3. To start this is what is needed:

Hardware
- PS3 FAT/SLIM (Duh!)
- PC/Laptop to flash the PIC AVR the first time
- One original PS3 Game (if you want to test the Backup Manager)
- Free space on Internal/External HDD on the PS3 if plan to use with Backup Manager

Software
- PS3 OS 3.41 or lower installed (if your 3.42 your out of luck)
- PC OS Windows
- HID Bootloader 2.6b (To flash the AVR. Grab it here http://www.pic18fusb.com/downloads.html)
- .net Framework 4, Visual C++ Redistributable
- A working hex file to flash it with


5. Installation

Here are the official steps for flashing the USB Dev tool for the first time:

# Download and install .Net Framework 4 and Visual C++ sofware.
# Download and extract the HID Bootloader 2.6b software
# Open the HID Bootloader 2.6b software
# Insert PIC18FUSB Device into a usb port on your Computer (XP, Vista or Win 7 32/64 OS)
# Press and release the programming button on PIC 18F USB
# PC should ding and load drivers for new USB device
# Once PC has detected device the GUI will now allow you to "Open Hex File", select the HEX you want to program with.
# Click Program/Verify button
# Device will Flash the hex and you will see a script saying Verify running. Once you see Verify Started you good to go. the software has a slight bug that usually wont complet verify, but your safe to remove the device and USE your hex.






6. Usage

The AVR should be programmed with the PSGroove by now, so its time to put it to work. To do so, the first step we need to do is be sure that no other usb device is attached to the PS3.

Verify that the USB Dev Device should be connected on the first port on the front of the PS3. The unit must have been cold booted (PS3 Fats, move the on/off switch from the back, and PS3 slims
would need to have the power cord disconnected/connected). After that, we need to turn on the PS3, and just after hitting the ON button, we need to press the EJECT button.

After a few seconds, first the AVR will lit up a red led, and after 1 or 2 seconds it will flash the red led. A couple seconds more, and the PS3 should be booting jailbroken.

Congratulations, now you have a PS3 running on DEV mode If you want to install ipk packages (ie ps3 ftp server or bacukp manager) you need to copy the files onto a usb mass storage device,
and you will be able to install them from the Game menu inside the PS3.



Here is a small video showing how to boot up the ps3
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eViFzZbq0g"]YouTube - PIC USB Dev working on with PSFreedrom on PS3[/ame]



7. Our tests

With 24 hour of testing, the device worked as expected (it just depends on what hex you load on it on what its supported/works )


8. Conclusions

Another day, another way to get our PS3 on jailbreak. These units are on onstock and ready to ship with their distributors. For the PS3 Slim users I highly recommend getting the ps3 power cord
with the ON/OFF switch, so you wont have to be connecting/disconnecting the cable everytime to want to jailbreak the ps3.


Pros:
+ Price
+ Uses open source project for its code, making it a safe product
+ Easy operation
+ No opening of the PS3 required
+ Updateable via usb
+ Alternative to atmega
+ Thicker design of PCB which makes a better fit on the USB port


Cons:
- Doesnt come with housing
- No Green led (Still the red led serves as status led, red led should flash until DEV mode is locked, then it should turn solid, indicating the PS3 is in the proper mode). No big deal with this cons just it might require users a bit more reading to see what to expect with the led.


Link: Official Website http://www.pic18fusb.com/

PIC USB DEV Device MSRP: $36.00 USD

PS3 Power cord with ON/OFF MSRP: $9.00 USD

We would like to thank VGC Repairs (http://www.vgcrepairs.biz) for supplying us a unit for our review