MSP-FET MSP430 Flash Emulation Tool Programmer

The MSP-FET is a powerful emulation development tool – often called a debug probe – which allows users to quickly begin development on MSP low-power microcontrollers (MCU).

It supports programming and real-time debugging over both JTAG and SBW interfaces. Furthermore, the MSP-FET also provides a Backchannel UART connection between the computer’s USB interface and the MSP UART. This affords the MSP programmer a convenient method for communicating serially between the MSP and a terminal running on the computer. It also supports loading programs (often called firmware) to the MSP target using the BSL (bootstrap loader) via UART and I2C communication protocols.

The USB interface connects the MSP-FET to the computer, while the 14-pin connector provides access to the MSP debug emulation port – which consists of either a standard JTAG interface or by using the pin-saving Spy-Bi-Wire (2-wire JTAG) protocol.

Connection between the 14-pin cable and the MSP debug port is commonly handled by placing a standardized 14-pin header connector on the target board and routing the necessary emulation signals to their respective debug pins. This method provides software developers with a simple, in-system debug model.

For convenience early in the software development cycle, the MSP-FET can be used in conjunction with the MSP Target Socket boards. Along with the 14-pin debug connector, these kits provide access to pins on your MSP device, making it easy to begin software development right away, even before designing and building your own target board.

For MSP432 devices it is possible to connect to the MSP-FET via the MSP432 Adapter for MSP-FET to boards with ARM 20pin and ARM 10pin connector. You can use either the standard ARM JTAG interface or by using ARM SWD (2-wire JTAG) protocol.