TRF7960A Evaluation Module and reading tags

Carlton Washington

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TRF7960A, MSP-FET

Hello,

I'm trying to get the TRF7960A Evaluation Module to read passive tags. I have downloaded the software and have both TI Tag-It passive tags as well as some card-like tags from TI. I have not been able to use the GUI to read any tags so far. Even using the Find Tags mode on the GUI, the board will not read any of the tags I have. The board is in parallel mode as headers 4 and 5 are connected together.

Is there something I'm doing wrong? Is there code that I must load before I will be able to read any tags?

Thanks

over 9 years ago

0 Eddie LaCost over 9 years ago

TI__Mastermind 38580 points

Hi Carlton,

First, are you using TI Tag-it or Tag-it HF-I. The difference is that Tag-it is an older, obsolete, proprietary standard and Tag-it HF-I are actually ISO 15693 compliant. The tags that come with the EVM are Tag-it HF-I.

Next, if you just plug the board in and dont connect to the GUI, do you see an LED turn on when you present a tag to the antenna?

0 Carlton Washington over 9 years ago in reply to Eddie LaCost

Prodigy 40 points

Yes, the tags have Tag-it HF-I on them. When I don't connect to the GUI and present a tag, no LEDs turn on.

0 Eddie LaCost over 9 years ago in reply to Carlton Washington

TI__Mastermind 38580 points

It sounds like you have a bad board or wrong firmware loaded to the board. Where did you get the board from? Is it new? Did you just purchase it or has it been worked on and maybe a different firmware was loaded on it?

0 Carlton Washington over 9 years ago in reply to Eddie LaCost

Prodigy 40 points

The board was given to me by an engineer in one of the other labs and it has been worked on. Additionally, I believe the previous user was using an external antenna but I would like to use the antenna already on the board. Is there a way to factory reset the board or load the original firmware?

0 Eddie LaCost over 9 years ago in reply to Carlton Washington

TI__Mastermind 38580 points

Carlton,

To load a new firmware to the board, you need to use the MSP-FET and flash it via the JTAG interface. If you don't already have this tool, it is available below. I suggest connecting the on-board antenna as I show below first, then if the device still does not function, try loading new firmware. It does sound a bit like you may just have the antenna disconnected.

http://www.ti.com/tool/msp-fet

To use the on board antenna, be sure that R3 is in place. When using an external antenna, R3 is removed. You can check the schematic as well and be sure that nothing else is missing in the signal path to the on board antenna.

0 Carlton Washington over 9 years ago in reply to Eddie LaCost

Prodigy 40 points

R3 was the problem. The board works perfectly now. Thanks

Other wireless

Other wireless technologies forum

TRF7960A Evaluation Module and reading tags