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ADC12D1800RB: Status LEDs almost all off and WaveVision freezing

Part Number: ADC12D1800RB

I am having a problem with the analog to digital converter ADC12D1800RB. I am using the software Wavevision to read data; however, I am not able to read any signal from the ADC. As soon as I turn the ADC on, only the ECM_ENABLED LED turns on. Wavevision identifies the board, but when I ask to read a signal from the board, it just freezes until I turn the board off. Additionally, the FPGA chip is heating up quite quickly. I called TI support, but it seems they are unable to help with this part. Does anyone have an idea what it could be?

  • Hey Augusto,

    I assigned your question to a device expert. They should be with you shortly.
    In the meantime you may want to provide a schematic & pcb layout of your board for them to take a look at.

    Yusuf
  • Hi Augusto

    Can you provide a picture of the top of the ADC device (U1) on the board?

    Please also provide a picture of the area of the board that identifies which board variant this is. There should be a check mark in the box for ADC12D1800RB.

    Please confirm you are connecting a 12V DC power supply capable of supplying at least 3A of current to the board.

    First power on the board and then connect the USB cable to the computer. Confirm that the driver is installed correctly.

    Then start the Wavevision5 software.

    Once the software opens, it should identify the board and download FPGA firmware.

    Please confirm those steps happen and record what board name is identified at this step and what FPGA image is loading.

    Click on the right side of the GUI to open the Signal Sources tab.

    Click the pin icon at the top of this panel to lock it open and provide a screen shot showing the details.

    At this point the Sampling Rate value should be 1800 MHz. If it is the correct value click on the Acquire Data button at the top of the GUI. 

    If the Sample Rate is not correct there is some problem with the board or the configuration being loaded. I'll address that once you provide the information.

    Best regards,

    Jim B

  • Thanks for the reply. Here are the pictures that you requested.

    Indeed, the sampling rate is not right. As you can see, right now is 157.284 MHz.

  • Hi Augusto
    Did this board work initially and then stop working?
    If so, did anything in the setup change? PC? Wavevision5 installation?

    Or is this a new board that never worked with this PC/Wavevision5 configuration?
    If so can you try it with a different PC?

    Regards,
    Jim B
  • Jim,

    The board was working fine. This problem started in the middle of a regular reading. Nothing changed before this measurement or anything. And I have been using this board more often for the last two months or so.

    I tried using it in a different PC, but the same thing happened: still freezing, same LEDs on, same sampling rate...
  • Hi Augusto

    If that is the case then I suspect something on the board has failed due to handling or usage stress. If the board was operated in a closed box some components could have exceeded their rated max temperatures.

    I recommend downloading the design information for the board and beginning some hardware debugging.

    I would check the power supply voltages first to confirm all voltages are correct.

    Then I would check for a clock signal (after the firmware has loaded and the board should be ready). A relatively easy way to check the clock signal is to connect a spectrum analyzer to the external clock input connector. Some RF energy will leak past the R180 A/B resistor which selects internal versus external clock. You should see a weak signal at 1800 MHz if the PLL/VCO is working correctly.

    If the clock is OK then there may be an issue with the ADC power and configuration or with the FPGA power or configuration.

    Best regards,

    Jim B