DCA1000EVM: Quick Start Guide fails with AWR1642BOOST

Michael Parker

Part Number: DCA1000EVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AWR1642BOOST, AWR1642

Issues with DCA1000EVM Data Capture Card attached to AWR1642BOOST

July 18, 2018

I bought an AWR1642BOOST version 2.0 that seems to work as advertised with mmWave Demo software running on a Windows10 computer.

Then I bought a DCA1000EVM and am having problems working through the DCA1000EVM Quick Start Guide

First I list a series of questions keyed to an attempt to follow the "DCA1000EVM Quick Start Guide" (SPRUIK7-May 2018).
Then I present gory details on what I tried.

QUESTION 1: When I installed mmwave studio (Quick Start step 4 below) the installation seemed to go OK (windows with bars moving, etc.).
However it was not clear how to run the program. Many folders with files were installed to a folder named
C:\ti\mmwave_studio_01_00_00_00.
After some looking I found a file named C:\ti\mmwave_studio_01_00_00_00\mmWaveStudio\RunTime\mmWaveStudio (Application).

When I ran this application file I got the display screen shown on the "Quick Start, section 1 getting started" page2
but there was one minor difference, the RED “DCA1000” at the upper left corner above “RadarAPI” is missing
I assume this is the right program to run. AM I CORRECT SO FAR??????

QUESTION 2: When I click "Set UP DCA1000" on the left side of the screen I get a window labeled "RF DataCaptureCard".
At any point in step 7 or 8 (see below) this window displays "FPGA version: 0.0.0.0" (see NOTE1 below)
Is this a hint that something is wrong in the DCA1000 FPGA firmware?
If so, do you have any suggestions of what is wrong or what to do about it?

QUESTION 3: See problems at step 8 below. What location should MSVCR120.dll be stored in (assuming that is my problem)?

QUESTION 4: In mmWave Studio GUI user’s guide, section 9.3 is a note “2. Matlab Run Time Engine (Version 8.5.1) and
HSDCPro Software are pre-requisites for Post Processing utility available in mmWaveStudio GUI”.
Do I need these software installed or running at this time? If not, when do I need it running and can you point me to some documentation?
IHDSC Pro didn’t install to the same directory as mmWave Studio. Is this a problem? If so, what needs to be done.

DETAILS FOLLOW:
Items numbered below correspond to numbering in the "DCA1000EVM Quick Start Guide"
They were accomplished apparently successfully except when noted:

1. Attached boards physically as shown in Figure 1 of Quick Start Guide

2. Data and Supply Cable Connections:

a. Micro USB to J1 on DCA1000 for FTDI interface

b. Micro USB to J8 on AWR EVM for XDS110 interface

c. Ethernet RJ45 cable to J6 on DCA1000

d. Two 5V 3A power supplies, one for each board

e. Jumpers on SOP0 and SOP1 (development mode)

f. SW3 switch set to DC_JACK_5V_IN

3. Static IP address for computer set as shown in Figure 3 and no other devices on Ethernet

4. Download and install the mmWave Studio and the Matlab Runtime Engine

5. Installed the FTD drivers

6. Ports are as shown in Figure 4 except, as expected, the numbers assigned to COM ports are different.

7. At this point I ran mmwave_studio to get the display needed to “Issue a board reset and connect the RS232 COM port”
required in this step of the instructions. Running the program I see FTDI connected and if I click on the reset button
a yellow LED on the AWR1642 board blinks. If I set the proper com port and baud rate in the RS232 window and click on connect,
RS232 status shows green (connected).

8. At this point, I selected the file DataCaptureDemo_xWR.lua and clicked run. Everything seemed to run correctly at first;
the proper lines in the upper middle were filled out (green when appropriate), the BSS and MSS firmware was loaded,
SPI Connected, and RF Powered-up.

But then in a few seconds an error message box popped up saying “Packet_Reorder_ZeroFill.exe – system error” “code execution can’t proceed
because MSVCR120.dll was not found”. I tried reinstalling the Mmwave Studio again with the same results.

The last two lines in the output window were:

[Radar API] : Packet Reorder Utility Started … please wait ….

[Radar API]: arl.PacketReorderZeroFill (“ then a bunch of file names “)

ADDED NOTES

NOTE1: Following the "mmWave Studio GUI user's guide" Figure 9.3 shows FPGA Version: 2.5 Record Bit File but I see FPGA Version: 0.0.0.0.

NOTE2: I have not yet verified that there is ethernet communication between the PC and the DCA1000 using Wireshark as suggested in
"DCA1000EVM Data Capture Card user's guide" section 8, Troubleshooting.

Thanks for any help!!

over 5 years ago

0 Jitendra Gupta over 5 years ago

TI__Guru 68160 points

Hello Tulasikrishna,
This ticket is being assigned to concern expert. He'll get back to you soon.

Regards,
Jitendra

0 Vivek Dham over 5 years ago in reply to Jitendra Gupta

TI__Guru 58035 points

Hello Tulasikrishna,

Yes, the mmwave_studio_01_00_00_00\mmWaveStudio\RunTime\mmWaveStudio.exe is the right application.
Can you confirm you have the right Matlab Runtime Engine version installed? You need the version 8.5.1 (32bit). Use the link provided in the quick start guide step 4.
HSDC pro is not required for the DCA1000. That is needed only for the TSW1400.

Regards,
vivek

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Vivek Dham

Prodigy 100 points

Thanks for your answer to my question 1. I see that it was in mmWave Studio GUI User's Guide section2.2 all along......sorry.

Regarding MatLab version 8.5.1, I did use the link provided.
I see folder c:\Program Files (x86)\MATLAB Runtime\v851 which contains lots of stuff, on my computer.
Also when running mmWave studio 1.0.0.0, in the output window I see the line
[RADARAPI] : Matlab Engine Started!
So I think it is installed OK.

Regarding HSDC pro..... thanks, I will ignore it.

Regards, Mike P. ....... not Tulasikrishna :-)

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Parker

Prodigy 100 points

Well some good news ..... maybe.... in regard to my Question 2 where I see "FPGA version 0.0.0.0"
I can get a display of "FPGA version 2.7 Record Bit File" by doing exactly the following.
1. First turn off Windows Defender firewall. I speculate it blocks UDP packets.
2. Power Up Hardware
3. Start mmWave Studio 1.0.0.0
4. In Radar API window MANUALLY click buttons Set(1) through SPI connect(5) in numerical order with appropriate pauses.
5. Click button Setup DCA1000 on left side of window.
6. When RFDataCaptureCard window opens, click Connect, Reset and Configure button at bottom.
Then "FPGA Version " at the top will stop being 0.0.0.0. If you click Disconnected (the new button label) FPGA Version will toggle back to 0.0.0.0.

I still have a major crash and my Question 3 regarding MSVCR120.dll (or the program that does zero fill) is not resolved.

Regards, Mike P.

0 Vivek Dham over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Parker

TI__Guru 58035 points

Hello Mike,
Apologize for the mistake in the name, I was misled by the name mentioned in Jiten's response :-).

Now that firwall issue is resolved can you reset and run the "DataCaptureDemo_xWR.lua" again following the quick start guide steps?

Regards,
Vivek

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Vivek Dham

Prodigy 100 points

Hi Vivek,

I have tried reset, establish the RS232 connection, and then running "DataCaptureDemo_xWR.lua again multiple times. I get the same results, ending in the .dll error, previously reported.

I am on vacation till Mon July 30.

I can answer some questions, but I will not be able to run any more tests till I return.

Regards,

Mike

0 Vivek Dham over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Parker

TI__Guru 58035 points

Hello Mike,
Looks like there is some windows dependancy for the MSVCR120.dll. Can you refer to the following Microsoft forum where a similar issue has been resolved?

answers.microsoft.com/.../ef3bca56-3155-4383-ac99-d2a6ea262831

regards,
Vivek

0 Michelle Liu over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Parker

TI__Genius 11405 points

Mike,

Could you please let me know the operating system you are using? windows 7 or windows 10?
Please confirm if the reinstalling of visual C++ helps.

Thanks!

Regards,
Michelle

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Vivek Dham

Prodigy 100 points

Hi Vivek,

I just got back from vacation and tried working through the Microsoft note you pointed me at. It refers to https://www.groovypost.com/howto/fix-visual-c-plus-plus-redistributable-windows-10/ which I found useful.

I am running windows 10 and found that that the missing dll was not in "Apps and Features". So I downloaded what I thought was the required install file from Microsoft. It installed without errors, and what I believed to be the required .dll file can be seen in "Apps and Features".

So I was very happy until I ran the mmwave studio and it failed in exactly the same way as before.

SO THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED :-(

I am in the process of installing the software on a different laptop (also running windows10). I will report back once I am done.

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Michelle Liu

Prodigy 100 points

Hi Michelle,
I just saw your query after I sent a note to Vivek. As that note says, I'm using windows10. Running the install file VSU_vcredist_x86.exe didn't help. I then ran the install file for x64 and that didn't help either. I then tried deleting the folder c:\ti\mmwave_studio, downloading from ti again, and reinstalling; that didn't help either......

0 Michelle Liu over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Parker

TI__Genius 11405 points

Mike,

Thanks for the confirmation of the operating system.
The link you used, it mentioned that MSVCR120.dll missing means that Visual C ++ 2012 need to be installed.
Did you install following the 2012 link? The file under that is called VSU_4\vcredist_x64.exe

Thanks and Regards,
Michelle

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Vivek Dham

Prodigy 100 points

See later notes.

0 Michelle Liu over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Parker

TI__Genius 11405 points

Mike,

What I would like to confirm is that you mentioned: VSU_vcredist_x86.exe was installed.
From the website (www.groovypost.com/.../),
click the "Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Update 4 Redistributable (x86 and x64)",
then click Download, I saw the file is: VSU_4\vcredist_x64.exe

Are we talking about the same download path/file?

Thanks and Regards,
Michelle

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Michelle Liu

Prodigy 100 points

There were two possibly correct files in the 2012 link and I wasn't sure which to use.
First I successfully ran the install file VSU_4\vcredist_x86.exe . Then I tested mmWave Studio and it failed with MSVCR120.dll missing message.
Then I successfully installed from the file VSU_4\vcredist_x64.exe . I didn't delete the previously install x86 file (if that makes a difference). Testing mmWave Studio resulted in the same MSVCR120.dll missing message.

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Michelle Liu

Prodigy 100 points

Yes, the same download path/file. I believe I may have mistyped the file name from handwritten notes in a previous post.

At this point in "Apps & features" I have a file named
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x64) - 11.0.61030 which is 20.5 MB.

I have similar files with other names like Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x86) - 11.0.61030
Thanks, Mike P.

0 Michelle Liu over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Parker

TI__Genius 11405 points

Mike,

Under the link Vivek sent initially, there is a response with the following suggestion:
Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

copy>paste the following command:

SFC /scannow

wait to finish the procedure.

after type the command:

exit

Could you give it a try?

Thanks

Regards,
Michelle

0 Michelle Liu over 5 years ago in reply to Michelle Liu

TI__Genius 11405 points

Mike,

I also searched and found this link:

Could you also try installing the 2013 version as suggested?

Thanks and Regards,

Michelle

0 Michael Parker over 5 years ago in reply to Michelle Liu

Prodigy 100 points

Yea!!!!! You are my hero Michelle.

After installing the 2013 version as you recommended, I got past my MSVCR120.DLL missing error message. I post the following info in case it helps anyone else.

1. When I got your message, I was in the middle of installing everything on a second windows10 laptop given the possibility that something was wrong with the original one. So this morning I decided to continue the install on th new laptop and then incorporate your suggestions.

2. This second laptop had only a small amount of software on it. Looking in "Apps and features" revealed only the 2005 version of Visual C++ and no MatLab.

3. First I tried installing MatLab followed by mmWave studio. In retrospect, MatLab never got fully installed. To confuse me, during the MatLab install attempt there were messages suggesting it was modifying 2008 Visual C++ (I think) and of course 2008 wasn't installed . There was no change to the Apps and features files, and mmWave studio failed on the first page of text output (before running MatLab), and the Radar window never appeared.

4. Since 2008 is after 2005, I thought that it needed something newer. So I installed 2012 Visual C++ and the file appeared in "Apps and features". Then I tried to install MatLab, and was successful. The MatLab file was now in "Apps and features". Running mmwave studio, and following the sequence of steps described in one of my earlier posts, got me much farther along, but it still failed with the MSVCR120.DLL missing error message....just like the original laptop computer.

5. Then I read your more recent suggestion to install 2013 Visual C++. After installation, mmwave studio ran to completion with a screen similar to that shown in Figure 6 of the Quick Start Guide. I was VERY happy. I didn't test any further, but installing 2013 Visual C++ should clearly be one item in the installation instructions.

Let's declare my original list of problems solved, and I will get back to trying to doing some electrical engineering......Thanks again.

Mike P.

0 Michelle Liu over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Parker

TI__Genius 11405 points

You are welcome, Mike. Thanks for going the extra mile to verify the fix on another machine.

Regards,
Michelle

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DCA1000EVM: Quick Start Guide fails with AWR1642BOOST