DCA1000EVM: Can't get connection to RS232 COM port

Hi Pedrhom,

Thanks for your response.

Unfortunately that didn't help. Once the connection to the RS232 has been established, then no more later.
-as per customer.

I already asked the steps on how they conducted the test, waiting for their response.

Thank you.

Regards,
Archie A.

Hello Alec,

Appreciate your support. Customer responded that he still need assistance. He makes sure the following:

Make sure to connect to
"Application/UART" COM port
entry in Windows Device Manager: i have seen it... it is com port 5

Check all physical connections
(USB cables, power cables): it worked already for an hour... the next day not

Ensure that both SOP0 and SOP1
are jumpered across or set to "ON"
position: yes i see it

Close any other programs that may
be accessing the serial ports for the mmWave device: i have restartet my computer. There is no other programm that i have startet, that uses serial ports.

I already have seen this Document in the TI-Forum. I already have made every single step. Yes, i need help with your boards. I dont know why your boards doenst work with your Documentation...what inforamtion did you need to help me efficient?

Thank you.

Regards,
Archie A.

Hello,

Could you please take a picture of your DCA1000 hardware setup? I would like to confirm that all switches and connections are in the proper position for your device as shown in the 6840.mmWave_sensor_raw_data_capture_using_DCA1000_68xx.pptx linked prior. A screenshot of the mmWaveStudio error would be helpful too.

Best Regards,

Pedrhom Nafisi

Hi Pedrhom,

Just got feedback from my customer. Below is there set-up/switch position:

Thank you.

Regards,
Archie A.

Hello,

Your switches across the three devices are correct. Can you also confirm to me that there is no SDK card inserted in the bottom of the DCA1000? If so then please take it out and try again without it inserted.

Best Regards,

Pedrhom Nafisi

Hi Pedrhom,

Thanks for the guidance. Cx responded:

No there is no sd card in.
Now the connection with the RS232 has worked again. This is highly unreliable!!! Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
I have another error message. What can I do about this? I only have one device.
I meant your upload function here. If I do it a few times then it will eventually upload the image.
Is there any way to increase the reliability of the RS232 interface?

Thank you.

Regards,
Archie A.

Hello,

The symptoms you describe heavily alludes to a physical issue with one of your cables. It is most likely something a cable is faulty which is causing the sporadic behavior. Another solution you can try is turning off Windows Firewall, as we have gotten prior reports that the firewall can interrupt your connection with the DCA1000.

Best Regards,

Pedrhom Nafisi

Hi Pedrhom,

Thanks for your guidance. Customer still need assistance.

What is about the problem with the problem: power on one device at time? I have only one device at the laptop.
When I click "SPI connect" I get the error message. I put the error message here as an image.
I haven't changed anything. As you see in the picture "error", there is a connection to the Rs232. In the debugging handbook there is no comment about this! I followed only the steps in the power point document. I dont believe that there is a physical problem with the usb-cables... with other boards, the usb calbes works verry well for data communication!
Error message: power on one device at time.

For further assistance.

Regards,
Archie A.

Hello,

This error is definitely more unique than other ones I have seen. Within Device Manager, can you confirm that there is only two COM ports when your EVM is connected and that it is set to the correct one? I want to make sure no other peripheral is potentially messing with the EVM connection. A screenshot would be helpful.

Best Regards,

Pedrhom Nafisi

Hi Pedrhom,

Sorry for the late response.

The customer confirmed that the device manager looks well, there are expected number of port for one device.

Any further support?

Thank you.

Regards,
Archie A.

Hello,

Since last discussed we launched a new DCA1000 user guide in our Industrial Toolbox for mmWave Sensors, it includes a larger amount of helpful information and a better step by step showing of setting everything up so please double check that document which I will link here: https://dev.ti.com/tirex/explore/node?a=VLyFKFf__4.12.0&node=ADM7JMPr28skUt9Iw1fYGQ__VLyFKFf__4.12.0

Best Regards,

Pedrhom Nafisi

Hi Pedrhom,

Sorry for the late update.

My customer kept on opening his query due to the intermittent connection of the device:

The RS232 interface is still working very unreliable. And there I have so far only the possibility to restart everything. And even then it is not guaranteed that a connection will be made! This procedure does not meet my expectations and costs extremely much time. Here I expect a better solution so far.

Any insights on how to prevent this issue? Thank you.

Regards,
Archie A.

PS: This post may help also:

AWR2243BOOST: RS232 Connectivity Status : Disconnected

Hello,

If the Debugging Handbook solutions did not work, then it has to be a hardware issue somewhere or something is corrupt with your mmWaveStudio installation. I would try uninstalling and reinstalling mmWaveStudio, trying another cable, and trying another computer if possible. Considering it is working sometimes means that the setup must be correct with some aspect of it being faulty.

Best Regards,

Pedrhom Nafisi