DCA1000EVM: Cannot connect RS232 to mmWave Studio 2.1.1.0

Hello,

Your device manager is correct, your switch orientation is correct on the ICBOOST and mmWave Sensor. The DCA switches however do not match what is seen in the DCA1000 User Guide in the Radar Toolbox on TI Resource Explorer. 

https://dev.ti.com/tirex/explore/node?a=1AslXXD__1.00.01.07&node=A__AGTrhNYW8jE6cMxbovlfaA__radar_toolbox__1AslXXD__1.00.01.07

Also in your example I see one USB cable coming from the ICBOOST, which is correct, but do you have a second one connected from the RADAR_FTDI port of the DCA1000 to the computer?

Best Regards,

Pedrhom Nafisi

Hi Pedrhom
Apologies for not getting back to you sooner, public holidays in Australia meant I only returned to work yesterday.
I've fixed the SOP switches on the DCA1000EVM board, and still run into the same issue.
Cables are connected correctly at the RADAR_FTDI port on DCA1000EVM and the XDS110 port on the ICBOOST board.
See picture below:

Hello,

Your switch orientation seems correct now. What is your power supply rated to? DCA1000 requires 5V 3A to operate properly. You also are to provide power from either the DCA1000 side or the ICBOOST side, and then flip the switch depending on which side you connected power to. In your picture I see two power supplies connected. Another thing you can potentially try is clearing the flash on the mmWave Sensor via Uniflash to ensure a clean state of a starting point

Best Regards,

Pedrhom

Hi Pedrhom

I originally was using a 5V 1A power supply (both ends). I've tried with both all power combinations: DCA switch set to DC_JACK_5V_IN, powered to DCA (this results in no power to the radar or mmwaveicboost). 

Also tried with DCA switch set RADAR_5V_IN (this results in power to all three boards, same result if both ends are powered).

Now I've changed it to use our lab's variable power supply, set to 5V and current set to max 3A. However, when plugged in, DCA1000EVM is only drawing between 0.3 and 0.7A, and still no luck successfully connecting to RS232.

Additionally, I can't flash the memory of the radar with Uniflash as the software cannot connect to the serial port (for what I assume are similar reasons).

Kind regards,

Ben

Can you try clearing the flash buy removing the ICBOOST and DCA1000, and connecting just the sensor? See if you can communicate with it serially in order to isolate each device

Best Regards,

Pedrhom Nafisi

HI Pedrhom,

When I connect the IWR6843ISK on its own and connect through Uniflash, I get stuck here:

It doesn't seem to be able to open the COM port.
Note if I select any other port, then it will stop and tell me it failed to connect, but when I select the correct port it simply sits in this state for hwat seems like forever.

Hello,

When you connected ISK on its own, did you switch the pin configuration to the proper flashing mode for standalone ISK? What you are seeing is generally what happens when the sensor is not in the proper mode to be flashed.

https://dev.ti.com/tirex/explore/node?a=1AslXXD__1.00.01.07&node=A__ACzleIuZ4g1GuBmtlq-cGg__radar_toolbox__1AslXXD__1.00.01.07

Best Regards,

Pedrhom

Hi Pedrhom,
Apologies for the slow reply.
Yes I did change the switches to flashing mode. Tried again today, (see image below), but the same error occurs.

Hi again, I've tested on 3 different PCs to see if it was an issue with ports being used, or permissions including with elevated admin privileges, but still no luck. It is completely unable to communicate with the serial port.