MMWCAS-DSP-EVM: TDA Capture Card Timeout Error

Stefan Karmakov

Part Number: MMWCAS-DSP-EVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MMWCAS-RF-EVM, AWR2243

Tool/software:

I communicated with TI customer support over an email thread (reference number CS2407727) about an issue I'm having with setting up the MMWCAS-DSP-EVM Cascade Radar. Customer Support advised me to post this in the forum to get engineering support.

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I'm trying to set up an mmwcas-dsp-evm Board with an mmwcas-rf-evm RADAR using the Cascade user guide (https://software-dl.ti.com/ra-processors/esd/MMWAVE-STUDIO/latest/exports/mmwave_studio_cascade_user_guide.pdf). I'm using versiosns mmWave Studio-3.00.00.14 and mmWave DFP-01.02.05.01.

I've managed to connect to the Radar, following the GUI set-up steps until 7.3.2, I'm attaching a screenshot of the RadarAPI that shows the 4 devices connected (see screenshot below). The connection between the PC and the board is through Ethernet.

When I try to collect data though, I encounter a problem. I follow the guidelines in 7.3.3 Capturing Data, but when I click TDAxx ARM, I get a time out error in the Output window. I am not able to progress after that point.

I have recorded a video of how I set up the whole system in the hopes of it giving you more information: https://vimeo.com/960441961/778e5f9fb4?share=copy

I tried restarting the Radar, the mmWave Studio and the PC.

The IP address is pointing to the one collected from the Host board "ifconfig" command.

No error messages were present in the Output tab when connecting the Radar, and I can establish a connection to the TDA through the "TDA Capture Card Configuration" window.

I flashed the SD card again, and checked and confirmed that the SSD being detected and is not full (most of it is empty).

Keen to hear your suggestions how to solve the issue, or if you spot any problems with the set-up. If you need more information, I'm happy to provide it.

In order to expedite a solution, please can we arrange a telephone call with you a member of your team so we can resolve this privately, in 'real-time'. This is a time critical development for us, so we'd greatly appreciate getting a slot in the diary asap.

Best,

2 months ago

0 Cesar 2 months ago

TI__Guru*** 140494 points

Hi,

I don't think the DFP version is correct.

The mmwcas-rf-evm requires the latest firmware for AWR2243

MMWAVE-DFP-2G Firmware | TI.com

Thank you
Cesar

0 Stefan Karmakov 2 months ago in reply to Cesar

Prodigy 20 points

I tried the newest version 02_02_04_00 of DFP. I used the Meta file ..\mmwave_dfp_02_02_04_00\firmware\xwr22xx_metaImage.bin. The file was loaded correctly and I was able to perform the RF Power-up, but unfortunately the system still came back with the same error as before: Card time-out

As this was done on the 3.0.0.14 mmWave Studio software, I tested the same on the newest version of the studio - 03.01.03.01. I used the newest DFP version too, but the system came back with an error during the RF Power-up (Error: Read Register failed with error -8). This discouraged me to use the newest version of the studio, and the older one 3.00.00.14 (which allowed the RF Power-up to occur) was used afterwards.

Keen to hear your suggestions, as updating the DFP version for the meda image did not solve the issue with the failing data collection. If it is possible, we can jump on a call and walk you through my set-up and issues.

0 Cesar 2 months ago in reply to Stefan Karmakov

TI__Guru*** 140494 points

Hi,

The DFP version 02_02_04_00 should be correct.

Based on the error message it looks like there is some configuration error for frame.

Please review the frame and chirp configuration.

Thank you

Cesar

0 Stefan Karmakov 2 months ago in reply to Cesar

Prodigy 20 points

Hello,

I tried playing around with the parameters in the "Chirp" and "Frame" boxes in the SensorConfig menu, as well as the "Files to be allocated" and "No of Frames to Capture", but I wasn't successful, the same error persists.

Could you please give me some exemplary numbers for the parameters that I need to change, as I cannot find in the Cascade User Guide anywhere to specify how and what parameters to adjust for the Chirp and Frames. I tried to change the numbers on pretty much all the parameters I thought relevant, but I'm stabbing in the dark. Below I'm attaching screenshots of the parameters that I'm running the system with:

Best,

0 Kaushik Gowda 1 month ago in reply to Stefan Karmakov

TI__Mastermind 20505 points

Hi Stefan,

Thank you for your patience. Cesar is currently out of office, and I will be continuing this discussion with you.

Here are some timing parameters that you can modify and debug:

Frame periodicity: This dictates when to stop the framing of the device. This time will control the arrival of the frame end async event from the device that is used as a control signal in various places in the capture application.
Idle time (Part of profile config): This is the delay after each chirp that can be programmed when there is no active chirp or transmission or sampling going on. This can alter the chirp interrupt timings which again act as a control signal within the capture application.

Modifying these should allow you to pick the right timings provided that was the root cause of the issue you are seeing. Please try the same and let me know how it goes.

Just to add more, you can go through the following documents to troubleshoot your issue better and get back with more information.

(+) [FAQ] MMWCAS-RF-EVM: Cascade Board related Queries - Sensors forum - Sensors - TI E2E support forums

(+) [FAQ] Raw ADC data Capture from mmWave Sensor - Sensors forum - Sensors - TI E2E support forums

(+) [FAQ] Queries related to mmWave DFP - Sensors forum - Sensors - TI E2E support forums

(+) [FAQ] Queries related to mmWave Studio - Sensors forum - Sensors - TI E2E support forums

Regards,

Kaushik

0 Stefan Karmakov 1 month ago in reply to Kaushik Gowda

Prodigy 20 points

Hey Kaushik,

Thank you for your reply and for sending the documents. I'm going through the different steps again to make sure the set up is correct. I'm checking the hardware and want to ask about the TDA Firmware flashing image. I want to make sure I eliminate all potential avenues for error from the set-up. The one I'm using is:

...\ti\mmwave_studio_03_00_00_14\mmWaveStudio\PlatformBinaries\TDA2Firmware\sdimage_3_7_1.img

but it looks like from this forum (https://e2e.ti.com/support/sensors-group/sensors/f/sensors-forum/903549/mmwcas-dsp-evm-problem-on-flashing-the-tda-firmware) the question was resolved using another image, according to the last comment. But the newly used image is not specified in the forum answer. Can you please point me to the right image to use for flashing the SD card.

Best,

Stefan

0 Kaushik Gowda 1 month ago in reply to Stefan Karmakov

TI__Mastermind 20505 points

Hi Stefan,

Seems like the link shared is broken, would it be possible to summarize what was in the thread?

As far as I am aware, I can confirm that this is the same image version (3_7_1) that is used with the Cascade EVM setup.

Regards,

Kaushik