This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

DCA1000EVM: [AWRL6844EVM + DCA1000EVM] – RAW Capture via mmWave Studio Fails at Device Power Up (SPI Disconnected)

Part Number: DCA1000EVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AWRL6844EVM, , AWRL6844

Tool/software:

Hello TI experts,

I'm trying to perform RAW data captures using AWRL6844EVM and DCA1000EVM in mmWave Studio 2.1 / 4.3.1.0, following the instructions from:

Setup Details

  • Radar board: AWRL6844EVM (ES1.0)

  • Capture card: DCA1000EVM

  • Power: External 5V adapter connected to DCA1000

  • COM Ports:

    • Radar XDS110 UART (COM3) and Auxiliary (COM4)

    • DCA1000 FTDI (COM11 to COM14)

  • USB + Ethernet connected, static IP configured (1 Gbps verified)

  • mmWave Studio platform: xWRL684xx, with correct firmware paths loaded

  • I’ve successfully used COM3 and COM4 for point cloud capture with the In-Cabin GUI, so UART communication is known to work.

 Issue Description

Running the script common_device_setup.lua fails during the Device Power Up phase with the following error:

xw_status = -2007 (RL_SPIBUSY_TIMEOUT)
Device Power Up Failed-2007

  • SPI Connectivity: X Disconnected

  • APSS Status:  ??? Inactive

  • FTDI and RS232: Connected

From the logs, it seems the board hangs during SPI-based reset.

What I Have Tried

  • Verified DIP switch configuration on both boards (see attached photos)

  • Confirmed proper SOP mode (Mode 3)

  • Verified 5V external power supply (LEDs on)

  • Correct firmware paths and versions loaded in mmWave Studio

  • COM ports recognized and responsive

  • Reset FTDI and reconnected USB and Ethernet multiple times

Could you please help me understand why SPI is not initializing correctly?
Is there anything specific for AWRL6844 ES1.0 or DCA1000 I might be missing?

I will attach:

  • Photos of both boards and switch settings  

  • Screenshots of mmWave Studio connection window

  • Full output log from mmWave Studio

    [17:39:40]  xw_status, deviceMapInfo = mws.getFtdiDeviceInfo()
    [17:39:40]  DeviceIndex:0; SerialNumber:FT7RV54M; Description:AR-DevPack-EVM-012 
    [17:39:40]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:40]  --(getNumDevices): xw_return = 0; numFtdiDevices = 1
    [17:39:40]  xw_status, deviceMapInfo = mws.getFtdiDeviceInfo()
    [17:39:40]  DeviceIndex:0; SerialNumber:FT7RV54M; Description:AR-DevPack-EVM-012 
    [17:39:40]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:40]  --(getNumDevices): xw_return = 0; numFtdiDevices = 1
    [17:39:40]  xw_status, deviceMapInfo = mws.getFtdiDeviceInfo()
    [17:39:40]  DeviceIndex:0; SerialNumber:FT7RV54M; Description:AR-DevPack-EVM-012 
    [17:39:40]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:40]  --(getNumDevices): xw_return = 0; numFtdiDevices = 1
    [17:39:40]  xw_status, deviceMapInfo = mws.getFtdiDeviceInfo()
    [17:39:40]  DeviceIndex:0; SerialNumber:FT7RV54M; Description:AR-DevPack-EVM-012 
    [17:39:40]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:40]  --(getNumDevices): xw_return = 0; numFtdiDevices = 1
    [17:39:51]  xw_status = mws.selectBDType(1, 1, 0, 0)
    [17:39:51]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:51]  xw_status = mws.selectComIfType(1, 1000, 0, 2, 0)
    [17:39:51]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: mws.SelectCaptureDevice("DCA1000")
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: Status: Passed
    [17:39:51]  xw_status = mws.captureCardCfgResetFPGA()
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: Sending reset_fpga command to DCA1000
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: 
    [17:39:51]  Reset FPGA command : Success
    [17:39:51]  --xw_status=0
    [17:39:51]  xw_status = mws.captureCardEthernetCfg("192.168.33.30", "192.168.33.180", "12.34.56.78.90.12", 4096, 4098, 1)
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: Sending eeprom command to DCA1000
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: 
    [17:39:51]  EEPROM Configuration command : Success
    [17:39:51]  --xw_status=0
    [17:39:51]  xw_status = mws.captureCardModeCfg(1,2,1,2, 3, 25)
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: Sending fpga command to DCA1000
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: 
    [17:39:51]  FPGA Configuration command : Success
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: Sending record command to DCA1000
    [17:39:51]  [RadarAPI]: 
    [17:39:51]  Configure Record command : Success
    [17:39:51]  --xw_status=0
    [17:39:51]  xw_status, s_version, s_dllVersion = mws.getCaptureCardFPGAVersion()
    [17:39:52]  [RadarAPI]: Sending fpga_version command to DCA1000
    [17:39:52]  [RadarAPI]: 
    [17:39:52]  
    [17:39:52]  FPGA Version : 2.9 [Record]
    [17:39:52]  
    [17:39:52]  [RadarAPI]: Sending dll_version command to DCA1000
    [17:39:52]  [RadarAPI]: 
    [17:39:52]  DLL Version : 1.0
    [17:39:52]  --xw_status=0
    [17:39:52]  xw_status = mws.sopControl(0, 3)
    [17:39:52]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:52]  xw_status = mws.nReset(0)
    [17:39:52]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:52]  xw_status = mws.rs232Config(0, 4, 1, 0)
    [17:39:53]  Switching to BaudRate:921600
    [17:39:55]  xw_status, lot, wafer, devX, devY = mws.decodeDieId(1889763840, 2484060292)
    [17:39:55]  DeviceType:16656x
    [17:39:55]  SafetyType:1
    [17:39:55]  ES_PG_Version1
    [17:39:55]  SOP_MODE:3
    [17:39:55]  DieId:8380.1231405056.1889763840.2484060292
    [17:39:55]  XTAL_Type:1
    [17:39:55]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:55]  xw_status = mws.sopDebugFwPreBootCfg(0, 0, 0, 0)
    [17:39:56]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:56]  xw_status = mws.fwBuildImageDownload(0, 2, "C:\\ti\\MMWAVE_L_SDK_06_00_03_00\\mmwave_l_sdk_06_00_03_00\\firmware\\mmwave_dfp\\rfevalfirmware\\appss\\mmwave_plt_ram.rig")
    [17:39:56]  file_name:C:\ti\MMWAVE_L_SDK_06_00_03_00\mmwave_l_sdk_06_00_03_00\firmware\mmwave_dfp\rfevalfirmware\appss\mmwave_plt_ram.rig, file_size:90840, num_images:1
    [17:39:58]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:58]  xw_status = mws.sopDebugFwPostBootCfg(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)
    [17:39:58]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:39:59]  xw_status = mws.fwBuildImageDownload(0, 1, "C:\\ti\\MMWAVE_L_SDK_06_00_03_00\\mmwave_l_sdk_06_00_03_00\\firmware\\mmwave_dfp\\rfsfirmware\\xWRL68xx\\mmwave_rfs_patch.rig")
    [17:39:59]  file_name:C:\ti\MMWAVE_L_SDK_06_00_03_00\mmwave_l_sdk_06_00_03_00\firmware\mmwave_dfp\rfsfirmware\xWRL68xx\mmwave_rfs_patch.rig, file_size:5160, num_images:1
    [17:39:59]  --xw_status = 0
    [17:40:00]  xw_status, t_deviceStatus = mws.devicePowerup(0, 0, 0, 0)
    [17:40:02]  -----------rfEvalDevAppStsGet----------- 
    [17:40:02]  
    [17:40:02]  [DFP API]xw_status, response=mws.rfEvalDevAppStsGet(0)
    [17:40:02]  --[[ Response
    [17:40:02]                c_GenVerNum = 0                               
    [17:40:02]              c_MajorVerNum = 0                               
    [17:40:02]              c_MinorVerNum = 0                               
    [17:40:02]              c_BuildVerNum = 0                               
    [17:40:02]                     c_Year = 0                               
    [17:40:02]                    c_Month = 0                               
    [17:40:02]                     c_Date = 0                               
    [17:40:02]                 c_Reserved = 0                               
    [17:40:02]                  h_FwState = 0                               
    [17:40:02]                 c_XtalType = 0                               
    [17:40:02]             c_DigPllStatus = 0                               
    [17:40:02]         c_AppCoreClockType = 0                               
    [17:40:02]               c_SafetyType = 0                               
    [17:40:02]           h_CoreFreqFcount = 0                               
    [17:40:02]               c_PlatformId = 0                               
    [17:40:02]                   c_RfType = 0                               
    [17:40:02]               c_TestTarget = 0                               
    [17:40:02]               c_TestStatus = 0                               
    [17:40:02]                w_reserved1 = 0                               
    [17:40:02]  ]]
    [17:40:02]  --xw_status: -2007 (RL_SPIBUSY_TIMEOUT)
    [17:40:02]  
    [17:40:02]  Device Power Up Failed-2007
    [17:40:02]  --xw_status = -2007
    [17:40:02]  
    [17:40:02]  &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
    [17:40:02]  ***Script FAILED!***
    [17:40:02]  &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
    [17:40:02]  Exception message is:
    [17:40:02]  ...eStudio_luaExamples\xWRL6844\common_device_setup.lua:81: ERROR: API failed
    


  • Screenshot of COM port configuration in Device Manager



Thank you for your support!

Best regards,

Razvan