DCA1000EVM: Error using DCA1000EVM CLI Software

Did you issue ./DCA1000EVM_CLI_Control fpga configFile.json before start_record?

Hello again Sabeeh!

Yes I did, sorry I forgot to mention it

Charlie

The LVDS_PATH_ERR_LED indicates NO LVDS DATA received from the radar EVM within a timeout period.

Some debug steps:

1. Ensure that switch 2.5 on the DCA1000 is set to CONFIG_SW. 
2. Power switch on DCA is correct.
3. Host IP address is set to 192.168.33.30
4. json file matches that described in SDK user's guide.
5. Radar is flashed with latest out of box demo. 
6. Radar is being sent a valid cfg file that has the lvdsStreamCfg with parameters -1 1 1 1, typically by means of mmWave Demo Visualizer. 

Error codes are described in the DCA1000 user's guide: https://www.ti.com/lit/ug/spruij4a/spruij4a.pdf

Please read closely all available documentation.  

1-5 were already correct. I just tried updating the lvds configuration you suggested, but still had the same error. Is there anything else that could be wrong? What should the SOP jumpers on the radar be set to?

Thank you for your help,

Charlie

SOP0 and SOP1 should be ON, and SOP2 should be off. 

Is the power supply 5V and atleast 2.5A?

That's what it was before. Yeah it is. Would it make a difference flashing the radar device on a different PC? I have been using my Windows PC for the demo visualizer but using a linux PC with the CLI. Would it be better to use the demo visualizer on the linux PC? Or is there anything else that could be wrong?

Charlie

We need to understand if the problem is radar or dca. When you send the cli, does the sensor respond with done? Are you sure there are no errors? Could you probe the lvds signals to make sure they are there?

Are you starting the data record first or starting the sensor first?

Is the radar mounted well to the DCA?

I’m no longer aware on how to solve your problem. Recall that this is not the intended use of the dca.

No it doesn't respond with anything. No errors come up in the terminal and if I run query_status before stop_record it says Record process is initiated [Status -4031].

What do you mean by starting the sensor?

I have been running:

./DCA1000EVM_CLI_Control fpga configFile.json

./DCA1000EVM_CLI_Control record configFile.json

./DCA1000EVM_CLI_Control start_record configFile.json

Then wait for a bit and then

./DCA1000EVM_CLI_Control stop_record configFile.json

Is there anything extra I need to do?

The sensor is bolted to the DCA1000 and there are no visible issues with the 60 pin samtech connector.

I just tried it in mmwave studio (on a different PC) again and it worked fine first time.

I understand it may not be possible. It is really kind of you to be so helpful though.

Thank you,

Charlie

Hi Sabeeh,

I hope you had a good weekend. I have written a script using pyserial to load the .cfg file onto the sensor and control the sensorStart and sensorStop functions. This seems to be working, however, I am still getting the same issue and the LVDS_path_ error LED is still coming on. I can't find much information about it in the various user guides, but do you need to change any settings in the cfg file, for example, to make the sensor output its data over the samtech ribbon rather than via its usb? I've noticed that the mmwave studio sends a BSS.bin and MSS.bin file to the radar, but I have not seen any suggestion that this is necessary to do with the CLI software. Do I need to send the radar binary files?

Thank you for your help,

Charlie

Hi Sabeeh,

I have already tried it with the mmWavse Studio and it works. My serials script gives outputs saying done etc. from the UART port and a point cloud output from the data port, but it does not seem to work when the 60 pin ribbon cable is connected. Any idea why this is?

If I plug the ribbon cable in after is it running the DCA board flashes the data_tran_prg, but the same error still occurs if I do it at the same time as the CLI software.

Thank you for helping me.

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

Could you please post an image of your setup? Does it match what is shown in the training video I linked?

Here is the physical setup. Both boards have a 5v power supply (AWR=3A and DCA1000 =2A). The DCA board has an ethernet cable and USB in RADAR_FTDI port. The sensor has a USB cable in the only USB port. Jumpers are on SOPs 0 and 1.

Thank you,

Charlie 

I currently don't have a 1642 on hand to test this out for myself. Please give me many days to get access to one and I can test this then. 

That would be really great. Thank you

Charlie