• State Resolved
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 10 replies
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 16 subscribers
  • Views 326 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Similar topics

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.

Original question:

RF430FRL152HEVM: Understanding firmware organization

RF430FRL152HEVM: Error Message: Please open serial port before using this feature

Bob63
Prodigy 90 points
Part Number: RF430FRL152HEVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP-EXP430G2ET, DLP-7970ABP, RF430FRL152H, TRF7970A, MSP-FET

Hi,

I am trying to use the demo mode on RF430FRL152HEVM.

The RF430FRL152HEVM GUI shows error message of Please open serial port before using this feature. GUI shows connected to TRF7970EVM. Can you please help me with the same.

Thanks
Bob

  • 0
    TI__Guru*** 128235 points

    Hello Bob,

    If you are doing demo mode you need a reader device to read the measurements over RF.

    See Section 1.3 of the FAQ for the other hardware needed: http://www.ti.com/lit/pdf/sloa247

  • 0 in reply to Ralph Jacobi
    Prodigy 90 points

    Hi Ralph,

    Thank you for your reply.

    I am using DLP Designs DLP-RFID2 reader which is equivalent of TRF7970EVM, will I still need to use  DLP-7970ABP BoosterPack plug-in module and MSP-EXP430G2ET LaunchPad development kit instead of just the reader?

  • 0 in reply to Bob63
    TI__Guru*** 128235 points

    Hello Bob,

    I have no idea if the DLP-RFID2 can be used with our RF430FRL152HEVM GUI. It's true the underlying firmware is the same but we have never tried to see if that module would work. If the handshaking to start communication with the GUI is okay then it should work, but it's not something we have tested or attempted to support.

    You can try connecting to the 'TRF7970AEVM' with that connected, but I am not sure if the GUI would even see it because it might look for the EVM's FTDI enumeration. In that case, I would then recommend to manually select the COM port. If those don't work though, it might be looking for a specific USB VID/PID combo and the DLP-RFID2 wouldn't be able to provide that.

    That's about all I can offer really... hopefully it works with one of those. Otherwise you'll need to get the BoosterPack which works a lot different than the DLP-RFID2.

  • 0 in reply to Ralph Jacobi
    Prodigy 90 points

    Hi Ralph,

    I will try it with the booster pack.

    I have few more questions

    1. I am trying to modify the existing RF430FRL152HEVM to interface it with a 2 terminal analog potentiometric sensor (sensor generates voltage without any input power) to ADC0 pin. What might be the best way to connect it to the chip, connect the positive terminal directly to pin 13 of the chip which is ADC0 and negative to ground or in some other configuration.

    2.And what will be the acceptable range of input voltage and current to pin 13. Can ADC0 save data if the input voltage is in negative?

    3.Is it necessary to have a reference resistor connected to ADC1, even while using internal temperature sensor.

    4. Which software tool is recommended if I want to perform a routine execution of steps for data logging applications?

    Thank You

    Bob

  • 0 in reply to Bob63
    TI__Guru*** 128235 points

    Hello Bob,

    Bob63 said:
    1. I am trying to modify the existing RF430FRL152HEVM to interface it with a 2 terminal analog potentiometric sensor (sensor generates voltage without any input power) to ADC0 pin. What might be the best way to connect it to the chip, connect the positive terminal directly to pin 13 of the chip which is ADC0 and negative to ground or in some other configuration.

    I am not familiar with that kind of sensor, but I don't see anything wrong with your implementation... the sensor datasheet hopefully can help shed more light into correct connections. This is the first time I've heard of such a sensor unfortunately.

    Bob63 said:
    2.And what will be the acceptable range of input voltage and current to pin 13. Can ADC0 save data if the input voltage is in negative?

    See Section 2.8 of our device FAQ: http://www.ti.com/lit/an/sloa247c/sloa247c.pdf

    Bob63 said:
    3.Is it necessary to have a reference resistor connected to ADC1, even while using internal temperature sensor.

    The reference resistor is only for Thermistor applications

    Bob63 said:
    4. Which software tool is recommended if I want to perform a routine execution of steps for data logging applications?

    For initial evaluation you can try and use the RF430FRL152HEVM GUI. For development of an end solution, I don't really have any suggestions, software tools is not our area of expertise.

  • 0 in reply to Ralph Jacobi
    Prodigy 90 points

    Hi Ralph,

    As mentioned in this document to use DLP-7970ABP booster Pack along with MSP-EXP430G2ET, I wanted to know whether the launch pad is being used for programming the booster pack or to reprogram and update the firmware on RF430FRL152HEVM.

    Does RF430FRL152H, just the IC comes pre-programmed with firmware on it. And do I need any other hardware to program it in case if it doesn't come preloaded or it can be done using the booster pack and launch pad.

    Meanwhile I am waiting for my order of booster pack and launchpad to arrive so I can evaluate the EVM. 

    Thank You 

    Bob

  • 0 in reply to Bob63
    TI__Guru*** 128235 points

    Hello Bob,

    It is used to drive the BoosterPack. The TRF7970A requires a host MCU to control it at all times.

    The RF430FRL152H has ROM firmware that runs on it which can be controlled via the virtual registers using the GUI to do measurements using the SD14 ADC. If you want to program it with custom software to use I2C, enable NFC messaging, etc. then you would need an MSP-FET to program the device. For production, you can do over-the-air programming, but I don't recommend relying on that for development as it's fairly easy to accidentally disable RF if you aren't careful with memory locations etc.

  • 0 in reply to Ralph Jacobi
    Prodigy 90 points

    Thanks Ralph for the prompt response.

    So basically MSP-FET wont be required until custom firmware needs to be uploaded and the GUI can help in maximum configuration of the IC.

  • 0 in reply to Bob63
    TI__Guru*** 128235 points

    Yep! There are a lot of configurations you can make to the SD14 from the GUI thanks to the ROM Sensor Stack. It's usually do change aspects of how the RF data is handled, adding I2C sensors, or using GPIO that requires custom firmware. 

  • 0 in reply to Ralph Jacobi
    Prodigy 90 points

    Thanks Ralph.