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CC3200 versus CC3100

Joe Kissell
Prodigy 40 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC3200, CC3100

I'm trying to decide whether or not to use a different MCU with the WiFi Network processor. 

I first need to understand how the Network processor is configured using the CC3200? Via register configuration, or via an API?

If it's an API interface, then using a different MCU shouldn't be an issue, right?

  • 0
    Guru 21435 points
    You work with the NWP subsystem by using the SimpleLink API, this is the same when using CC3200 or CC3100 (via say a Tiva C Host MCU).

    Not sure how much research you have done so far. But the basic different between the CC3200 and the CC3100 is that the CC3200 is a all in one WiFI MCU, it is actually made up or 2 MCUs, a ARM Cortex M4 which runs the host code, peripherals etc and an ARM Cortex M3 MCU, which runs the NWP Subsystem. The CC3100 on the other hand contains just the NWP subsystem and will need a host MCU, such as an MSP430 or Tiva C....other MCUs can be used, but you will need to port the SimpleLink drivers if not available from a third party.

    Glenn.
  • 0 in reply to Glenn Vassallo
    Prodigy 40 points

    Let's suppose I use a Kinetis MCU to communicate with the CC3100 NWP via SPI. The commands I send through that SPI to the CC3100 are the same whether I'm using the Kinetis MCU as if I were using the built-in ARM Cortex M4 on the CC3200, right? But if I understand you correctly, the advantage of using the CC3200 is that it comes with a "SimpleLink API" that greatly simplifies sending those commands...?

  • 0 in reply to Joe Kissell
    Guru 21435 points
    In effect yes. The biggest issue with going with Kinetis MCU over the CC3200 (or CC3100 with the Tiva C or MSP430xxx), is that you will need to port the drivers to this MCU if someone has not already done so. Performing this work is no small task.

    You can find out more about porting, by reviewing the CC3100 SDK and looking at doc/simplelink_api - www.ti.com/.../cc3100sdk

    Glenn.
  • 0 in reply to Glenn Vassallo
    TI__Mastermind 18455 points

    Hi Joe,

    In general, we like it when people are using TI MCUs; It could be CC3200, MSP430, TivaC etc. In those cases we are already providing reference drivers and code examples.

    However, in case you decide to go with a non TI MCU, please note, that the porting effort for the simplelink driver is very small and it is a very easy process.

    You can refer to the following link to see what is required: http://software-dl.ti.com/ecs/cc31xx/APIs/public/cc31xx_simplelink/latest/html/porting.html

    Thanks,
    Alon