CC3200MOD: regarding selection of wifi module -RTOS, SSL/TLS, FOTA,TCP

Ankur Dubey

Part Number: CC3200MOD
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: UNIFLASH, ENERGIA, CC3200, CC3220SF

Hii,

I have following doubts-

1)Does this CC3200MOD has MCU in it?

2) I am making my own board using CC3200MOD, can i use FT2232 chip to program it, i read in it's launchpad manual of CC3200MOD that there is a FTDI JTAG emulator chip used, is that to help program the board serially?

over 7 years ago

0 Jan D over 7 years ago

Guru 80275 points

Hi,

1. Yes, CC3200MOD have MCU inside for your code execution. It is Cortex-M4 at 80MHz with 256kB RAM for code + data.
2. External FTDI chip is used for development (debugging from IDE) and UART from FTDI for uploading final code into flash memory inside module (using Uniflash 3.4 software). But if you don't want to use JTAG (e.g. development using Energia), you don't need to use JTAG. For Energia is UART mandatory only. If you decide to use FT2232 chip, configuration for FTDI chip you find here processors.wiki.ti.com/.../CC3100_&_CC3200_FTDI_Flashing

As reference for your development you can take design of CC3200MOD LaunchPad ( www.ti.com/.../CC3200MODLAUNCHXL ).

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Jan D

Intellectual 385 points

Thanks for the reply

What does this extra ftdi chip means, are you referring to the FTDI chip we see on the development kit?
Please correct me if any thing i am mentioning is wrong-
What i understood is -
1) CC3200MOD can be programmed using JTAG but this development kit has an FTDI chip which helps us to program it seriall;Right?
2) I dont need any extra JTAG for programming, if i develop my own board, just i need to interface it with FTDI chip as it is done in this development board and i can do both uploading of code as well as debugging.Right?

Which software can be used to debug as well as code; I dont want to purchase a JTAG.

0 Jan D over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 80275 points

Hi,

FTDI chip at CC3200MOD LaunchPad works as JTAG (XDS-100) and UART as well. JTAG can be used with Development IDE and allows to upload code into RAM and debug code there (use breakpoints, watch variables, etc.). Because code by JTAG is uploaded into RAM only, code is not retained after reset. For this purpose you need to use UART and Uniflash software and upload code into flash chip inside module.

TI supports two Development IDEs at CC3200 devices:
- CCS (free IDE made by TI - www.ti.com/.../CCSTUDIO )
- IAR Embedded workbench (about 2000,- USD)
If you want use Arduino like IDE, you can select Energia ( http://energia.nu/ ).

My recommendation if you starting development with CC3200 devices you should consider buy CC3200 LaunchPad ( www.ti.com/.../CC3200-LAUNCHXL ). For beginning of development you can use LP and later connect XDS-100 from LaunchPad to your board. Starting development without LaunchPad can be very painful even for experienced embedded developer.

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Jan D

Intellectual 385 points

Thanks for the help, it solved my many doubts;
Just one query regarding the hardware design-
1) How to program and debug it using SWD mode?
2) Which pins for connection for SWD mode?

0 Jan D over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 80275 points

Hi,

SWD mode can be selected by SOP pins. See datasheet ( www.ti.com/.../cc3200mod ) at chapter 5.9.3.

But my recommendation is do not to use SWD with CC3200 devices. Personally I had many issues with CC3200 at CCS + XDS-100. Better is to use 4-wire JTAG, it works at CC3200 well.

Few videos:
www.youtube.com/watch
www.youtube.com/watch

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Jan D

Intellectual 385 points

Thank You
I am interfacing Micro SD card with CC3200, i gone through the Pin Multiplexing section of datasheet,
I have to do interfacing using 4-Bit mode, not using SPI mode
For that i need
DAT2
CD/DAT3
CMD
VDD
CLK
VSS
DAT0
DAT1

I figured out the GPIOs for
DATA0-GPIO9
CLK-GPIO10
CMD-GPIO11

i am not understanding the SD_IRQ pin and where to connect DAT1,DAT2,CD

PLEASE HELP ME OUT

0 Jan D over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 80275 points

Hi,

I haven't experience with that connection. CC3200 SH Host Controller supports 1-bit mode only ( see www.ti.com/.../swru367 at chapter 11).

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Jan D

Intellectual 385 points

I gone through the antenna circuit of development kit, there are two ufl connectors one for Murata and other one free, can i use just one in my custom design? how can i eliminate any of those and which one?

0 Hnz over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 39650 points

Hi,

Yes, you don't need to use Murata connector. This connector is used at LaunchPad for RF tests during production.

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Hnz

Intellectual 385 points

what is the difference between

cc3200MOD

and CC3200

i m seeing that there are two development kits respectively for both of them.

0 Hnz over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 39650 points

Hi,

- CC3200 is a QFN chip
- CC3200MOD is module with QGN chip inside together with sFlash, XTAL, filter, etc.

btw... why do you use CC3200 and not CC3220? CC3220 especially CC3220SF is much better. Also with CC3220SF exist module with integrated antenna at module.

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Hnz

Intellectual 385 points

I am using above circuit for antenna, what is the value of L8( highlighted) i juat want to give UFL, not the chip antenna.

0 Hnz over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 39650 points

Hi,

L8 and C49 are here for antenna impedance matching (50 Ohm impedance). Values should be determined after measurement at particular board. For this measurement you will need RF equipment. That means spectral analyser for direct measurement or RF generator and other equipment for comparison method. Other option is calculate RF paths (or copy design from reference board), create your own board and test board in real conditions and hope that your RF design will not be poor. RF design without proper measurement is always risky and depending or yours RF design experiences.

Maybe I should mention that schematic above is for CC3200 QFN chip. In case of you want to use MOD you don't need connect RF filter (FL1) into RF path, cause is integrated inside module already.

Layout guide for CC3200 QFN is available here ( www.ti.com/lit/ug/swru370a/swru370a.pdf ). Though it is for QFN chip, information about antenna design are related to MOD as well.

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Hnz

Intellectual 385 points

Thanks,
So you are saying that i can connect the RF_BG pin of Module directly to the UFL Connector, rather than through LC circuit.

0 Hnz over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 39650 points

Hi,

No. I say that you need set matching circuit according particular board. Values can be selected after RF measurement at your board.

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Hnz

Intellectual 385 points

Actually i need to use CC3200MOD,\
1) if i dont know about impedence matching, how can i just connect the UFL Antenna and by which circuit;
2) Previous module which i have used was for ex. ESP32 Wrover-I; there just i needed to connect the Antenna;
Just i need to know that how could i interface an antenna with this CC3200MOD, i m bit confused.

If i use above circuit then, do i have to use L1 and C2 ? what is the two ground symbol after that; one is antenna and what is the other;

If not this which reference circuit i should use to connect antenna

Thanks for such quick support.

0 Hnz over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 39650 points

Hi,

Antenna impedance is important parameter for any RF device it is not important whether it is CC3200 or ESP32.
Module ESP32 Wrover-I have UFL connector on module already. From this reason you don't deal with the proper impeder matching on your board. Only you need select proper antenna. TI module CC3200MOD does not have UFL connector on module. But some 3rd party manufacturers have available module with CC3200 with UFL connector.

If you not have experience with RF design, you should ask for help to someone with this experiences. If this is not possible, my advice is to take reference design and use it as close as possible at your board. That mean same number of layers, same plating and board thickness, same material of board, same antenna path width, etc. For calculation of impedance at PCB exists many software tools - e.g. www.saturnpcb.com/pcb_toolkit.htm

Jan

0 Ankur Dubey over 7 years ago in reply to Hnz

Intellectual 385 points

1) can you please provide the reference design link please; i m not getting which reference design you are referring.

2)If i use above circuit then, do i have to use L1 and C2 ? what is the two ground symbol after that; one is antenna and what is the other;

If not this which reference circuit i should use to connect antenna

0 Hnz over 7 years ago in reply to Ankur Dubey

Guru 39650 points

Hi,

1. Good example of RF design with CC3200MOD are design files for www.ti.com/.../CC3200MODLAUNCHXL and chapter 6.3 in datasheet.
2. Impedance matching circuit depends on your RF design (PCB layout) and used antenna. I cannot say exact values which will suits into your design. I cannot say whether this parts are mandatory at yours PCB. This matching circuit may/may not be required.

At schemas above is used chip antenna (from this reason "slightly confusing" schematic symbol).

Jan

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CC3200MOD: regarding selection of wifi module -RTOS, SSL/TLS, FOTA,TCP