eZ430-RF2480

In order to program the eZ430-RF2480 to do something different, you need to get a copy of the IAR Workbench tools for MSP430.  This allows you to modify the existing example application software running on the MSP430F2274 which is found at the Product folder in the eZ430-RF2480 ZASA sample code.

stoui said:

Hi, does anyone knows where can i find a library of eZ430-RF2480 (zigbee) for visual basic or other programming language?

I guess I'm not quite understanding what you are asking regarding a library for Visual Basic.  The aforementioned software is what is running on the MSP430F2274 and requires a tool chain like IAR Workbench to implement.

stoui said:

I want to write a small software (if possible in Visual Basic ) that when the temperature sensor drops, lets say below 20 C to give me a small message...

Can i do that? I already have the eZ430-RF2480  (One USB dongle interface MSP-eZ430U, Two powered by battery boards (eZ430-BB) ) from texas instruments but i have no idea how to manipulate (or better input) the signal from my sensor to visual basic (or any other programming language) .

I suspect this will require a combination of the IAR Workbench tools and potentially an application on your PC with Visual Basic, or the like, to implement.  First, you should modify the example application code to generate a message when the temperature drops below your stated threshold of 20C.  You could have this be sent to the PC over the COM port support on the eZ430-RF2480 device.  Your Visual Basic program could then pick up that message and do whatever alarm, or other action based on that message.

Hi BrandonAzbell, thnks for your advices.

This IAR Workbench tools for MSP430 is a software that runs a code (like the default one of  eZ430-RF2480 device, that takes temperatures from the nodes?) i`m i correct?

As i read  IAR Workbench uses c and c++ language so its better to write my code to this language than to mess visual basic right?

It's better in that the only IDE (Integrated Development Environment) available and supported for both the part and the ZigBee stack is the IAR Embedded Workbench. Neither is supported in Visual Basic. BTW, all of the software is written in C for this embedded processor.

Scott

From post http://community.ti.com/forums/p/1395/11925.aspx#11925

stoui said:

I download IAR workbench but i don`t how to use it yet...

 

IAR Workbench is the Integrated Development Environment which enables the ability to create, compile and debug (through an emulation connection to the target device) software targeting the MSP430 or Chipcon devices like the CC2430 which have an 8051 in them.

With the eZ430-RF2480, the emulation functionality is already included in that board (ie. the PCB that has the USB connector on it).  In this case, you would be using the IAR Workbench that is geared for the MSP430.  IAR Workbench has access to the code generation tools, compiler, assembler and linker for the MSP430.  You need to configure it to target the MSP430F2274, as that is the specific device used on the eZ430-RF2480 radio target board.

stoui said:

I want to write a small software that when my temperature sensor drops below lets say 20C to give a message or a warning.

As mentioned before, I would suggest taking the eZ430-RF2480 ZASA example found on the Z-Accel Demonstration Kit Product Folder.  This has example IAR Workbench projects targeting the eZ430-RF2480.
This should get you started.  At the very least, will give you an example which will provide some familiarity with IAR, compiling and downloading into the MSP43F2274 on the eZ430-RF2480 kit.

The eZ430-RF2480 not only supports the emulator interface over the USB interface, but also a Virtual COM Port over the same USB interface.  This allows you to connect a terminal program like HyperTerminal to the MSP430's UART interface.  Once your target application running on the MSP430 uses this interface, you can have the MSP430 target application send your messages over the COM port.

stoui said:

I`m using vista is it compatible with ez430 - rf2480?

I haven't tried it specifically.   I believe there may have been other posts on the forum regarding this.

stoui said:

IAR workbench is a program just to download the code to the usb of ez430 - rf2480?

No, IAR Workbench is an Integrated Development Environment tool set that allows one to develop applications for embedded devices such as the MSP430.  It does communicate with the JTAG interface of the MSP430 through an emulator which in this case happens to be USB based.

 BrandonAzbell  thanks a lot i now have a clue from where to start.

Unfortunetally when i debug a sample code i get this message "tools using parallel port are not supported on windows vista", so i guess i have to try on xp!

So to create my software as i want (to get a message below 20C) i need to write a new code or modify the sample one (by adding some instructions for the message box that i want) in IAR workbench and then download it to the usb receiver of ez430 rf2480?

Or do i need to write another software in C++ and in some way calling functions of iar workbench ?

 Could you quide me a little bit if your are familiar with these things....

Thanks a lot!

Hello,

Yes, you have to install windows xp since IAR Work... doesnt work with vista.

To modify your device u have to use IAR but, to develop a application in you PC you can use Visual Basic. If I were you, I would not change msp430 code to send a new message once temperature is below 20ºC, instead I would program an application on PC (using VB) that read the temperature sent by the cc2480 every n seconds and, when it receives a temperature below 20ºC, show a message on screen.

"As mentioned before, I would suggest taking the eZ430-RF2480 ZASA example found on the Z-Accel Demonstration Kit Product Folder.  This has example IAR Workbench projects targeting the eZ430-RF2480."

I've downloaded and installed the IAR software, I see some *.c and *.h files located in C:\Texas Instruments\EZ430-RF2480 but I do not see the workspace file. I did a search on all of C:\ for *.eww but nothing is found. Can someone point out the location of the example IAR workbench? Maybe also give some directions on how to get the file downloaded into the MSP430? I assume the Hex file will get downloaded directly from IAR?

Thanks.

Hi and sorry if I'm using this for an unapropiate thing but I would like you to help me because I'm newby at this world, my question is: how can I read from the USB the packages that the RF2480 node connected to my PC receives from the other nodes? I'm trying to do it under Ubuntu Linux only for storing this information in a file.

Thank you!!!!

Ups! I forgot to say it's under C++!!

Thanks!

Hello david,

what u have to do is to read from the serial port (the CC2480 sends a copy of every packet it receives through the serial port). If u are new u may find something usefull in my master thesis http://webpersonal.uma.es/~ECASILARI/Docencia/Memorias_Presentaciones_PFC/49_Memoria_GonzaloCampos.pdf

It is in spanish though.

Ok, luck,

Gonzalo.

I haven´t found out how to get it yet, I dont know what library should I use and how to detect it, somebody has any idea about reading packets from the Zigbee device under Linux?

Thank you!

Under linux u can use Python programming language where there are very simple libraries to use for reading the serial port.

But the trouble is that I must do it in c++ because the toolchain for my architecture works with c++ source code...

well, then search a library for reading from the serial port in c++. Sorry i cannot help u more in this. Good luck!

You dont need a eZ430-RF2480 library, in fact, it doesnt exist. What u need is just to connect the ZigBee USB device to ur PC and read the serial port with Visual Basic. For this u dont need any new library since there is a class to do this already included. So I recommend u first to play around with that, and learn how to read the serial port in Visual Basic. Then u should learn how to decode the message that ur ZigBee USB device is receiving ang then show then on screen.

Good luck!

:)

Fine, I understand that Visual Basic is already a big step. My problem was to have used the IAR and sent an amended code to the node coordinator, now I can not return to the original code to set the network again. Will I have to buy another kit?

I must find the code for the MSP430 establish communication standard with the RF2480 ?

Thank you for your attention.

You can download the C code of the ZASA application from TI website. Then, by using IAR and the USB connector, u can upload this code into each of ur nodes. You can start modifing this code to learn how does it works.