Some problems about Zigbee on Over Air Download

Hello Sembly,

The best thing to suggest, would be to ensure you have the latest CC2430 version (Rev E) and that you try, if possible, to use Z-Stack 1.4.3.   Unfortunately not all the ZOAD bugs were cleared from the 1.4.2 version which is why it was released again in 1.4.3. 

Also, on the ZOAD dongle, you want to simply load the ZportApp.hex file to the device.  You do not need to include it as part of a project.   Simply load the dongle with this hex file.   If you were trying to include this with other files or as part of a project etc, this might be one of the reasons the dongle has not been recognized.

Regarding Z-Network (or possibly it might have been Z-Architect), unfortunately I do not beleive this tool was ever released.   There is a free packet sniffer available for the CC2430 (http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/cc2430.html) .   If you need to visualize your network, you will have to use something like the packet sniffer from Daintree which is compatible with Z-Stack. 

I hope this helps .. if not just write again.

The OAD feature is back again in the latest 1.4.3 release 1.4.3-1.2.1. The main reason to release 1.4.3 was to take advantage of the improved linker in the 7.30B IAR EW8051 release. However, at the time the OAD feature was not tested and so was released in 1.4.3-1.2.1 again.

It's possible that you didn't define the same compile options as in ZPortApp:

ZTOOL_P1
MT_TASK
MT_NWK_FUNC
MT_NWK_CB_FUNC
MT_ZDO_FUNC

These are needed to communicate with the ZOAD PC app. The OAD flash daughtercard is necessary to be able to test the OAD feature. You can order it from the TI website. Note that when the ZPortApp boots up, it may take some time before you see it start up. This is because it too can be upgraded over the air and it checks for the presence of this OAD flash daughtercard so it may take a few seconds before it starts running.

Hello, Lisa, I have installed the Z stack 1.4.3-1.2.1 and I can not open the ZOAD.exe, they show "No host device available". Also I can not find there is some /ZProrApp/  folder in the current Z stack 1.4.3-1.2.1(there is this folder in Z stack 1.4.2-1.2.0). Is there anything wrong? Thanks

Rui Zhang

Hi Rui,

First of all if you have the ZPortApp hex file, you can use this to flash a dongle.  Ie you do not need a different version from 1.4.2-1.2.1.   Reasons the dongle may not be found

- use the free flash programmer to ensure your IEEE address is not all Fs

- check for driver errors in the device manager.  you may need to manually install the drivers

- check your COM port ....  the COM the dongle is on should not have a value greater than 10.   If so, change this is the device manager

- check for conflicts or settings.  also make sure you have administrator rights on the PC

Cheers,
Lisa

Hello, Lisa,

Let me make sure one thing, in order to enable OAD. Do I need to upload the hex file to the SmartRF04EB board or upload the hex file to some USB dongle using cc2430(We have one right now made by ourself)?

Thanks

Rui Zhang

Hello

I am using ZOAD.exe provided by TI and I am using Z stack 1.4.3-1.2.1 and the chip is CC 2430. I saw in your post you said we should define

ZTOOL_P1
MT_TASK
MT_NWK_FUNC
MT_NWK_CB_FUNC
MT_ZDO_FUNC

but it is opposite with the Over Air Downloading manual for cc2430, (F8W-2008-0003). section 9.4.2, it said that we should block those support, I am confused, which is correct?

Also I have several questions regarding the Over Air Downloading.

1. when I use ZOAD.exe, it will scan and join the network, what kind of device type it will be? Coordinator, router, or End Device

2. I can not start the OAD, it always inform"load image in process" and the process bar is always 0%. and get feedback "store image time out". I try to re set the POLL-RATE same as the nodes in my network but it dose not work. do you know what is the problem?

3. if I under stand correctly. the "server" component in OAD means the device who will transmit the image and "client" means the device who receives the image. The commissioner is some device that  control the whole process, like ZOAD.exe. right?

4. As ZOAD is not a final product and our company plan to make our own code for over air download. so I just want to know is there nay reference design how to get a small program running on real server and then we can remotely download the image through our own made code?

thanks very much

Rui Zhang

Hi Rui,

Please see some answers below

I am using ZOAD.exe provided by TI and I am using Z stack 1.4.3-1.2.1 and the chip is CC 2430. I saw in your post you said we should define

ZTOOL_P1
MT_TASK
MT_NWK_FUNC
MT_NWK_CB_FUNC
MT_ZDO_FUNC

but it is opposite with the Over Air Downloading manual for cc2430, (F8W-2008-0003). section 9.4.2, it said that we should block those support, I am confused, which is correct?

This is correct for the dongle, and dongle only.   All other devices should not have these defined.  The dongle/server however needs these to communicate with the PC program.

1. when I use ZOAD.exe, it will scan and join the network, what kind of device type it will be? Coordinator, router, or End Device

This should be router.   The network exists and can not have a second coordinator, and a sleeping end device is also sensless for the server.

2. I can not start the OAD, it always inform"load image in process" and the process bar is always 0%. and get feedback "store image time out". I try to re set the POLL-RATE same as the nodes in my network but it dose not work. do you know what is the problem?

This is not easy to say.  Potential reasons - are you making sure to send the correct image file without boot code and a new version number?  Are you sending the .bin file?  The other thing here could be memory issues - accessing the memory etc.

3. if I under stand correctly. the "server" component in OAD means the device who will transmit the image and "client" means the device who receives the image. The commissioner is some device that  control the whole process, like ZOAD.exe. right?

Ok, yes server = device that will send out the image, Client = device to receive the image/upgrad.   A comminssioner is something separate from OAD completely.   A commissioning device is a device that allows a user to add/remove nodes from one or more networks.  This is in general ... ie a commissioning device for controlling which devices are allowed into your network in your private home.

4. As ZOAD is not a final product and our company plan to make our own code for over air download. so I just want to know is there nay reference design how to get a small program running on real server and then we can remotely download the image through our own made code?

Unfortunately the examples you have recieved with Z-Stack are the only available.  There is no further reference design we have available.  You could certainly work towards using our dongle, however making necessary modifications on the clients .   Note also Zigbee now has a more or less official version of an over the air download as well for certain profiles.

Cheers,
Lisa

Hello, Thanks very much for your answer. Here are my several comments about them and hope you can help us again.

1. When you refer "Dongle", you mean some device TI provide for the experiment? Where I can buy them?

Or you mean we can make our own dongle, by using certain hex file, if so, could you point out which one do you mean?

2. Also what is ZOAD.exe 's role in the network? Commisioner or Server?

3. are you making sure to send the correct image file without boot code and a new version number? 

I definitely send the .bin file. But How can I check whether I have included boot code or not? And also you mention about the new version number. What dose this new version number mean? Z stack version or our own product version? How the version number will affect the OAD process?

4. Note also Zigbee now has a more or less official version of an over the air download as well for certain profiles.

How can I get the official version of OAD? Is this only for Zigbee PRO

5. Is there any possibility TI can reveal the source code of ZOAD.exe? Just like other Z stack files. I believe it is very important features for z stack so we hope we can get more information about the Z OAD

Hi Rui,

1 - By dongle I mean yes, created by software.   No specific ZOAD hardware.  

2 - as a server.  It seeks and joins an exisiting network

3 - You need to follow the process specified in the documentation.  The version number (this is also documented) refers to image version.  If two images have the same version number the software will assume they are the same and not update.   

4 - This is available in the CC2530 ZIgbee 2007/PRO examples and code.

5 - I will leave this to my colleagues .... 

Cheers,
Lisa 

Hi,

Does this release permit to use packets of more important size than before?

On last releases, we couldn't have more than 32 bytes of binary payload.

Thanks.

Hello,

These are still normal Zigbee packets.

Cheers,
Lisa 

Hello Lisa,

I heard from TI Employee that we could modify the packet size in this release to

download faster a binary file. If we can use 64 bytes instead of 32 bytes we reduce

by half the duration.

Regards,

Hi all,

In our Lab, we wanna implement OAD in CC2430. My problem is that I don't have ZPortApp to program commissioner. I have zstack 4.3.1-1.2 and there isn't any zportapp in it. I really need this file for our project. we wanna to run a demo and add OAD in our demo. Can anybody send ZPortApp to me?

Thanks,

Parisa

Hi Parisa,

As I am not sure this is something I can freely post, I suggest you either send the request through your customer support centre or alternatively connect in a chat on the forum here.

Cheers,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your answer. I have sent a request to customer service. We also bought some CC2530 boards. Can I use dongle of cc2530 as commissioner and cc2430 as other  components of the network,

Thanks a lot,

Parisa

Hi Parisa,

Interesting question, and something that I don't believe has been tested.   If, on the CC2530 you are going with the new OTA Zigbee cluster, then the answer is that this is not possible and not compatible with the CC2430 as the CC2430 only supports Zigbee 2006.   This brings up another point I must mention, which is that a Zigbee 2006 device can only join a CC2530 network as an end device.  Ie when mixing CC2530s and CC2430s, all CC2430s need to be end devices.

So ... having said that .... I suspect that you could have one CC2530 and some CC2430 end devices if you are using our TI Over the air download instead of the OTA new to Zigbee 2007/PRO.   You may find however, the software needs a few tweaks ... as mentioned I do not think any such combined option has been tested.

Hope this helps at least clarify to a point.

Cheers,
Lisa

Hello lisa

     Come back to this OAD question, we have a customized USB device acting as server for OAD. but I notice that in Z stack 1.4.3-1.2.1, TI remove ZportApp and seems we need to build our own hex file rather than ZPortApp.hex? I have includes all recommended processor

"

ZTOOL_P1
MT_TASK
MT_NWK_FUNC
MT_NWK_CB_FUNC
MT_ZDO_FUNC

"

but still when I open up "ZOAD.exe", there is 'no host device found', seems that the connection between PC and our USB dongle has not been established. (we have another regular USB device with the same hardware, just don't have OAD FW, it works, so should not be driver problem)

I found seems the "INT_HEAP_LEN" plays an important role, is that true? 

or you have some other ideas?

thanks

Rui

Hi Rui,

First of all, so that you are aware I will be changing roles.

I should be able to supply you the file, but are you working with the CC2530 or CC2430?  Also I would need you to contact me offline via epic@ti.com or offline via the forum to do it.

Cheers,
Lisa

Sorry, I just answered my own question.   Just send an offline note and I will get you the file.

Cheers,
Lisa

Hello, Lisa, I have sent the email.

BTW, there is another change, I have use IAR EW v 7.60 instead of EW 7.30. I have made some modifications in configuration. Will that influence the OAD downloading?What do I need to pay attention?

thanks

Rui

Hello Lisa.

       Just want to know have you received my email to epic@ti.com regarding OAD hex file?

Thanks

Rui

Hello Parisa

are you able to successfully implement OAD in cc2430? I am working on it too and I can not figure out the how to finally implement it. if you can drop me a note to share your experience, that would be great. Thanks in advance

Rui