Getting started with the CC2530

Gamin Inganela

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2530, Z-STACK

Dear TI team (as well as everyone else),

Having recently learned about the CC2530 and its versatility (in terms of stack choice), I would like to get started with it. My application is very basic, low-rate, point-to-multipoint transmission (but I am also interested in mesh networking after gaining some experience with the CC2530).

I have ordered a few CC2530 parts and will be soldering them myself onto my own board (so, I'm NOT interested in purchasing the evaluation kit, so that I can cut down on costs and time).

My goal is: I am interested in interfacing the CC2530 via UART or SPI with Arduino (so I'm NOT interested in programming the 8051 on-board the CC2530). I would essentially like to get a very straightforward RX-TX pipe transfer ideally (thus abstracting away the details), something I was able to do with Digi's Xbee modules.

So, my question is:

What would you recommend as the easiest/most-direct way (in terms of the setup or the programming necessary) to get started on interfacing the CC2530 with Arduino for basic Serial transmission for point-to-multipoint?

I would be more than happy to research this myself once I have a couple of starting pointers!

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Gamin Inganela

over 12 years ago

0 Dirty Harry over 12 years ago

TI__Mastermind 19350 points

Download and install the latest Z-Stack for the CC2530:

http://www.ti.com/tool/z-stack

Build and run the SerialApp sample application, NOT the GenericApp sample application (sorry - I couldn't resist poking fun at your hyperbolic writing style):

C:\Texas Instruments\ZStack-CC2530-2.5.1a\Projects\zstack\Utilities\SerialApp\CC2530DB

But, if you do NOT want to take that intermediate step above to flush out your h/w serial communication connections, you can move directly to using the CC2530 as a network processor, the ZNP. In which case you can download some pre-built .hex file images for it and get some insight into the serial API to it from the ZAP installer:

ZStack-ZAP-MSP430-1.0.4.exe

Even though you may NOT be using an MSP430 as the host processor, you will STILL benefit greatly from the pre-built images and the documentation.

0 Gamin Inganela over 12 years ago in reply to Dirty Harry

Intellectual 340 points

Thank you for taking the time. Haha, and in case this does NOT get good results, I will come back to this thread :)

0 Jasmine Bhanushali over 9 years ago in reply to Gamin Inganela

Prodigy 40 points

Hello Gamin,

I am trying to do something very similar. I tried to dump the hex file for the ZNP, and test basic UART communication but I was unable to do it. I would like any pointers on how you proceeded , and the results you got.

Thanks,
Jasmine

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Jasmine Bhanushali

Guru 735515 points

Hi Jasmine,
You can try to use Ztool to see if it can communicate to your ZNP first.

0 Jasmine Bhanushali over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Prodigy 40 points

Hello Chen,

I tried using Z-tool, and also tried to follow the instructions on https://e2e.ti.com/support/wireless_connectivity/f/158/t/147065

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Jasmine Bhanushali

Guru 735515 points

If you use prebuilt ZNP hex image, does it work?

0 Jasmine Bhanushali over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Prodigy 40 points

Hello Chen

I tried to dump the pre-built ZNP hex files, both in the z-stack/ZAP/ZNP-HexFiles/CC2530/CC2530ZNP-Pro and also z-stack/ZNP/CC253x/bin/CC2530ZNP-SB . I could not get it to work.

I tried the commands as specified in the ZNP Interface Specifications and swra444.pdf(www.ti.com/.../swra444.pdf). Specifically I used the Hercules Serial terminal and sent the frame corresponding to SYS_RESET_REQ.

I am programming them using the SmartRF Flash Programmer.
When I connect it to CCDebugger I can use SmartRFStudio and view the registers and other details.

Any suggestions on how I should proceed.

Thanks,
Jasmine

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Jasmine Bhanushali

Guru 735515 points

Hi Jasmine,
Can you specify which HW do you use? Is it CC2530DK?

0 Jasmine Bhanushali over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Prodigy 40 points

Hello Chen,

I do not know much about antenna design, I am using just a CC2530 module and CCdebugger I found online. It is identified correctly is the smartrf studio. I could finally order the development kit and it should arrive in a few days.

Thanks for all the help,
I will try the same on the official development kit and see what type of results I get.

Jasmine

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Jasmine Bhanushali

Guru 735515 points

You are welcome.

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., TI E2E™ design support forum responses may be delayed from November 25 through December 2. Thank you for your patience.

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Getting started with the CC2530