CC2630 replacement for Atmel Zigbit

Hi,

You can find the TI-MAC (IEEE802.15.4 stack) here: www.ti.com/timac

and the ZigBee stack (only Z-STACK-HOME has cc2630 support) here: http://www.ti.com/tool/z-stack

Cheers!

1. Yes, you can use ZAP-ZNP to do similar thing on CC2630.
2. CC2630 ZNP uses MT command and it is not AT-like command.

Please look at this host frame work for the ZigBee Network Processor product that runs on the CC2630:
git.ti.com/.../znp-host-framework

For CC2630 ZNP use the "CC26xx" predefined symbol. CC2630 ZNP images can be downloaded from www.ti.com/tool/z-stack in the zstack-home-1.2.2 SDK in C:\ti\simplelink\zstack_home_1_02_02_42930\Projects\zstack\ZAP\ZNP-HexFiles\CC26xx\. We have platform ports for TIRTOS and Linux, but this should be easily portable to other OS's like FreeRTOS.

The ZAP product is not very portable between OS's/platforms, so if you are using your own OS you may be better using the ZNP Host Framework.

Even if you decide to use ZAP, the ZNP host framework can run in Linux with CC2538 ZNP connected via USB and has a ZNP command line training which will help you to learn the ZNP API.

Regards,
TC.

Thanks for all the input so far.
The ZNP framework with MT commands (I don't mind that it is not AT-Like, as long as it is an Command-reply) sound the way to go.
What is the difference between ZAP and ZNP?
The host MCU will be a Michrochip controller running C firmware.

Do I need the pretty expensive IAR compiler to use the ZNP stack?

Does anybody know the data throughput one can achieve using the C2630 with ZNP (assuming the host is not the bottleneck)?
At this moment using the Atmel zigbee, we "only" achieve ~ 5Kbits/s. This throughput is realized using datapackets of max 80 characters (only ascii allowed) which are handshaked to ensure reception. We really would like to increase this.

Regards,
Edwin

1. ZAP means Zigbee application processor which runs Zigbee application. ZNP means Zigbee network processor which runs Zigbee stack/protocol.
2. You don't need IAR if you use ZAP+ZNP.

You don't need IAR as YK mentioned. You can use the ZNP pre-built binaries. Please check out the link TopCat sent out and run the system as connected dongle if you purchase a CC2538EMK (www.ti.com/.../cc2538emk).
The MT frames are max 251 bytes payload, but please keep in mind that 802.14.5 frames are max 127 bytes.
I think you should be able to get more than 5 kbit/sec, probably between 10-20 kbit/sec max.
Thanks,
TheDarkSide

For your reference, I can get about 16 knits per second in my application using MT command.

Thanks all for the answers. Very useful!
Can the packets be binary using MT commands? The 16 Kbits of Yikai would then increase our speed like 6 times. Something we really could use.
- If 251 bytes payload is allowed when comply to 127?
With the zigbit communication I can tranfer about 10-14 packages per second. It's the time each packets takes that decreases the speed so much now. Even more if the data-path involves routers.

I did already buy a CC2538EMK waiting to be tested before I came across the much smaller CC2630. I'll check TopCat's link and will use this EMK first. In our application size and weight really matters. So the 4*4mm CC2630 sounds as music to my ears.

(Yikai, I don't see a "verify answere" button. So I'm using the Like instead)

MT command is in hex format and I suppose this is what you mean binary. What do you mean If 251 bytes payload is allowed when comply to 127?

TheDarkSide responded in his/her answer with:
"The MT frames are max 251 bytes payload, but please keep in mind that 802.14.5 frames are max 127 bytes. "
So I'm curious if there is a reason to not use the full length. Do you use the max length?

In my application, I use almost 127 bytes which is the max of 802.14.5 frames.

802.15.4 frames are max 127 bytes (complete PHY frame) by standard. Taking all the headers off, you can go from ~70 to 90 application payload, depending on how many protocol layers you have (like whether or not you have ZCL) and your security settings.
For a typical HA network (NWK layer security), the application payload is ~80 bytes every 802.15.4 frame.

The MT frame however transports contains API command and data (not just application payload) so there are API parameters besides the actual payload of data. That is why the max MT frame is bigger than the actual 802.15.4 frame.
Thanks,
TheDarkSide

Hi all,

It's been 4 months ago. Other important work prevented me from starting up this project. But now time is there ;-)
The TI target has changed: I now want to use the CC2650 and let the application processor choose between Zigbee or Bluetooth. So for that the CC2650 should work as a ZNP or BNP(if possible?)
First the Zigbee. The Z-stack provides ZNP images for the CC253X, but not for the CC2650.
- do I need to compile using the IAR?
- can I use Z-tools on the computer USB connected to a SmartRF06 board with a CC2650 module that is programmed as ZNP?

Edwin.

TI provides ZNP images in Z-Stack Home 1.2.2. You can download and install it to find them.

Neither Z-Stack Home 1.2.2 or Z-Stack Mesh 1.0.0 have images for the CC2650 (or any CC26XX). I now have both installed, but all images are CC253X..
Any other thoughts?

If you install Z-Stack Home 1.2.2, the ZNP hex files for CC2650 is under C:\ti\simplelink\zstack_home_1_02_02_42930\Projects\zstack\ZAP\ZNP-HexFiles\CC26xx.

I totally overlooked that. Was expecting *26XX* in the Hexfile-name.
Ok, I'm already searching an hour for a good Z-tool tutorial. I would lik to setup a simple Zigbee Coordinator - Enddevice link. I have yet no clue how to do that. I probably have to program each CC2650 module with the appropriate image and then....?
Any thoughts were to find a good hands-on tutorial?
Edwin.

You can read Z-Stack ZNP Interface Specification.pdf in C:\ti\simplelink\zstack_home_1_02_02_42930\Documents\API.

In this document, which will indeed be very important coming time, nothing is said about Z-tools. Let me explain:
What I'm hoping to be able to do with Z-tools is that Z-tool can run an Zigbee application script so I can study how all MT-commands need to be used. With this I can create my own Michrochip code.
I can also install IAR, -BUT- the license is only 30 valid. Did you know 1 license EWARM cost 3750 euro's ! We don't have that budget. CCS would be affordable so an CCS example would also be perfect. But that seems not to exist.
So the question remains if Z-tool can do this and how?

You can study znp-bringup.zjs in C:\ti\simplelink\zstack_home_1_02_02_42930\Tools\Z-Tool\Scripts and read chapter 3 ZNP software command interface of Z-Stack ZNP Interface Specification.pdf.

Thank you very much for your swift answers, I hope I'm not over asking.

Now trying to get Z-tool to work with my SmartRF06-CC2650 without any tutorial...
So I flashed a CC2650 module with znp_coordinator_pro.hex. Reset the RF06 board and started Z-tool 2.0.
Scanning devices.. nothing. In setting I can see the com-port of the RF06. Searched the forum and found someting about com handshake should be RTS/CTS. Changed this and scanned again: nothing.
Any thoughts?

The handshake should be none and baudrate is 115200.

Forum specified 38400, but indeed the ZNP interface spec's 115200. But also RTS/CTS flow control. The latter doesn't seem to matter. I have connection :-). Thanks again.

You are welcome. By the way, please help to press verify button to my replies to benefit others have similar issue.

I would love to click the verify button for you, but please tell me where it is. I only see LIKE / CANCEL / MORE. And the latter does not include Verify..

So now also programmed an EndDevice. Both devices connected in Z-tools and adapted the znp-bringup.zjs script for the coordinator COM port. I can run it and it finishes without any error.
So what do I need as script for the enddevice? The same? It would be nice to setup a link and send some data between the nodes.
The script itself doesn't comment very much what it does.

Yes, you can revise the script for end device. For verify button, it is under edit box.

No Verify button in my edit box. Don't know why.