CC2540EMK-USB: Using BLE Device Monitor

David Jones2

Intellectual 350 points

Part Number: CC2540EMK-USB
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2540, CC-DEBUGGER, CC2650

I have got the CC2540EMK-USB working with the Packet Sniffer software with a low end x86 Windows 10 system.

See e2e.ti.com/.../2096338

The driver shows up in Device Manager as Cebal Controlled Devices/CC2540 USB Dongle.

I purchase the dongle as I wish to use the BLE Device Manager software, which says it is required.

But when I now run that software only the system's two real COM ports show in the app, and in Device Manager.

No VCP associated with the dongle.

The documentation seems to be saying I have to reprogram the dongle.

I can locate the hex file stipulated.

Q1. Do I actually need to reprogram the dongle?

Q2. If so how do I do that? Do I need further hardware? Or can I just download the software? This is becoming a bit onerous!

Q3. With that hex file installed, will the Packet Sniffer still work?

Thx in advance.

over 7 years ago

0 YiKai Chen over 7 years ago

Guru 735545 points

1&2. Yes, you have to download/run hosttest on CC2540 dongle if you want to connect it with BLE device monitor.
3. After you download hosttest to CC2540 dongle, it cannot work with Packet Sniffer.

0 David Jones2 over 7 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 350 points

Thanks for the clarifications.

But I find this all a bit frustrating. The BLE Monitor software only says you need the USB device. No mention of the need to have the hardware also to reprogram it. I would have ordered that as well if that requirement was known.

I take it is the CC Debugger that is required: www.ti.com/.../cc-debugger

Is there any documentation that covers all of this in one comprehensive document. I don't want to order the CC Debugger then find I need something else. My aim it to get the BLE Monitor going for the SensorTag.

0 YiKai Chen over 7 years ago in reply to David Jones2

Guru 735545 points

Try to refer to processors.wiki.ti.com/.../BLE_Device_Monitor_User_Guide

0 David Jones2 over 7 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 350 points

Follow up questions, the user guide above doesn't describe programming the CC2540 USB dongle:
Q1. The image I need is CC2540_USBdongle_HostTestRelease_All.hex in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\SmartRF Tools\BLE Device Monitor\firmware\cc254x (Correct?)
Q2. So I need the CC Debugger that is required: www.ti.com/.../cc-debugger (Correct?)
Q3. Does CC Debugger package you get contain all of the connectors you need for flashing the CC2450 dongle?
Q4. What additional software do you need to flash the dongle?
Q4a Is it the SmartRF Flash Programmer: www.ti.com/.../flash-programmer ?
Q5. Is there an hex image that I can use to flash the dongle back to the Sniffer mode?
Q5a Is it the sniffer_fw_cc2540_usb.hex image in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\SmartRF Tools\Packet Sniffer\bin\general\firmware ?

PS: I will blog this on embedded101.com when I get this all done.
Thx for help, in advance,

0 YiKai Chen over 7 years ago in reply to David Jones2

Guru 735545 points

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. You have to use Flash Programmer on Windows desktop to download FW to CC2540EMK.
5. That is the FW that you can recover CC2540EMK as sniffer purpose.

0 Dan Liu62 over 7 years ago

Prodigy 100 points

The dongle came in as "BLE host monitor", you need reprogrammed it to Sniffer by a cc-debugger. If it is one time use and you don't want to spend money on cc-debugger then you can buy pre-programmed sniffer from Amazon
www.amazon.com/.../

0 David Jones2 over 7 years ago in reply to Dan Liu62

Intellectual 350 points

OK I purchased the CC Debugger this week.

Side note:

I purchased it from Mouser.

It took just two days for it to be sent to me from the US. :)

I ordered it 10AM Tuesday and it was delivered 2PM Thursday!

I understand how to connect the micro cable to the CC Debugger via the adapter because the adapter has a socket.

the CC2540 USB dongle has no case abound its header pins.

So which way of the two possibilities do I connect it?

Q1. Is the red (gnd)strand on the cable closer to the USB connector or closer to the MCU?

Q2. What are the switches for.

Q3 Is there a layout diagram for the dongle.

Nearly there ...:)

Thx in advance.

0 YiKai Chen over 7 years ago in reply to David Jones2

Guru 735545 points

CC2650 USB dongle? Do you mean CC2540 USB dongle?

0 David Jones2 over 7 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 350 points

Yes, thx for picking that up.
I've edited my post.

I found that Amazon post above has a layout of the CC 2540 USB device with labels.

The buttons and the debug pins aren't labelled though.

0 YiKai Chen over 7 years ago in reply to David Jones2

Guru 735545 points

1. You can refer to CC2540 USB Evaluation Kit Quick Start Guide.

2. Do you mean two buttons on CC2540 USB dongle?

3. You can find CC2540 USB dongle schematics and layout file at www.ti.com/.../TIDC-CC2540-BLE-USB

0 David Jones2 over 7 years ago in reply to David Jones2

Intellectual 350 points

My guess (re Q1.) is that cable comes in from the side , not over the PB switch.
Thus the red cable strand is at top (towards) USB adapter.

I await confirmation before powering up.

0 YiKai Chen over 7 years ago in reply to David Jones2

Guru 735545 points

You don't have to worry about this. If you don't connect it correctly, the LED on CC Debugger would be red.

0 David Jones2 over 7 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 350 points

OK I've got the connectivity resolved:
- The cable connects to the dongle with the red (gnd) strand on the MCU side of the debug header, not the USB connector end.
- The picture in the CC2540 USB Quickstart guide has it twisted that way.
- Also the PCB (and the PCB top layer design) has a 1 (for Pin 1) below the debug header pins (MCU side).
- I connected the CC Debugger and connected the dongle to it, and no red light

Now to get the debugger software going this. I'll start a new thread for this.

0 YiKai Chen over 7 years ago in reply to David Jones2

Guru 735545 points

It looks everything goes well now.

0 David Jones2 over 7 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 350 points

Thanks for your help YK.
I have started a new thread on this matter:
e2e.ti.com/.../573824

0 YiKai Chen over 7 years ago in reply to David Jones2

Guru 735545 points

I try to help you on that thread.

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CC2540EMK-USB: Using BLE Device Monitor