Sensors FAQ

Sensors FAQ

How to get around with the MSB 430...

download the framework available here, and copy it in your C: drive as C:/MSB/
download template and example applications, available here, and copy them in C:/MSB/Applications
study them

Pre-requisite: Windows XP SP2. Have Cygwin, including DEVEL\make GNU MAKE >= 3.81 is needed (to check type: make -v). Cygwin is freeware, available here.
If it is not done already, install mspgcc (available here). Make sure, that cygwin\bin and mspgcc\bin directories are included in the PATH. If you see errors about duplicate cygwin dlls, ensure that Cygwin is in the path before msgpcc, then remove all cygwin*.dll files from the mspgcc\bin directory
See System\makefile.platform for some configuration variables that might need to be adjusted for your environment
open a windows cmd shell
go to the scatterweb application directory by typing: "cd C:\MSB\Applications\application-directory"
type the build command: "make"
Make sure, that cygwin\bin and mspgcc\bin directories are included in the PATH. If you see errors about duplicate cygwin dlls, ensure that Cygwin is in the path before msgpcc, then remove all cygwin*.dll files from the mspgcc\bin directory.
To remove build and object files type "make clean"

download the driver and DLLs (available here, search for "MSP430-JTAG-ISO drivers add support for all devices released by TI" in the page)
plug in the JTAG cable (usually grey color) on a USB port of the computer
when Windows asks for drivers indicate the directory "driver" in what you downloaded
if windows says that it does not pass the logo testing, click on "Continue Anyway", then on Finish
then copy the DLLs (those next to the "driver" directory) in mspgcc/bin. Overwrite if needed.

to load compiled code on a sensor node, flash the node with the JTAG cable. If it is not installed yet, follow the steps in How do I install a JTAG flashing cable?
once your application is compiled, and the flasher cable is installed
plug the J-TAG cable on the node and on a USB port of the computer, and make sure the node has power
in the command prompt type cd application directory path\MSB\out (example with OLSR: C:\MSB\Applications\application-directory\MSB\out )
in the command prompt, type then mspfetcon -pi +ebp out.hex -FET=TIUSB (mspfetcon can be found in the "tools" directory, and "out.hex" may have to be replaced with the application name "application.hex")
alternatively, simply type "make flash JTAGPORT=TIUSB" in the command line.

plug in the communication cable (usually black color) on a USB port of the computer. If the cable is not installed yet, follow the steps in How to install a USB communication cable?
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lauch the common windows application HyperTerminal
plug in the communication cable (usually black color) on a USB port of the computer
in Hyperterminal, create a new connection
check the name of the USB cable that you are using (usually COMM1, or any other number than 1, see How to check the port name of a communcation cable?)
set the following properties for the connection: 115200 bps, no stream control, and in ASCII configuration, check in the first 2 boxes
store these connection settings, for example with the name "COMM1-settings"
turn on the sensor
you may also have to disconnect and then reconnect the HyperTerminal connection too. In this case turn off and back on the sensor one more time and you should see output printed on the screen.

download the driver for the USB communication cable, available here
plug in the communication cable (usually black color) on a USB port of the computer.
when Windows asks for drivers indicate this directory.
this step may have to be repeated once.

go to "Panneau de configuration", then to "System", and then to "hardware" (or "Materiel")
click on "hardware manager" (or "gestionnaire de peripheriques")
click on Ports (COM and LPT)
you will then see the names of all connected USB Serial (typically a name is COM3, or COM1)

once your node is connected and you have set up Hyperterminal to communicate with it
in the Hyperterminal window, type for instance "id 53"
the node's ID is changed to 53. To verify it, turn off the node and turn it back on. It should state "Node address: 53" in the preamble