Jumped in - LaunchPad MSP430 - problem with demo app - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2016, 10:37:05 pm
content: I couldn't pass up the ten buck deal. I'm new to the platform, and somewhat a perpetual newb with Arduino.Anyway, the LaunchPad is pre-programmed with a temperature sensing routine that seems to work fine on the board (it will light red LED when temp is higher than set point, and light green when temp is lower than set point). I plugged the module into Win10 USB and got the Demo PC application, which is supposed to show the actual temperature reading in a self executing window. The application runs, but appears to be locked on the initial screen that is asking for which Com port is the LaunPad (keyboard the Com port number and then Enter). I read all from the TI forums about this and most folks never seem to be able to resolve the issue.Not that it matters, but the demo app looks like it was written in Processing since it has a familiar P icon on the task bar. I'm not familiar with Processing anyway, but I think there is source code for that program in the package.Anyway, I was wondering about code studio. I have much to learn about that, but I was wondering if Code Studio has a serial console that will allow me to see the communication being sent from the LaunchPad (similar to Arduino Monitor), and what are the likely settings used by the demo program on the board, and even the demo source code?I think the data rate is 2400 (by looking at the Processing code), and I was actually able to see lettersonceusing the Arduino serial monitor, but the comm was totally flaky, either showing junk, or most of the time nothing at all. I started to wonder if my LaunchPad is defective.OK, thanks for any tips. And I know I have a long ways to go...

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2016, 01:48:38 am
content: Thanks wilfred, I've downloaded the document and source package from page 9 of that manual.I think I am having some odd Java issues with the demo app.

author: skytoastar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2016, 06:01:47 pm
content: One thing to keep in mind is that it reports the temperature over serial using integer values and not ASCII values. So if you pull up a serial console (like PuTTY) it will interpret the serial data as garbage.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2016, 08:28:37 pm
content: Thanks. I should have remembered PuTTY, especially since MS no longer supplies Hyperterminal. It would be nice to even see garbage flowing on a terminal.I did find CCS terminal here:If I can't get that to see something I may have a problem...

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2016, 02:24:48 pm
content: Before you go crazy, I was not able to crank my Launchpad beyond 9600bps... Something also mentioned inthis thread.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2016, 02:31:15 pm
content: The interface on that board is really, really horrific and best avoided.Throw an external serial adapter on the header instead.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2016, 11:39:36 pm
content: Quote from: wilfred on October 05, 2016, 11:34:15 pmSorry, I don't keep a list of handy links to distribute, just a link to Google.The interface is a software-driven UART implemented in the microcontroller of the serial adapter on the board (the hardware driven port is used for debug). It is only capable of extremely low rates (9600 at best), and only then works if you're very lucky. I have EXTREMELY poor experience with it declining to work for no apparent reason. Sometimes it works until you try and change the rate, sometimes it doesn't work except at 2400, sometimes it works if you change the rate before it receives any data.. It's just flaky, and my interest in accurately determining how it's broken lasts about as long as it takes me to find an adapter to use instead.So yes, this is all opinion based on experience: It does not work well, it should be avoided and a separate adapter connected to the UART pins on the board. All the documentation on doing that is part of the package. I'm not a tutorial robot and I can't rememember which way around the header it is (it's two position for SW or HW UART on the target).

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2016, 03:10:40 pm
content: Thanks folks! Just knowing this is likely to save me a world of hurt.