User's Manual

Getting Started With the MSP-EXPCC430RFx Experimenter Kit www.ti.com
2.3 MSP-EXPCC430RFx User Experience
The MSP-EXPCC430RFx User Experience includes two projects:
1. Firmware applications that are pre-loaded on the MSP-EXP430F6137Rx Base Board and the MSP-
EXP430F5137Rx Satellite Board to demonstrate a stand-alone wireless network using the SimpliciTI
protocol.
2. When the Base Board is connected to the PC, the CC430 Wireless Network GUI program can be used
to enable visualization of the wireless sensor network.
2.4 MSP-EXPCC430RFx Firmware Applications
The MSP-EXPCC430RFx User Experience application forms a star network using the SimpliciTI protocol.
The Satellite Board acts as the End Device, and the Base Board acts as the Access Point. The Base
Board can connect to a PC via the USB cable and transmit information back to the CC430 Wireless
Network GUI running on the PC.
2.4.1 Access Point (AP or Hub)
The MSP-EXP430F6137Rx Base Board functions as the Access Point (also called the Hub), to create and
broadcast the star network using the SimpliciTI protocol. It allows compatible End Devices (EDs) to join
the network. The Base Board displays the status and sensor information of the devices on the network on
its LCD. The Base Board also provides its own status and sensor (temperature and light sensors)
information to the display. The Base Board captures more detailed network and device information and
provides that information to the PC GUI through the UART-USB bridge if the USB connection is enabled
between the board and the PC.
To start and operate the MSP-EXP430F6137Rx Base Board:
1. The MSP-EXP430F6137Rx Base Board displays "Access Point Up" on the LCD and starts accepting
connections from the Satellite Boards.
2. When a new ED successfully joins the network, the LCD briefly displays "Added New Device" and
resumes displaying network information.
3. When the network is active, the LCD displays the information of the AP and connected EDs. The first
digit on the LCD indicates the address of the device (a number for an ED, 'H' for the Hub or AP).
Subsequent digits show the temperature or RSSI value of the device.
4. The UP and DOWN buttons on the Base Board can be used to cycle through the device list.
5. The LEFT and DOWN buttons on the Base Board can be used to toggle the LCD to show the
temperature or the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value from the EDs. If the AP (Hub) is
currently selected, the LCD switches between the temperature of the AP and the analog reading of the
light sensor.
2.4.2 End Device (ED)
The MSP-EXP430F5137Rx Satellite Board functions as an End Device on the star network that is created
using the SimpliciTI protocol.
1. When supplied with power, the Satellite Board seeks out compatible network broadcasts from an AP
and attempts to join the network. During this phase, the on-board LED slowly toggles on and off to
indicate each attempt.
2. After it successfully joins the network, the Satellite Board periodically measures its temperature and
transmits its heartbeat message to the AP. Each transmission is indicated by the brief pulse of the
LED.
3. Additionally, the push button can be used to transmit an Alert message, which causes the AP to show
this ED's information on the LCD. The exclamation mark (!) on the LCD also briefly turns on, further
highlighting the Alert message to the user.
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MSP-EXPCC430RFx Experimenter Kit User’s Guide SLAU460–November 2012
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