New TI CC3200 Wi-Fi Development Boards, Prototyping and Example Code

[remixed123]

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would let you all know about a bunch of new ways you can work with Texas Instruments' CC3200 Single Chip Wi-Fi MCU.

Development Boards

http://redbearlab.com/

RedBearLab CC3200 - Arduino compatible headers
WiFi Mini - Tiny form factor



Arduino Compatible: These boards look great for those who develop and use the Arduino platform as the RedBearLab CC3200 supports most Arduino compatible shields.
BLE Support: Hardware compatible with the RedBearLab BLE Shield, BLE Nano and BLE Mini board.  Will include software libraries to control/interface.

Prototyping

Build prototypes super quick with Seeed Studios Groove components, includes all sorts of sensors, peripherals, devices including code. Plugs into LaunchPad's including the CC3200 LaunchPad.

Groove Starter Kit for the LaunchPad: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/Grove-Starter-Kit-for-LaunchPad-p-2178.html
Groove Base BoosterPack: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/Grove-Base-BoosterPack-p-2177.html?cPath=122_161



Example Code

Checkout my Github repository for sample code, includes working with Azure, iOS Apps and more

Github Open Source Code: https://github.com/remixed123
IoT End to End Proof of Concept: http://ssmlwf.azurewebsites.net/

[remixed123]

If you are curious as to what the CC3200 is, check out my introduction video on the CC3200 LaunchPad on YouTube -

[Howardlong]

If you are curious as to what the CC3200 is, check out my introduction video on the CC3200 LaunchPad on YouTube -

I see you're a TI MVP.

As a matter of interest, I posted a note on the TI e2e site about problems I was having with a board I'd designed for the CC3100 back in early December shortly after the production silicon was released, but despite bumping the thread I didn't get anywhere.

Is there a way to get proper support from TI?

[remixed123]

The E2E community which includes volunteers like my self and TI employees, usually responds to every request.

Not sure why this wasn't the case for your question. If you could add the link to the question here, I'll look into it and see if there is any way I can assist.

[EDIT]
I see your question - http://e2e.ti.com/support/wireless_connectivity/f/968/p/387218/1366738#1366738

Looking at the thread, a TI employee responded very quickly with an opinion on what could be causing your issue, you then responded with further details including some testing results. What I don't see in your response is a question or any request for further assistance.

Another possible reason for there being no response, is likely due to the fact that this looks to be a difficult issue on a custom board. Which means that no one other than you is able to trouble shoot the problem effectively. Additionally there has been a number of custom boards developed without any issues, so this may lead to a conclusion on where the issue lies. Still, it would be good to get some suggestions on trouble shooting the issue further...this is not something I could offer, I am having troubles understanding what the issue is, let alone being able to offer advice.

I recommend if this is still an issue, that you respond again to the thread, make it clear what you believe the problem is, and ask a specific question for assistance.

I do hope this helps, and think the best place to continue this is via your post on E2E rather than here.

[picdev]

I am looking this CC3200 modules and I would like to make audio streaming over wifi.
For I now I use pic mcu. How about the developement of these mcu ? Are there libraries and apis for audio streaming, wifi ?
Is the Texas ide-compiler easy to use ?

[Howardlong]

I am looking this CC3200 modules and I would like to make audio streaming over wifi.
For I now I use pic mcu. How about the developement of these mcu ? Are there libraries and apis for audio streaming, wifi ?
Is the Texas ide-compiler easy to use ?

Here is my experience of the CC3200 from a couple of years back...

Be aware that for streaming applications, there is a real world bitrate limit far below the raw WiFi 802.11g/n specs. I achieved about 14Mbps UDP maximum in an optimium setup (no WiFi encryption, AP and device in close proximity). In more representative use cases, this speed will inevitably reduce.

The SmartConfig automatic WiFi setup I found caused more headaches than it was worth.

When it came to laying out my own board for a chip rather than the module, despite having a fair bit of experience in this domain, I couldn't get my own boards to work, even getting the oscillators to work was a lesson in hair pulling. This was when they first released the devices publicly though, two or three years ago, so things may have changed. I'd only consider using the module based on my experience.

The TI toolchain is fine, as long as you spend time getting to learn the TI way of doing things, particularly around specifying build directories for your projects.

The close coupling of the processor to the WiFi core does afford better OTA throughput than separate SPI based solutions.

I don't know what the value is of the OP's boards are over TI's own CC3200-LaunchXL board other than Arduino pinout and a smaller form factor if you're intending to use TI's toolchain. From a support perspective, I generally strongly recommend chip vendors' boards over third party ones, they are designed to work out of the box with the vendor tools, you have enough on your plate getting stuff to work without adding the additional dimension of another vendor.