L-Tek FF1705

The L-Tek FF1705 platform is based on the low cost, low power MultiConnect® xDot™ Module from MultiTech, complete with an integrated DAPLink interface, all in an Arduino form factor.

Overview¶

The L-Tek FF1705 is a development platform for the MultiConnect® xDot™, an ARM® mbed™ programmable, low-power RF module, that provides long-range, low bit rate M2M data connectivity to sensors, industrial equipment and remote appliances.

Conveniently integrated with a DAPLink programming and debug interface, and complete with Arduino compatible headers, this platform can be used to prototype applications using a wide range of IO boards and peripherals supported by mbed in the mbed Component library.

Additionally, this platform can be used as a shield when fitted to an Arduino form-factor MCU development platform by running the MultiTech AT Command Firmware.

See the Factory Firmware section below for more details.

The pinout diagram above shows the commonly used interfaces and their locations. In addition to their stated functions, all GPIO pins (PA_*, PB_*) can also be used as DigitalIn and DigitalOut interfaces.

xDot Features¶

• STM32L151CCU6 Processor
  • High performance ARM® Cortex™-M3 Core
  • 32MHz, 32kB RAM, 256kB Flash
  • SPI (1)
  • I2C (1)
  • UART (2) - 1x 4-pin TX/RX/RTS/CTS, 1x 2-pin TX/RX
  • PWM (7)
  • ADC (12 bit ADC with 10 channels)
  • DAC (12 bit DAC with 2 channels)
  • GPIO (up to 19)

• Sx1272 Radio
  • Range of miles
  • Deep in-building penetration - 1 to 3 miles / 2 km
  • 2-way duplex communication, ideal for emergency or mission-critical applications
  • LoRaWAN data rates 293bps - 20 Kbps + FSK up to 300Kbps

• Power
  • 2.41V to 3.57V external power
  • Current (active): < 15 mA (< 25 mA with Secure Element)
  • Maximum of 25 mA output current sourced by any IO pin
  • Maximum of 60 mA output current sourced by sum of all IO pins
  • All IO pins are 3.3v tolerant
  • 15 5V tolerant IO pins (see xDot Pinout Diagram)
    • Internal pullup and pulldown resistors cannot be used on 5V tolerant GPIO pins when pin voltage is greater than VDD + 0.3V. See warning box above.

FIRMWARE UPGRADE - DAPLink Interface¶

The FF1705 includes the DAPLink interface. Firmware for the FF1705 will be included in DAPLink releases. To update the interface firmware on your FF1705, follow these steps:

• Hold 'RESET' button down on FF1705
• Plug the FF705 into PC via micro USB
• Observe drive "CRP 'DISABLD'
• Open the drive, and delete the file called "firmware.bin"
• Download the required firmware
• Copy the .bin file onto the "CRP DISABLD" drive.
  • On Windows, replace firmware.bin with the above firmware
  • On Linux/Mac, use command: dd if={new_firmware.bin} of={firmware.bin} conv=notrunc
• Unplug your FF1705, and plug it back in
• It should now appear as a disk drive called FF1705 (DAPLink)

You can re-program your FF1705 at any time by plugging it in with the button held down. This will cause it to appear as the "CRP DISABLD" drive, at which point you can follow the steps above.

Example Programs¶

The following programs support multiple Dot devices. Before examples or the AT firmware are compiled, a Dot library must be imported.

[Repository '/teams/MultiTech/code/libxDot-dev-mbed5/' not found]

See the Dot-Examples or Dot-AT-Firmware landing pages for more details. Dot-Examples rev. 31:7ec180e84cb6 have been tested with xdot-library 3.0.0-19-gb6c0ba2 and mbed-os-5.6.2

Download compiled Dot-AT-Firmware here. AT documentation is available here

For sending AT commands use the serial interface on arduino headers: uart_tx, uart_rx

The mbed OS API References contain example code which demonstrates how to use common peripherals like Digital IO, Analog IO, Serial, SPI, I2C, PWM, RTOS, Timers, Tickers, etc.

LoRaWan¶

Build Applications:

• Efficient and environment friendly cities
  • smart parking meters, tollbooths, traffic signals

• Safety Applications:
  • forest fire, floods, avalancehs and other natural disasters can be detected before they happen or get out of control

• Monitoring:
  • tracking people and pets, cattle tracking, locating items
  • gas, water flow monitoring

Build Your Own Private LoRa Network¶

https://docs.mbed.com/docs/lora-with-mbed/en/latest/intro-to-lora/

AT Command Firmware¶

This firmware provides a serial AT command interface for configuring and using the xDot. This firmware is great during development for testing LoRa transmissions and in production when using a separate host processor that controls the xDot via AT commands. It is available here. AT command documentation is available here. The AT commands must be sent to uart_tx, uart_rx over usb-to-uart adapter.

Technical Reference¶

Documentation¶

• xDot Quick Start Guide
• xDot Data Sheet
• xDot User's Manual
  • Includes xDot-DK schematics and board files
• MultiTech Dot AT Command Guide

Data Sheets¶

• STM32L151CC Web Page
• STM32L151CC Data Sheet
• STM32L151CC Reference Manual
• STM32L151CC Errata Sheet
• SX1272 Data Sheet
• ISL29011 Data Sheet

Getting Started with mbed¶

1. Connect your microcontroller to a PC¶

Use the USB lead to connect your mbed to a PC. The status light will come on, indicating it has power. After a few seconds of activity, the PC will recognise the mbed Microcontroller as a standard USB drive.

Windows XP example	Mac OS X example

2. Click the MBED.HTM link to get logged in¶

Go to the new USB Drive, and click MBED.HTM to open it in a web browser.

If you do not have an mbed account, choose "Signup", and create your mbed Account. Otherwise, log in with your normal username and password.

This will give you access to the website, tools, libraries and documentation.

PC Configuration¶

Your mbed Microcontroller can appear on your computer as a serial port. On Mac and Linux, this will happen by default. For Windows, you need to install a driver:

From a host PC to communicate with mbed you will need a terminal application. This allows the mbed Microcontroller to print to your PC screen, and for you to send characters back to your mbed.

• Terminals - Using Terminal applications to communicate between the Host PC and the mbed Micrcontroller

Some terminal programs (e.g. TeraTerm) list the available serial ports by name. However, if you do need to know the identity of the serial port so that you can attach a terminal or an application to it:

	Windows		Mac		Linux
	Find the identity of the COM port by opening ''Device Manager''. To do this navigate ''Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager''.		To find the device name under Mac OS X, use the command ''ls /dev/tty.usbmodem*''		To find the device name under Linux, use the command ''ls /dev/ttyACM*''

On both Mac and Linux PCs, the port with the higher number will be the USB serial debug port. For example, if you have Linux and get ports /dev/ttyACM0 and /dev/ttyACM1, ttyACM1 will be the debug port and ttyACM0 the AT command/secondary port.

Downloading A program¶

1. Save a program binary (.bin) to the Platform¶

Download the appropriate "Hello World!" binary:

• XDOT_L151CC: mbed-os-example-blinky_xdot_l151cc.bin

Note: the source code for this program will be seen in the next section.

Save the program binary file to your mbed Microcontroller Disk, just like you would with a normal USB disk. The Status LED will flash as the PC writes the file to the Microcontroller disk. The file is now consumed.

2. Press the Reset Button¶

When the Reset Button in pressed, the microcontroller will be reset and the last programmed application will begin to run.

3. Hello World!¶

The Microcontroller is now running the program; flashing LED1 forever! If you reset the Microcontroller, or disconnect and reconnect the power, the program will simply restart.

Hello World!¶

[Repository '/teams/mbed-os-examples/code/mbed-os-example-blinky/' not found]

Where Next¶

Follow the guide to creating your own programs using the online compiler

• Create your own program

Schematics¶

The FF1705 is an open hardware design delivered as part of the mbed-HDK

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Discussion topics

Topic	Replies	Last post
deep sleep, DeepSleep, FF1705, low power, low power operation, Sleep FF1705 Low Power Mode	2	06 Apr 2018 by Gorazd Kovacic

Questions

1 answer

LoRa antenna needed? Marco Zecchini
5 years, 1 month ago

L-Tek FF1705, multitech, MultiTech mDot, MultiTech xDot