You Learn Something New-- Wireless Expansion on the TI MSP-EXP430F5529

One of the kits that I like to use is the MSP-EXP430F5529 Experimenter's Board, found here: http://www.ti.com/tool/msp-exp430f5529

I've been using this board for over 2 years.
It features an MSP430F5529, which is TI's newer MSP430 line with on-board USB capabilities.
The kit itself has a simple LCD, a 3 Axis Accelerometre, On-board capacitive touch slider, 9 LED's total, two user click buttons, an Analog Thumb Wheel, Standard JTAG connection, multiple power options, SD Card Interface and connectors for a Wireless Access point.

The board comes with demos as soon as you apply power, either through the external battery interface that is provided or over the USB OTG that is on the emulator.  It has a JTAG interface should you want to use it, but also has onboard USB-Debug-Emulation so you don't need to buy an external one.

So, despite having used this board for over 2 years... I learned something new about it today!



How many wireless interfaces do you see on this board?

Here's One... where you add RF Functionality with the eZ430-RF2500T target board and have the board transmit information.

Then there is the Standard EMK Connector that can support any of the TI-Chip Con Radios and

Modules using the Sametec Connectors

"EMK-Connectors"

You can actually have both the EMK Connected radio functioning and the add on-EZ430 target board to have access to two radios. 

Example: If you wanted to have one radio be RFID or Near Field Communication and the second Blue Tooth. So if you wanted to save power-- the NFC radio would verify the identity of the person then wake up the BlueTooth Radio to pair and associate. 

Here's a third! on the Emulation-debugger side... where you can make the board a target--- and programme it wirelessly, using the EZ430-RF2500T target board. 

But this is the one that caught me by surprise. 

 If you want to keep the target board closer to the board (less hanging parts), apparently ALL experimenter's kits put 18 pins down on the board next to the EMK connector, for this arrangement. 

This board, can be connected either through the male header pins included or by the side pin-outs to the 18 pin connection on the experimenter's board (below). 

Huh, I just found it interesting and wanted to share. 

IF you haven't ever tried this-- look at any of your MSP430 boards and look for the little six holes on the edge of the board. 

Even the launch pad has these!