Texas Instruments 2531USB Users Manual

SWRA276A

1. Kit Contents

 1 x CC2531 USB Dongle
 Documentation

The RF boards in this kit are FCC and IC
certified and tested to comply with
ETSI/R&TTE over temperature from 0 to
+35°C.

Caution! The kit contains
ESD sensitive components.
Handle with care to prevent
permanent damage.

2. Getting Started

The CC2531 USB Dongle can be used as
a development platform for USB and RF
applications.

An external development tool, like the CC
Debugger, is required to program and
debug software running on the CC2531.

The CC2531 Dongle comes
preprogrammed with software that lets the
dongle operate as a packet capture device
for the SmartRF Packet Sniffer.

This Quick Start Guide will describe how
to use the dongle with the packet sniffer
and the next steps for your own software
development.

3. Install the driver

Before plugging the dongle into the PC,

please install TI’s SmartRF Packet Sniffer.

When installing the Packet Sniffer, you will
also automatically install the USB driver
required for proper communication
between the dongle and the packet sniffer.

The Packet Sniffer can be downloaded
from www.ti.com/tool/packet-sniffer

4. Insert the USB dongle

When inserting the USB dongle into a

USB slot, Windows’ new hardware wizard

will appear. Select the options for
automatic installation and wait for the
driver installation to complete. After
installation, the Packet Sniffer is ready for
use.

Caution! This USB dongle has been
designed to be powered from a USB port.
Do not attempt to connect other power
sources to the device. Avoid powering the
unit when not in use.

5. Packet Sniffer

TI’s SmartRF Packet Sniffer is a

convenient tool for debugging of RF
protocols. It displays the captured packets
and decodes the packet contents
depending on what protocol you are
running.

When starting the packet sniffer, select the
protocol as required. The Packet Sniffer
for CC2531 supports SimpliciTI, RemoTI
and ZigBee PRO, in addition to a generic
mode (no packet parsing).

6. Debugging and Programming

For software development on the CC2531
an external debugger is necessary. This
can be either a SmartRF05EB [3] as
shown in the first picture,

…or a CC Debugger [4] as shown in the

second picture.

March 2013

CC2531 USB Evaluation Kit Quick Start Guide

SWRA276A

7. Flash Programmer

Texas Instruments has a simple tool which
can be used to program the flash on the
CC2531.

The Flash Programmer application,
available on the kit web page [3], can be
used to program Intel HEX files, read the
contents of flash and several other
operations.

You will need a SmartRF05EB, a CC
Debugger or other programmers from
Third Parties [5] to program the device.

8. IAR Embedded Workbench

To develop software and debug software
running on the CC2531, you should use
IAR Embedded Workbench for 8051.

A free, code size limited version can be
downloaded from the web. See

www.iar.com/ew8051.

9. Thank You!

We hope you will enjoy working with the
CC2531 and associated Low-Power RF
products from Texas Instruments.

A. Available Software

CC2531 USB Firmware Library and
Examples.

Source code of the USB Protocol Stack
including simple HID and CDC examples
[2].

RemoTI™ Network Protocol

TIs’ implementation of the ZigBee RF4CE

standard: www.ti.com/tool/remoti

TIMAC Software

TI’s IEEE 802.15.4 medium-access-control
stack: www.ti.com/tool/timac

Z-Stack™ Software

TI’s ZigBee-compliant protocol stack

www.ti.com/tool/z-stack

B. More information

On Texas Instruments’ Low-Power RF
web site you will find all our latest
products, application and design notes,
FAQ section, news and events updates,
and much more. Just go to www.ti.com/lprf

The Low Power RF Online Community has
forums, blogs and videos. Use the forums
to find information, discuss and get help
with your design. Join us at

www.ti.com/lprf-forum

The TI LPRF eNewsletter keeps you up to
date on e.g. new products, application
notes, software and events. Sign up at

www.ti.com/lprfnewsletter

C. References

[1] CC2531EMK product web page

www.ti.com/tool/cc2531emk

[2] CC2531 product web page

www.ti.com/product/cc2531

[3] CC2530 Development Kit

www.ti.com/tool/cc2530dk

[4] CC Debugger

www.ti.com/tool/cc-debugger

[5] LPRF Developer’s Network

www.ti.com/general/docs/gencontent.
tsp?contentId=29028

March 2013