Q. The application does not install properly and gives an error. What needs to be done to ensure that this does not happen?

A. There may be several reasons why this is happening. Some of the common problems that can cause this to happen and their corresponding solution are:

• The program has not been compiled properly. Please refer the FAQ for Crossbow Product to ensure this.

• The connection between the Workstation used for programming and the Programmer Interface/Gateway Board is not proper.

• The COM port on which the Programmer Interface/Gateway Board is connected is different from the one that is specified in the command to install the application

• The Programmer Interface/Gateway Board is not powered properly.

• The Motes is not properly connected to the Programmer Interface/Gateway Board.

 

Q. XServe is not able to detect any output. What could be the possible problem?

A. If XServe does not detect the output please check the following:

• The proper application had been compiled and installed in the Motes. Please refer the FAQ for Crossbow Product to ensure this.

• The Motes is properly connected to the Programmer Interface/Gateway Board.

• The COM port on which the Programmer Interface/Gateway Board is connected is different from the one that is specified in the command to obtain XServe data.

 

 

Q. XSniffer is not able to detect any output. What could be the possible problem?

A.  If XSniffer does not detect the output please check the following:

• The proper application had been compiled and installed in the Motes. Please refer the FAQ for Crossbow Product to ensure this.

• The Motes is properly connected to the Programmer Interface/Gateway Board.

• The COM port on which the Programmer Interface/Gateway Board is connected is different from the one that is specified in the command to obtain XServe data.

• The remote Motes is powered on and its LEDs are properly responding.

• The green LED of the Motes connected to the Programmer Interface/Gateway Board is responding.

• The radio transmission of the Motes connected to Programmer Interface/Gateway Board is enabled. Please refer the FAQ for Crossbow Product to ensure this.

• The frequency of the radio transmission of the Motes is defined. Please refer the FAQ for Crossbow Product to ensure this.

 

Q. The remote Mote does not show any LED response. What could be the cause of this problem?

A.  Take the following steps into consideration:

• Ensure that proper application is compiled and installed in the Motes. Please refer the FAQ for Crossbow Product to ensure this.

• This problem can be caused by less or no battery power available to the remote Motes. Ensure that the batteries are not drained out.

• Ensure that the power switch is in ON position.

 

 

Q. How to define the frequency band at which the Motes are operating.

A. To define frequency bands at which the Motes being programmed is operating there is a special file called MakeXbowlocal. I t contains all the Mote radio configuration information. Initially all these configurations are commented. This means that although all the required information is present in this file it cannot be used till the user specifically uncomments the required configurations.

Depending on the Motes to be operated we have to uncomment certain configuration lines and keep others commented in the MakeXbowlocal file.

 

Q. How to determine if the compilation of the application has completed successfully

A. Upon successful compilation of an application a new copy of main.exe is created in the build directory associated with the application. This is reflected by the success message “Writing TOS Image” in the Programmers Notepad output window.

 

Q. How to determine if the installation of application on Motes has completed successfully

A. The installation of an application can be done in two ways.

1>Using Programmers Notepad: Once the application is ready to be installed we get the message Uploading Flash and the process completes successfully with the corresponding exit code.

2>Using MoteConfig: Once the application has been installed successfully we get the message “Uploading Successful”.

When the install completes the LEDs on the Motes start responding according to the application.

 

Q. What are the possible power sources for the Motes? When and how is each used?

A. There are two sources of power for the Motes which are the external battery power and the Gateway Interface power source.

When the Motes act as a remote motes the external battery source has to be used and the switch should be ON position.

When Motes is connected to the Gateway Interface it uses the power supplied by the Gateway Interface.

  

Q. What controls the radio transmissions of Motes connected to Gateway Interface? Why is it important?

The radio transmissions of Motes connected to Gateway Interface is controlled by the SW2 switch. If SW2 is ON the radio transmission is disabled otherwise the radio transmission is enabled.

The Motes connected to the Gateway Interface will receive radio transmissions from remote Motes only when SW2 is ON. Hence it is very important to observe that SW2 is ON before trying to check the received data.