Connecting GA1000 and WA2000

GA1000 is a Wi-Fi add-on module implementing 802.11b/g protocols. WA2000 is a Wi-Fi/BLE add-on module implementing 802.11a/b/g/n and BLE4.2 protocols. Both devices are documented in Programmable Hardware Manual). GA1000 and WA2000 cannot function on their own and require "external brains" in the form of one of programmable Tibbo devices. Under TiOS, Wi-Fi communications are managed by the wln. object. Bluetooth communications (only possible on the WA2000 module) are managed by the bt. object.

SPI interface

GA1000 and WA2000 communicate with Tibbo devices through an SPI interface. There are five control lines:

  • CS — SPI bus, chip select (active low);
  • CLK — SPI bus, clock;
  • DI — SPI bus, data in (must be connected to the module's DO);
  • DO — SPI bus, data out (must be connected to the module's DI);
  • RST — reset (active low).

The wln. and bt. objects directly control CS, CLK, DI, and DO lines. Your application, however, must take care of the proper hardware reset for the GA1000 and WA2000. To reset the GA1000, set the RST line LOW, then HIGH. To reset the WA2000, set the RST line LOW, wait for 1ms, then set the line HIGH.

note_tip-wt

On platforms with unidirectional GPIOs lines, do not forget to configure CS, CLK, DO, and RST as outputs. DI must be configured as input. The wln. object won't do this automatically.

See Configuring Interface Lines topic of the wln. object's manual for more information on the proper selection and configuration of GPIO lines on various devices (platforms).

Special case — the EM500

Fig. A shows the standard way of connecting the GA1000 to the EM500 module (the EM500 does not support the WA2000). GPIO lines are a precious commodity on the EM500, as there are only eight of them available. You can get away with using only three lines to control the GA1000 (against the standard five lines). One line is saved by producing the reset out of CS and CLK. The second line is saved because EM500's bidirectional GPIOs allow interconnecting DI and DO. The EM500 does not allow remapping of GA1000 lines, so GPIO line assignment shown below cannot be changed.

ga1000_em500_connection

Here is how to reset the GA1000 from the EM500:

  • Set GPIO7 (CS) HIGH
  • Set GPIO6 (CLK) LOW
  • Set GPIO5 (CLK) HIGH

Special case — the EM510

Fig. B shows the standard way of connecting the WA2000 to the EM510 module (the EM510 does not support GA1000). Again, you get away with using just three lines instead of five.

wa2000_em510_connection

Here is how to reset the WA2000 from the EM510:

  • Set GPIO7 (CS) LOW
  • Set GPIO5 (DI/DO) HIGH
  • Wait 1 ms
  • Set GPIO7 (CS) HIGH