Tech Bulletin
Tech Bulletin
Feb 06, 2015
The N548 module is now upgraded to rev B.
As part of our continuous improvement efforts, Dynastream is upgrading the N548 module series to rev B with new factory pre-loaded software. One significant enhancement of this upgrade is the addition of the ANT-WP (Wireless Programming) bootloader which enables over-the-air firmware updates. Other upgrades are the S210 SoftDevice and the ANT Network Processor code. The N5 ANT SoC Module Datasheet rev 1.4 has been released to detail all of the new added functions, as well as important notes thereof.
Nowadays products are getting smarter and smaller with ever shorter cycles from design to market. With this, user friendly field updates providing new features or bug fixes becomes mandatory. Just about a month ago, the new N5 Starter Kit SDK was released with ANT DFU (Device Firmware Updates) reference codes. Now this over-the-air firmware update feature is embedded into the N5 module through the combination of three factory pre-loaded software components – the ANT-WP bootloader, the ANT Network Processor code and the S210 SoftDevice v.4.0.1.
In the N5 module rev B, the firmware update function can be triggered either by tying one input pin to high during power up or by sending a serial command to the module. Not only does this firmware update feature enable out-of-the-box use (e.g. in a production line to load custom application), but it also showcases to developers how the OTA update feature can be tailored and implemented in different ways to fit in their product needs or unique use cases.
With the release of rev B, we will also open a new ANT hardware product forum. Please join us as we would like to hear from you.
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Dec 15, 2014
A new version of the N5 Starter Kit SDK has been released and is available for download. This update contains new reference designs for the nRF51422 including:
ANT Background Scanning Demo
Shows how to setup and use background scanning.
ANT Relay Demo
Demonstrates how to relay a message across multiple nodes by daisy chaining several devices together.
ANT Auto Shared Channel Demo
Shows how a shared channel network can be implemented using a master device and multiple slaves. This demo implements a handshaking mechanism to demonstrate how slave devices may be added and removed dynamically to and from the network.
ANT Bootloader/DFU Demo
Demonstrates how Over-the-Air (OTA) Device Firmware Updates (DFU) can be performed to wirelessly update the application, bootloader or SoftDevice.
ANT Debug Demo
Shows a sample implementation of debug messages which may be used to transmit useful information for debugging an application over ANT. It transmits the value stored in the device’s GPIO register, the state of the buttons on device, and some information about the health of the ANT channel.
Refer to the N5 Starter Kit SDK User’s Manual for more information.
A new debugging tool, ObservANT, is also available for download.
ObservANT is a PC application which facilitates the debugging of applications wirelessly over ANT.
Often it is difficult to debug embedded applications in place. For example, it may be inconvenient or impossible to attach debug wires to devices housed in restrictive enclosures, devices which have no debug pins exposed, or devices which are mounted in an inconvenient location such as a bicycle wheel or running shoe. A solution to this problem is to open an ANT channel for debugging and transmit the relevant information wirelessly. By formatting the debug information into debug messages, as defined in the ObservANT User Guide, ObservANT can display and log the data in a convenient way.
The information being transmitted is up to the user, but may include things like register values, counter variables, current state of a state machine, ANT channel reception statistics, etc. ObservANT many be configured to display data as hex values, unsigned numbers, signed numbers or enumerations to match the type of information being sent by the device. Furthermore, ObservANT may send messages back to the device to request specific debug information.
For more information see the ObservANT User's Guide and the previously mentioned ANT Debug Demo, which provides a sample implementation of debug messaging for use with ObservANT.
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Jul 24, 2014
The ANT protocol has been designed with flexibility in mind, supporting a variety of network topologies by offering several "building blocks" that can be mixed and matched as desired.
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May 13, 2014
European engineers and developers are increasing their ANT skillset this May. The Nordic Tech Tour is being supported by one of the senior engineers from the ANT Applications Team, Alejandra Cano Tinoco, as she and a team of Nordic FAE/R&D personnel present a series of live workshops in key cities across Europe. The tour is designed to showcase the capabilities of the N5 module and nRF51 SoC; and includes an in-depth discussion of the flexibility of ANT. A hands-on demonstration will show how to create extended topologies from individual ANT building blocks.
John Leonard, from Nordic Semiconductor describes the value of the sessions:
"This will be a genuine and unique opportunity for developers to meet some of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable ULP wireless specialists and kickstart their next ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart product development within a single day. The day’s event will include an application walkthrough showing how to bridge the flexibility and extensibility of ANT networks to Bluetooth Smart Ready mobile devices.”
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Apr 28, 2014
Products can use ANT-File Share interoperably and independently of the type of data they gather.
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Mar 03, 2014
As per the press releases from last week, ANT is now in Samsung phones, Sony phones, and MediaTek’s new combo connectivity chip. So what does this add up to for developers and how many phones can ANT/ANT+ apps now work with?
Today, the answer is that around 60 million phones have native ANT support. For comparison, approx 1 billion smartphones shipped last year globally, of which approx 80% run Android. (See below for info on connecting to phones without native ANT support.)
Read More Jan 09, 2014
We have received several questions about manufacturer IDs: what they are used for, who needs one, and how to get hold of one. So, here’s everything you need to know...
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Dec 24, 2013
Season's Greetings, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! It's been quite a year here at ANT+ and it wouldn't be possible without you!
Read More Sep 30, 2013
If you work with ANT+ products, then you work with ANT+ Device Profiles on some level. By definition, every ANT+ product implements at least one ANT+ Device Profile; making it interoperable with other ANT+ products that implement the same ANT+ Device Profile.
Read More Jul 12, 2013
The network key is one of the channel configuration parameters that must be set correctly for devices to communicate. It is used to identify which network the device will operate on, and for ANT devices the radio will not hear transmissions occurring on other networks. The newest ANT devices can store up to 8 network keys at a time (older ANT devices can typically store up to 3) as network numbers 0 - 7 (or 0 - 2). Each ANT channel is then configured to use a specific network number.
Read More May 28, 2013
We have recently updated the ANT-FS Embedded Client Reference Design to address an incorrect definition for the default transmit power value. Previously this value was set to -20dBm even though the associated comment indicated that it was 0dBm. This could have resulted in poor RF performance and shorter than expected transmission distance between the ANT-FS Client and Host. The default transmit power has since been updated to 0dBm.
If you have been using this reference design as a basis for an ANT-FS Client, please review the changes and verify that your application implements the proper behaviour. For any questions or concerns regarding this issue please contact [email protected].
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Apr 19, 2013
The ANT office is usually a peaceful place to the human ear, but there is no question that it is a busy wireless environment. So when we work with ANT+ devices, the pairing techniques employed by the product designers are either massively helpful - or drive us insane. Allow me to illustrate: imagine a bike computer has arrived to be certified, and our cert engineer needs to put it through a series of tests to check that it can receive and display the ANT+ data correctly.
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Mar 08, 2013
Sunday, April 7 | 9am-6pm | Droidcon Berlin
The ANT Challenge is an excellent opportunity to create new and dynamic applications with cutting-edge technology and use cases using the latest release of the ANT Android API.
Great development opportunity. Great prizes - cash, products and media exposure!
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Mar 01, 2013
Heard about the Selfloops accessory on the ANT Forum? Now the developer version is available! Selfloops ANT+ Accessory will bring ANT+ capability to over 400 million active Android smartphones for real-time display of sport, fitness and health data from ANT+ sensors.
Read More Feb 01, 2013
So you probably already know the basic concept of ANT connections: an ANT master transmits at regular intervals (e.g. 4Hz) and an ANT slave can then search for the master. Once the slave has found the master, it can switch it's radio on and off at the right times to be able to receive the master's transmissions. The slave can also send messages back to the master.
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