Olimex Support Forum

OLinuXino Android / Linux boards and System On Modules => A20 => Topic started by: gurpartap on September 23, 2015, 09:30:02 AM

Title: Unable to see startup log on minicom
Post by: gurpartap on September 23, 2015, 09:30:02 AM
I put latest debian image in sd card for A20-micro-4gb board. I connected serial cable to uart0 pins tx,rx and gnd. I am able to see some characters on board startup which are unreadable. Please suggest me solution.
Cable is working on other board from phytec perfectly.
Title: Re: Unable to see startup log on minicom
Post by: JohnS on September 23, 2015, 12:39:59 PM
Speed etc you used?

John
Title: Re: Unable to see startup log on minicom
Post by: MBR on September 23, 2015, 11:00:41 PM
And is the Minicom configuration, you should disable the Hardware Flow Control and enable the Software Flow Control (because you cannot do hardware flow control with just two wires and ground :-) ).
Title: Re: Unable to see startup log on minicom
Post by: gurpartap on September 24, 2015, 01:41:13 PM
I am using BAFO USB to SERIAL CONVERTER which uses RS232 level signals but A20 uses 3.3v ttl signals for Uart0.I think this is the problem.I can see characters but in unrecognised format.

I am not using cable supplied by Olimex.
Title: Re: Unable to see startup log on minicom
Post by: Anton_A on September 24, 2015, 02:16:26 PM
Quote from: gurpartap on September 24, 2015, 01:41:13 PM
I am using BAFO USB to SERIAL CONVERTER which uses RS232 level signals but A20 uses 3.3v ttl signals for Uart0.I think this is the problem.I can see characters but in unrecognised format.
If you use USB to RS-232 converter, you can destroy UART of A20. Of course, signal format of RS-232 and UART are not equal
See (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HWeT6EZ5xS8/UU7tpcnfw-I/AAAAAAAAAKc/aSHZLUUpD1U/s1600/UART.png)
also, what about baud rate?
Title: Re: Unable to see startup log on minicom
Post by: Gerrit on September 24, 2015, 05:16:12 PM
Quote from: gurpartap on September 24, 2015, 01:41:13 PM
I am using BAFO USB to SERIAL CONVERTER which uses RS232 level signals but A20 uses 3.3v ttl signals for Uart0.I think this is the problem.I can see characters but in unrecognised format.

I am not using cable supplied by Olimex.

Then you need something like this between your converter and the A20

http://www.lightinthebox.com/rs232-serial-to-ttl-converter-module_p481725.html