Frequently asked questions/Hardware
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If your question is not in this FAQ, please feel free to ask it on the Mailing list
Where can the PXA datasheets be found in the wiki ?
The PXA datasheets have been posted here.
What are the gumstix basix, connex and verdex motherboards?
These are the motherboards of the gumstix motherboard + expansion board design.
- The gumstix basix motherboard comes with 64MB RAM, 4MB of flash, an MMC card slot and optional bluetooth. Expansion boards may be connected to the basix motherboard via the 60-pin hirose connector.
- The gumstix connex motherboard comes with 64MB RAM, 4MB or 16MB of flash and optional Bluetooth. 60-pin expansion boards may be connected to the connex motherboard via the hirose connector. On the other side of the connex, 92-pin expansion boards such as etherstix, cfstix or any of the netstix expansion boards may be connected via the 92-pin bus header.
- The gumstix verdex motherboard comes with 128MB or 64MB RAM and 32MB or 16MB of flash plus optional Bluetooth. 60-pin expansion boards such as the console-vx may be connected to the verdex motherboard via the hirose connector. On the other side of the verdex motherboard, expansion boards such as netCF-vx expansion boards may be connected via the 120-pin MOLEX connector.
Can more flash be obtained on a gumstix basix or connex?
Yes, gumstix engineering can customize flash on the gumstix basix and provide 16MB of flash memory.
the gumstix "connex xm" products have 16MB of flash, standard.
MMC storage card is available on every gumstix basix platform and obtained via the netMMC expansion board in a connex platform configuration. Storage via compact flash is achievable with a netCF or cfstix expansion board and a connex platform.
How can visual inspection determine that a board has 16MB of flash?
Look at the flash chip: it's the black module on the basix or connex that located at the end away from the 60 pin connector, next to the reset switch.
if the flash chip has a white label which starts ICM015, then that's an XM board with 16MB of flash.
If the flash chip doesn't have a white label, then look at the part number printed on the flash chip. It will have either '320' or '128' after a letter "F" : 128 => XM; 320 => 4MB.
Which expansion board comes standard the waysmall computer?
The waysmall computer is comprised of a gumstix basix motherboard and a waysmall expansion board connected together via the 60-pin connector and placed in a plastic case.
The waysmall computer without bluetooth comes with the waysmall original expansion board while the waysmall computer with bluetooth comes with the waysmall STUART expansion board.
Can multiple expansion boards be connected to a gumstix basix or gumstix connex motherboard?
To the gumstix basix motherboard, one 60-pin expansion board may be connected. A tweener can be placed between the gumstix basix motherboard and the expansion board EXCEPT the breakout-SMT, the breaktout-TH or the thumbstix. These three boards have physical limitations that prevent the connection to the tweener board.
To the gumstix connex motherboard, one 60-pin expansion board (and a tweener) may be connected to the 60-pin side, and one 92-pin expansion board (such as cfstix, etherstix or any netstix board) may be connected on the opposite side, creating a sandwich design with the gumstix connex motherboard in the middle.
Which boards can be fitted into the plastic case of the waysmall computer?
The plastic case is designed to hold one basix platform and one waysmall expansion board. Holes are placed to attach the usb cable, two serial cables, the bluetooth antenna, the power supply and insert the mmc cards.
As such, the plastic case is not designed for the connex board or any 92-pin boards such as etherstix, netCF, netDUO or netMMC. The plastic case does not fit other 60-pin boards such as audiostix, tweener, breakout-gs or the usb-powered boards.
What is the screw size for sandwiching the gumstix boards?
Use a 0-80 (or 1.5mm) screw
A 0-80 screw has a major diameter (where the crests of the threads would be if they weren't rounded off) of 0.060" which is 1.524mm, so a 1.5mm metric screw should fit (since it's a teeny bit smaller).
How can multiple boards be secured together using screws?
A customer named Laker gave the following account of his success:
Due to the terrific manufacturing tolerances (at least on my boards) the screws essentially self-tapped through the provided holes. I.e., I did not have to use a compilcated arrangement of nuts to secure each board as the screw passed through it. I used a total of three screws placed as follows:
1) I used on 1/4" screw through the hole on the netMMC card located above the default stuart port used for RS-232 connectivity. I did NOT need secure it with a nut after passing the screw through the gumstix.
2) A 1/2" screw on the backside (opposite side of the ports) of the stuart, through the gumstix, exiting adjacent to the MMC card. I placed a washer and nut on this screw to stiffen things slightly, but it wasn't critical.
3) A 1/2" screw on the backside (opposite side of the ports) of the stuart, through the gumstix, exiting along the edge of the netMMC card opposite the power connector.
Advice: either shim, or firmly grip, the cards so the spacing is equal around the edge (none of the cards are flexed) when the screw passes through the next card in line as the spacing will be fixed when it does so.
When time allows, I will post up a URL to some digitial pics of my (primitive) arrangement. Securing the boards, however, was a huge improvement. I can now handle the arrangement with cables connected and it is quite sturdy.
Laker
check Small Parts.com.
How do expansion boards connect to the Tweener board?
The tweener sticks way out the other way from the two expansion boards.
This picture may help explain the tweener setup better.
The tweener board can work with all 60-pin expansion expansion boards EXCEPT the breakout-SMT, the breaktout-TH or the thumbstix. These three boards have physical limitations that prevent the connection to the tweener board.
What can be done to ensure the tweener stays connected?
Often with a tweener, the connection problem is at the Hirose connector since the tweener can wiggle quite a bit in there. Try powering down, popping the tweener off, then re-connecting the tweener paying close attention to proper alignment. Use 0-80 screws to hold the connector in place using the drilled holes in the two boards.
Can I attach a USB hard drive to the PXA255-based gumstix?
No. The USB port on a PXA255 driven gumstix basix and connex motherboard configuration is not a Host, or even On-The-Go, so a PXA255-based gumstix can NOT take on a peripheral-- it really IS a peripheral.
To attach a USB device to a gumstix configuration, look to the PXA270-based verdex motherboard and a configuration of USB host, ethernet and compact flash.
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Where can the Intel PXA255 Reference Docs be found?
Go to Intel at PXA Docs. local
What about pin to pin spacing and pins on the expansion boards?
e.g. Is the hirose adapter a very small adapter (pin to pin distance ?) or is there something to adapt it to a 2,54 mm pcb ? Does one of the expansion boards offer a full, or at least partial, access to pins of the hirose ?
The hirose connector is a very high density connector (0.5 mm pitch).
The waysmall board has access to 20 GPIO pins (you can see the pads in some of the pictures on my web site). These pads are spaced at 0.1" spacing (2.54mm) ina double row. You should be able to solder on a surface mount header.
The ThumStix? has a single row of 8 pads.
The SMT breakout board has a series of connectors to get at most of the signals. There is also an unpopulated spot at the end of the board for a high denstiy connector (0.5mm pitch).
Does gumstix publish the schematics for the gumstix basix and connex platforms?
gumstix publishes schematics showing the interface requirements of the gumstix expansion boards but does not publish schematics for the gumstix basix and connex platforms.
For further information, Schematics.
Where can the pin outs of the serial cables be found?
The pinouts for the serial modem cables and the serial null modem cables are both listed towards the bottom of the Gumstix motherboard I/O page
Can an LCD be connected to the breakout-gs board?
Yes, use the breakout-gs board for LCD connectivity and check out Holly's Display page.
Is there a good way to do soldering?
Try using an oven for SMT soldering with non-RoHS based gumstix boards, such as
Does gumstix have any SPI / MMC / SDIO interface boards?
The breakout-gs has the SPI on it, and MMC/SDIO signals are available on the 92-pin bus header of the connex motherboard.
The netMMC board also has MMC/SD/SDIO. This netMMC board plugs into the connex motherboard.
What is the part number for headers that fit the 4-pin groups on the breakout-gs expansion board?
These part numbers for headers that fit are as follows:
Samtec: MTMS-104-25-S-S-125 (female) SLM-104-01-S-S (male)
Check the Mouser catalog.
575-500101 and 575-501101 for straight and 575-500201 and 575-501201 for right angle.
