Pmod NIC100 Ethernet

[ckyamaha]

Hello,

I have just bought the PMOD NIC100 from digilent (https://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,401,1003&Prod=PMOD-NIC100) and i am trying to connect it to myRIO in order to provide ethernet connectivity.

Are there any available examples on how to connect it?

Thank you,

Christos

[BoKnows]

Have you seen this part in the manual?

The communications interface between the
PmodNIC100 and the host system board uses
an SPI bus. The PmodNIC100 communicates
in SPI mode 0 only, MSB first.

I'd start with a SPI example and modify it based on the pmod's manual.  What have you tried so far?

[ckyamaha]

Hello and thanks for your response,

I do not have any experience with the SPI but i will follow your suggestion and start with an SPI example. I have already tested many Pmods on the myRIO and i found examples that they were working at least with the basics. e.g GPS.

I was wondering if there was any vi example that uses the Pmod NIC100.

Thank you and best regards,

Christos

[BoKnows]

Generally, third party equipment requires the third party to put together drivers to make easy API to interface with their device.  Otherwise, it generally becomes a project to learn how to interface with their device.

The closest thing I'm aware of to an example we have available is this: https://forums.ni.com/t5/myRIO-Balancing-Robot/myRIO-Balancing-Robot-Implementation-of-the-Gyro-sens...

It's not an example.  But, it is another similar project.  That can show you how others have gone through the process to solve this type of problem.  It explains each step and how they found the information they needed to build the drivers for their project.

Is there anything that is pushing you towards a need for ethernet versus WiFi?

[KHartley]

Hey Christos,

I don't know if you've seen this list. I've had pretty good success with the sabrent adapter if you're looking for a quick way to implement ethernet. 

https://forums.ni.com/t5/NI-Linux-Real-Time-Documents/USB-Devices-tested-on-NI-Linux-RT-myRIO-cRIO-9...

If you are set on using a PMOD and if you want to learn I'm not trying to advise against it. Here is the reference library we recommend for LabVIEW FPGA.

https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/tools-network/download.spi-and-i2c-driver-api.html

If you are using the myRIO default bitfile (you created a myrio project from the template) then you should just need to connect the wires appropriately and use the express vis. 

https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/labview-myrio-toolkit/page/myrioreference/myrioref_exp_spi.html

[ckyamaha]

Hello Jeff,

Thanks for your response. Actually i do need the ethernet because i am planning to use myrio to replace the current DAQ system we have on board our UAV. This DAQ system is connected with ethernet to a broadband modem which sends the acquired meteorological data to Ground. So the only missing link is to connect myrio to the broadband modem using an ethernet cable. I did not try yet your suggestion because i am working on something else right now but i will try it soon and i will let you know. If this is not succesful then i will try a USB to ethernet adapter that it is confirmed to work. In the meantime if someone else manages to interface the PMOD NIC100 Ethernet to myrio i will really appreciate if i can get some help on it.

Thank you,

Christos

[ckyamaha]

Hello Kyle,

Thanks for your response,

As i have just answered to Jeff above i will try your suggestions and let you know

Thank you,

Christos

[BoKnows]

Do you already have that device or have you considered looking at something like this: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=589

This might be less frustrating than trying to build the SPI driver.

[ckyamaha]

Hello,

I do have the device. I have looked into the myrio project guide and i have noticed that there are some sensors that they use the SPI bus like the ambient light sensor (ALS). I do have a PMOD ALS and i have tested it using the provided exampe and  it works. I thought that the procedure to use the ethernet PMOD would be something similar.
If i do not manage to make the SPI driver for the  PMOD NIC100 i will try the USB. Do you suggest any of these that it will work out of the shelf?

However, one thing that worries me is that using the USB for ethernet will utilize significant bandwidth of what is available on the usb. We are using the usb for various sensors and also for connecting the storage device. It will be good if at the end the PMOD NIC100 is compatible with myrio.

[BoKnows]

I just followed Kyle's links and it appears the first link includes USB devices that have been tested on the myRIO.  If you're going for that option, I'd take a look at the Sabrent he mentioned.

It likely will be compatible.  It's just a matter of taking the time to develop the driver.