Best Practices for Micronet Products

Best Practices for Micronet Products

TREQ317 -
  1. Make sure to use a USB Hub when connecting an A317 to the USB port on a PC. This is because the A317 can draw too much current from the PC's USB port and fry internal components of a laptop or desktop.
  2. Make sure the A317 has an external antenna connected to the GPS and cellular antenna ports. Otherwise the device will not get strong enough signal for network connectivity.
  3. When needing to power down the device it is best to hold the red "Decline" button until the Power Off screen appears and asks if you would like to shutdown the device. This ensures a safe and slow power down in order to not corrupt any software or firmware.
  4. The device needs about 0.75 Amps immediately after powering on the device with the center circle "Enter" button. If the power supply is set to limit the current less than this initial 0.75 Amps the A317 will have trouble booting. After booting the device will draw about 0.3 - 0.5 Amps. This is especially important when connecting devices in parallel for testing.
  5. When booting the device, if an SD card is inserted make sure it has no image files for re-flashing the device unless you are purposefully flashing new software or firmware on the device by holding down the red "Decline" and center circle "Enter" buttons at the same time.
  6. To enable network connectivity, your SIM card must be inserted into the card slot before booting the device. The same is not true for SD cards. They can be mounted/unmounted at any time of device operation.
  7. Never cut power to the device when in process of flashing new software or firmware.
  8. Only apply power or ground to their corresponding pins. Applying power to the wrong pins could cause surges of current to flow through circuit parts which are not rated for that amount of power that would flow through them.

SmartHub -
  1. Never disable "USB Debugging" in the "Developer's Tools" under "Settings" because the device may become unusable if its hotspot doesn't automatically turn on when the device is booting. This is because the device doesn't have a screen unlike the SmarTab.
  2. Whenever re-flashing the MCU firmware, make sure to be connected over ADB hotspot and that the OTG USB ID and OTG USB GND pins aren't shorted together in a loop-back fashion. This is because these two OTG pins will cut off connection to the MCU (for example when using ADB USB) and will not allow new firmware to be flashed.
  3. To enable network connectivity, your SIM card must be inserted into the card slot before booting the device. The same is not true for SD cards. They can be mounted/unmounted at any time of device operation.
  4. The SmartHub has a wiggle sensor as part of the accelerometer that powers the device on when it is nudged. If the device is off and +12 V is being applied properly to pins 1 and 2, and Ground is connected to pins 3 and 4 of the 20-pin pico clasp 1mm white Molex connector then you may just need to nudge the device. Also, check the power supply to see whether or not the device is drawing current even if the LEDs don't turn on. This helps to narrow down what is happening.
  5. Never cut power to the device when in process of flashing new software or firmware.
  6. Only apply power or ground to their corresponding pins. Applying power to the wrong pins could cause surges of current to flow through circuit parts which are not rated for that amount of power that would flow through them.

SmarTab -
  1. If needing to connect the SmarTab to its cradle, make sure to power the cradle first and verify that the cradle is drawing some current from the power supply. Then lock the SmarTab (unpowered) into its cradle and then have ignition connected to +12 V. If ignition is not HIGH the device will boot into its charging mode where it is unpowered but shows the battery percentage getting charged. Also, if you don't first power the cradle then put an unpowered SmarTab device in the cradle, the device can enter boot loops and won't enter the OS.
  2. If the SmarTab won't boot when holding down the power button (battery is completely dead) you can charge the device in one of two ways:
    1. Use the USB-MicroUSB cable provided as part of the DTK and charge the device through the microUSB port at the top of the device. Attach this cable to a wall to USB power adapter rated for at least 2.0 Amps.
    2. Put the SmarTab in its cradle with power on.
NOTE: When charging a SmarTab when its battery is completely dead, the device will have a trickle charge for about 15 minutes before it fully starts charging. The device can appear to not charge at all during this trickle charge time since the red LED for charging won't come on until it starts to fully charge. The only way to see the trickle charge is by locking the SmarTab in its cradle and viewing the current draw on the power supply. The power supply will switch back and forth between about 0.05 - 0.07 Amps during trickle charging. 
  1. Whenever re-flashing the MCU firmware (enhanced cradle only), make sure to be connected over ADB hotspot and that the OTG USB ID and OTG USB GND pins aren't shorted together in a loop-back fashion. This is because these two OTG pins will cut off connection to the MCU (for example when using ADB USB) and will not allow new firmware to be flashed.
  2. To enable network connectivity, your SIM card must be inserted into the card slot before booting the device. The same is not true for SD cards. They can be mounted/unmounted at any time of device operation.
  3. Never cut power to the device when in process of flashing new software or firmware.
  4. Only apply power or ground to their corresponding pins. Applying power to the wrong pins could cause surges of current to flow through circuit parts which are not rated for that amount of power that would flow through them.

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