12/11-12/08

[09:01:26] The SRM firmware, also referred to as the SRM console, is the boot firmware for computer systems based on the Alpha AXP microprocessor. The acronym SRM originated form the phrase Alpha System Reference Manual. The SRM console is capable of display on either a graphical adapter or a serial connection to a VT100-compatible terminal.

In the context of Beagle, the SRM refers to the System Reference Manual as was written by Gerald Coley and shared at http://beagleboard.org/static/BBSRM_latest.pdf.

[09:07:51] A .tar file (Commonly referred to as a tarball) is usually compressed to save disk space. Tar (derived from tape archive) is both a file format and the name of the program used for handling tar files. It is commonly used to assemble collections of files into one larger file, while maintaining file system information.

12/8-10/08

[13:49:16] PowerVR is a branch of Imagination Technologies. They develops hardware and software intellectual properties for 2D and 3D rendering, video encoding, decoding, and other related image processing. The PowerVR technology is aimed towards the low-power industry and can be found in many mobile devices.

[12:53:42] Crofton defined ML as "mail list" on December 10th, 2008.

Update

From this point forward, I will name my post based on the days of the corresponding IRC logs, not the day that I create my post.

For Example: Instead of naming todays post 12/08/08 I will name it 12/06/08, because I am reviewing December 6th's IRC log.

12/06/08

[05:47:15] A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is commonly used for mass production purposes. It supports and connects electronic components by using conductive pathways etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. It may also be refered to as a printed wiring board (PWB) or etched wiring board. A PCB populated with electronic components is a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).

[17:07:59] There have been people who have had a touch screen working with the BeagleBoard.


[12:22:17] A QFN (Quad Flat No leads) is an integrated circuit (IC) package used on printed circuit boards. The package comes with an exposed thermal pad that increases thermal preformance by providing an efficient heat transfer path when soldered directly to the PCB.

[15:37:13] Koen said on 12/6/08 that the best way to use dsp through gstreamer is by using the CE gstreamer plugins.

Beagle IRC questions: Answered

This is my first of many post to come regarding unanswered questions on the BeagleBoard IRC logs. The format will be as follows:

[link] answer and info.
-name-

* The link will be the reference to the question or issue. The "-name-" will be reserved for the person who answered the question/provided the information.

[18:16:02] Some SD cards do not work because the Beagle is 3Volts and some cards want 3.3Volts, even though 3Volts is within specs.

-Gerald Coley-

Also, some of the less expensive SD cards at Fry's (Patriot brand) have been known to have trouble booting. It seems that MicroCenter house brand cards work better.

-Bernie Thompson-

Sometimes faulty SD cards work if you reformat the SD card and recopy the information.
-Gerald Coley-

[19:32:11] Opkg error 2 occurs when there is either a network connection issue or a spelling error.

-Jason Kridner-

[08:02:49] If a RX line on beagleboard is having hardware problems, then RMA is the only way to fix it. You can check if it is bad by following the diagnostic page on the wiki.
-Gerald Coley-

[08:10:47] If you test the serial connection on the BeagleBoard and nothing echos in the terminal, then follow the test in the Rev B5 System Reference Manual. It will show you how to make sure that everything is correct, including your cables.

-Gerald Coley-

[11:30:38] TP22 is a test point that allows you to use a scope to see the RX signal from the level shifter to the serial port. You can find it by tracing the signals found in the layout files or by looking in the System Reference Manual's figure 78.

-Gerald Coley-

[14:42:21] [14:47:36] If the RX line of rs232 suddenly stops working, the TX line continues to work, and you are unable to send anything via the serial port, then it could mean that the level shifter has failed. To fix it you will need to request an RMA to get the board repaired. Further explanation and information can be found in the BeagleBoard Errata.
-Gerald Coley-

[18:16:42]Options for POP memory to go ontop of an OMAP include Elpida, Numonyx, Samsung, Qimonda, and Hynix depending on what is being looked for.

-Gerald Coley-

[18:17:10]Micron information is easily available. You can also contact Mr. Coley at gerald@beagleboard.org . Micron is working on a public website and it should be up soon.
-Gerald Coley-

[12:13:30] The BeagleBoard does not have a back-up battery for the clock calendar. More detail can be found in the System Reference Manual.
-Gerald Coley-

[11:57:32] ID pins must be grounded in order for the USB OTG to go into host mode.

-Gerald Coley-

[17:01:56] There is a free OrCAD viewer you can use to that allows clear, magnified reading of the BeagleBoard schematics. Otherwise you can contact Gerald at gerald@beagleboard.org and he can provide you with the PDF files.
-Gerald Coley-

[21:49:09] Some possibilties for PoP capable maufacturers include DDI, MEI, and Streamline.

-Gerald Coley-

[03:11:51] On some Rev B4s, epoxy may be found on the U9 chip (it may be easily mistaken as a burnt out chip). The epoxy was used in an attempt to help fix the U9/U11 issue, but was unsucessful. Such Rev B4s may not boot properly. If this is the case, follow the RMA process, send it back for repair, and it will be fixed.

-Gerald Coley-

[20:42:44] A beagleboard can NOT provide 1080P. 720P is the most that the BeagleBoard can support.
-Gerald Coley-

11/04/2008

[18:55:26] Rev C beagleboards have not yet been released.

10/24/2008

[15:33:02]"strace" stands for "system call trace". [17:57:35]OMAP3 includes an ARM Cortex-A8 which uses the ARMv7 instruction set. OMAP3 is not ARM 11 based. ARM11 is the previous generation of ARM processors and uses the ARMv6 instruction set. The ARM Cortex-A8 is capable of running all ARMv6 instructions as well as ARMv7 instructions which provide some memory savings advantages without any significant loss in performance. The ARM Cortex-A8 is the first super-scalar ARM and is capable of executing 2 instructions per clock cycle.