As Jeff said, there isn't any sort of easy to follow documentation path, nor is there any easy, just buy it, hardware. Though my reasons are a little different. Normal people, let's call them users, have certain expectations of ease and docs and features and so forth, these people would be heavily disappointed if they came here and tried to get running based on instructions, that impression would stick with them. Not good. Instead I have inadvertently given the impression of a poorly documented project with DIY-spec hardware and feature-light firmware and general chaos. Woops. Nevertheless, it's mostly kept away the sorts that should never consider FreeEMS for the time being.
Your best bet remains 32 bit Debian/Ubuntu, however I need to fix that situation ASAP. On 32 bit there are tools that just work, and on 64 bit there are not. I have a fork of EMStudio that is relatively stable and not too buggy that we've all been using. It's not really maintained, and is not very user friendly, however this fork has had a passable version of it tweaked a bit to raise quality and that's about it. This can be used for tuning and logging, though I will cease using this myself ASAP. Other tools you need are log viewing which can be done in 2 or 3 ways right now, and firmware loading, which can be done in several ways, too.
It's a shame that you rushed out and bought a TA board. Here's a thread on that for you:
viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1315
And here's a thread on why you shouldn't do a full-DIY setup:
viewtopic.php?f=62&t=2327
And here's the section they both came from:
viewforum.php?f=62
Hopefully you find much learning in that process and don't get fed up too quickly. Or keep it on the bench and get a Jaguar for your actual project, once you pin down what it is, and describe it in a new thread, and we find out if it's feasible or not, etc.
Worked flawlessly is a gross exageration, Jeff! Though I admire your enthusiasm, as always! :-D
Rob also is rocking an old A3, and although it's given him trouble in various ways, he's learned a LOT and is much more comfortable in using it and knows how it all works, what goes wrong, how to fix stuff, etc. More power to him.
For playing on the bench you should use:
- A 32-bit Debian/Ubuntu/Mint box
- Home-built EMStudio from my fork
- An S19 from the server Jeff linked
- OLV from the server Jeff linked
- A loader of some sort, I can assist here
- Some pots and a signal source of some type
The process will go something like:
- Modify, connect, power up your TA board
- Download the S19 (bench test if no input, some preconfigured one if you have a suitable signal for any of them)
- Switch the load/run switch and power cycle
- Load the S19 onto the TA board
- Switch the load/run switch and power cycle
- Open EMStudio and see what a raw and unfriendly interface it has
- Close it and open OLV
- Find your log file with OLV
- Load some traces using the clunky interface for that
- Use the fancy interface Ben built to navigate the data
- Ask questions, etc.
Hope that helps you get playing!
Fred.