I've discovered that the documentation is significantly behind the product supplied for this RoadTest. I would have liked to provide the resource I discovered that my fellow RoadTester could use and not have to visit the dead end rabbit warrens that I have traveled.
It appears this is the unit used for the documentation. Notice next to the RJ45 connector the narrow silver case of a USB-A socket.
We are provided this unit. Note the USB is not present.
In addition, the kit comes with a QSPI eMCC module. It mates with the E3 connector on the board. This module promises to eliminate the need for the SD card, if it only worked!
I've discovered the firmware for this module has changed (as promised in documentation). I have been unsuccessful in trying to load the OS to this module in the current firmware version because of the watchdog timer. It reboots the OS when it fails to get a proper response. It has to be disabled to load the OS (through a USB port that doesn't exist) into the module. A github dev version I found appears to fix the issue.
The documentation is for the board I don't have so even if I solve the watchdog timer issue my board doesn't have the USB-A port to move the OS.
After backing out of the last warren run that ended in a dead end, I've sent an email to Red Pitaya support for assistance.
My intent was to get a stable Pitaya platform to pursue SDR objectives. A self contained bootable Pitaya I felt was a reasonable starting point. That would give me a chance to explore the setup and then investigate SDR. That setup part is proving to be a bit of a challenge.
Getting the OS working was a struggle. I'm going to park the module boot option until I get a response from support.
