# Getting Started with the HDK

![The HDK as it arrives](imgs/hdk1.png)

## Things you will need

1. The HDK
2. A Wifi Pineapple
3. A Soldering iron
4. Header Pins (Female and/or Male)
5. A USB to serial converter or arduino.
6. Wires (Optional, but very useful)

## Set up of the HDK in the Pineapple

The HDK talks to the Wifi pineapple via a bit-banged SPI interface, using on board gpios. These are not enabled by default. In order to enable the interface, type:

`/sbin/insmod spi-gpio-custom bus0=1,18,20,19,0,125000,21`

Once this command has been run, a new device /dev/spidev1.0 will be created. 

## Soldering the HDK

When soldered, the HDK will look something like this:

![HDK soldered and connected to the MK5](imgs/hdk2.jpg)

NB, the pinout for the HDK is compatible with Arduino Shields. If you want this, don't use the female headers shown.

## Programming the HDK

The easiest way to program the HDK is via a USB to serial converter (a arduino can be used, without the ATMEGA Chip). If you want to use the Arduino, look at the section "Uploading Using an Arduino Board" on this page: http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoToBreadboard

Either way, you can use the Arduino IDE to compile and deploy the code. Set the IDE to Arduino Duemilanove, and the correct serial port.  

![Arduino Gui](imgs/hdk5.png)

### Programming the HDK

### Testing.

This program will echo out anything recieved on the SPI interface (from the pineapple) on the serial port (using the serial to USB adapter). This is by no means the only way to test everything is working, but serial is really helpful for debugging.

You can obtain the original of this code from here: https://gist.github.com/chrismeyersfsu/3317769

The program will need to be uploaded to the HDK. Once complete, run the command:

`echo "Testing 1 2 3" >/dev/spidev1.0`

On the serial console of the HDK, the words "Testing 1 2 3" should appear.

[Code for the HDK](spi.ino)

## Additional Information + Useful Links

[Projects](hdk_projects.md)

https://randomcoderdude.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/spi-over-gpio-in-openwrt/