gator log usage

Right now the gator:log is a black box - I want to change that.

1: How do I use a gator:log, program it? Do I need to or is that supposed to be on the gator:bit side? Do I connect it to computer to program it like an arduino?

2: I was hoping I can use my own device - I have a UART device that blasts out logs to UART.

Unfortunately the device I have is 2,000,000 baud, I might be able to adjust this to maybe 115200.

  1. If I can, can I simply connect the blasting UART to the gator:log and it magically stores all the ASCII data to file… or do I need to program it to handle all the UART code, ASCII transform?

The Gator:Log wasn’t intended to be reprogrammed by the user. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. There are a collection of 6 pins on the back (technically underneath the SD card slot) that are used for programming the ATmega328. It is also possible to change some settings in the config.txt but is highly discouraged because that can lock the user out, as mentioned in the Hookup Guide. The Gator:log is, in many ways, similar to the SFE OpenLog. I would start there for more information.

Got it - I’m not sure if my device can speak files yet. But it certainly speaks UART.

Based on the hardware hookup, programming guide (mainly targeted for gator:bit users) I wonder if the SD card has an empty pre-named file on there - if we can blindly blast into that.

Internal to our device we can change the output format at this time from ascii to binary and uart to internal flash.