By default, the motes in starter kits are configured for master mode; a demo mode where the API is disabled and an application is run that generates sample data and controls joining. To use the mote alongside an external MCU, the mote has to be configured for slave mode (the default for LTC5800 chips and LTP59xx modules); the API is enabled and the mote expects a serially attached application to control it.

1. Start by connecting the mote to your computer via the interface board, as shown in Figure 1.
2. Identify the port name that maps to the CLI. For example, if you are in Windows and see the four COM ports pictured below, the CLI will be accessible through COM14.
   
3. Connect to the mote CLI with a third-party serial terminal of your choice (e.g. putty). See the Table 1 for configuration details.

4. Use the get mode command to see the current mode:

   > get mode
   master

5. Use the set mode command to switch to slave mode, followed by reset for the change to take effect. After rebooting, a new get mode should confirm the persistent mode change.

   > set mode slave
    
   > reset
     
   > SmartMesh IP mote, ver 1.3.3.1 (0x100)
   > get mode
   slave

6. Disconnect the mote from the interface board and make sure to remove its battery (if any), as we will power the mote from the MCU.

Connect to Your Microcontroller

You will need to connect 4 wires between your MCU and the mote for power and serial communication, as shown in Table 2. In addition you need to ground the mote RX Request to Send (RTS) and TX Clear to Send (CTS); unless your MCU cannot wake on data and has to use these accordingly (the mote does not need incoming flow control).

Table 3 lists the names (equal to those found on the silkscreen) of the P1 pin header on the DC9003A mote board visible in Figure 2.