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Quickstart

This Quickstart is a linear path to get a working Spikeling setup in minutes. The goal is to reach a first successful experiment where you can:

  • connect to the device from the GUI,
  • observe live membrane potential (Vm),
  • control Vm with the current injection potentiometer (center detent = 0 current),
  • record a short dataset and export it to CSV.

If you are teaching a class, follow the same sequence and then use the Teaching Hub material to scale to multiple stations.

  1. What you need
    Board differences (v2.x vs v3.x), cables, TRS connectors, LED stimulus cable, and drivers.
    → What you need

  2. Hardware setup
    Connect the board, confirm the serial/COM port appears, and learn how to select the correct port in the GUI.
    → Hardware setup

  3. Install the GUI
    Install from release or from source (Python virtual environment + requirements).
    → Install the GUI

  4. Flash firmware (if needed)
    Recommended when setting up a new device, updating firmware, or developing.
    → Flash firmware

  5. First experiment
    Use the current injection potentiometer (center detent) to drive Vm through hyperpolarization, depolarization, spiking, and adaptation. Record a short CSV.
    → First experiment

  6. Troubleshooting
    If any step fails, use symptom-based fixes (port missing, cannot connect, flat/noisy signal, LED/photodiode issues, flashing errors).
    → Troubleshooting

Board-specific notes (read once)

Spikeling v2.x (mini-USB, CP210x)

  • Uses a CP210x USB-to-UART bridge and typically requires the CP210x driver.
  • Appears as a CP210x/SLAB serial device (COM port on Windows).

Spikeling v3.x (USB-C, native USB)

  • Uses ESP32-S3 native USB (USB CDC serial) and typically does not require a driver.
  • Includes an additional DAC IC compared to v2.x.

Common pitfalls (avoid these)

  • Charge-only USB cable: the device powers but does not appear as a serial port.
  • Wrong port selected: use the unplug/plug trick to identify the new port.
  • Serial port already in use: close Arduino Serial Monitor and any serial terminal.
  • Noise and instability: keep TRS cables short and ensure a clean shared ground.

After Quickstart

Once Quickstart is complete, continue with: