unable to connect

Support for Arduino in combination with Air Manager and Air Player

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Markjohn
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:30 pm

unable to connect

#1 Post by Markjohn »

Hi Guys

Ive had 4 arduinos connected and all working correctly to air manager 3.7.10 - 2 arduino megas and 2 arduino unos - Channels A,B,C and D

Ive moved house recently so not switched my pc on for about 6 months

When connecting today only 2 of the devices were recognised in air manager - one mega and one Uno on channels C and D

Ive tried to re-flash the other 2 but it doesn't work - Time out errors. I can see them in device manager (as a mega and Uno), and also write to them with the arduino software so I know they work
I can see the correct com port in air manager - It matches device manager

One thing I have noticed - If I move one of the devices (say the mega) to a different USB port on the back of my pc, the com port number doesn't change in device manager - Even if I do a hardware rescan - I assumed each USB port would have a different com port number. The mega always says connected to Com7 regardless of where it is connected on the back of the computer?

Ive uninstalled each arduino driver and reinstalled but still the same. Ive fully updated windows. I've also tried different USB leads

Would updating to Air manager 4 work? I was hoping to hold off doing this until I get a new pc - I had all 4 devices connected before with no issues

Any ideas? Ive completely run out of options

Thanks

Mark

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jph
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Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:50 pm
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow..

Re: unable to connect

#2 Post by jph »

HI Mark,
I don't quite fully understand what you are saying here but I think I have the general idea.
By timeout - I presume you mean an avrdude timeout when attempting to flash ?

On the com port numbers not changing, it depends on the device, in an ideal world the com port number should stay the same across any com port you connect to - which it appears to be doing, on at least some.

Arduino uno and mega with the 16U2 serial/usb converter do this. Many others from other suppliers use a different serial usb converter, often the CH34x device and this DOES enumerate to different port values when you move it.
If you post images of the boards I can tell you what they have fitted.

As for flashing the boards then try this.
Unplug ALL usb devices that appear as a com port, ensure nothing is in device manager.
Then add one board only.
Note the com port number in device manager, then attempt to flash it and let me know.
Don't forget that in the flashing box that comes up that the com port that you select is from a PULL DOWN MENU. You have to ensure you are flashing the correct device.
Do this with each device, one at a time, until they are all flashed.
See if that helps,
Joe
Joe. CISSP, MSc.

Markjohn
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:30 pm

Re: unable to connect

#3 Post by Markjohn »

Hi Joe
I didn't realise the com port stays the same - That bit works ok then

I've tried what you suggest by disconnecting every USB device

I can re-flash the 2 devices that worked anyway so I know Air manager and the USB cable is working correctly and no firewall etc

The 2 devices that I cant flash are on com ports 7 and 10. If I close air manager and then open the arduino software I can connect to each of these devices and load a simple sketch - It works fine and confirms the correct port numbers etc

If I then close the arduino software and then load Air manager again:

When I try to flash the uno I get this error (selecting com 10 in the drop down):

avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x99

It times out after 10 attempts

When I try to flash the mega I get this error (selecting com 7):

avrdude.exe: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout

It might be easier to just purchase 2 new Arduino boards? Do you have any other suggestions before I do?

Thanks

Mark

Markjohn
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:30 pm

Re: unable to connect

#4 Post by Markjohn »

Hi Joe
I've just found a spare Arduino mega board and I can flash the air manager firmware to it - It works perfectly

The issue I have is with the 2 arduino boards. It has nothing to do with air manager

Something is corrupt on these 2 boards

Im going to use the spare and buy another uno board - It will work then

Thanks

Mark

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jph
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Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:50 pm
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow..

Re: unable to connect

#5 Post by jph »

Are both the other devices identical - make and model ?

One thing to try - although you may well have done this, is to load the 'blink' sketch from the Arduino IDE to the board first, then close the IDE. The open air manager and proceed to 'try' to flash the board.


Very strange indeed.
Joe. CISSP, MSc.

Markjohn
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:30 pm

Re: unable to connect

#6 Post by Markjohn »

Hi Joe

I Just wanted to give you an update

I successfully loaded the blink program into the Uno. I then connected to Air manager and was able to download the firmware into it
I then tried with the mega and it didn't connect to either to Arduino software or Air Manager (after selecting the correct com port)
I then restarted my pc and tried the uno again and then that didn't work

I've tried my spare Mega again and that works fine (every time)

Its definitely a problem with the 2 original boards - I've never seen this before which is why its thrown me

Thanks for your support. I've ordered another Uno board and I am confident everything will work and connect fine

Thanks again

Mark

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jph
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Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:50 pm
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow..

Re: unable to connect

#7 Post by jph »

Hi Mark, well, that's a bugger :o

Definitely sounds like arduino gremlins. How strange.

In all my time with Arduino I have only ever had one fail, a trademarked UNO. The voltage regulator started glitching - even when it was not supposedly being used!.
The power LED was flickering and it did all kinds of strange things. I replaced the Vreg and it behaved for a while then started doing silly things at unpredictable times so I got very technical, got out my specialist tools and very carefully proceeded to smash the effing thing to pieces with a large lump hammer.
It was very satisfying. ;)

Joe
Joe. CISSP, MSc.

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