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Yet another BS2 not identified — Parallax Forums

Yet another BS2 not identified

KuppoKuppo Posts: 6
edited 2011-03-14 17:40 in BASIC Stamp
Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a "Robotics with the Boe-Bot" Kit (USB), however, right from the start, I am having the seemingly common issue of my Basic Stamp being unidentified(Loopback and Echo both say "Yes", Device Type and Version are blank).
Here are the things I have tried:
Three different usb cords, including the one included with the kit.
The battery pack included with the kit, loaded with two different sets of brand new AA batteries.
Two different brand new 9 Volt batteries.
A 9 Volt wall adapter.
Reinstalling FTDI drivers.
Setting Latency Timer to 1.
Is there any more troubleshooting that I am missing?
Weird thing is, I have gotten the Stamp Editor to identify the Basic Stamp about 5 times, randomly over the past couple of days. I have no idea.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2010-12-29 20:46
    Stamp plugged in all the way? Power switch turned on? No other equipment connected to the BOE? If you get it to identify stay with that hardware set up and work from there.
  • stamptrolstamptrol Posts: 1,731
    edited 2010-12-30 09:41
    You don't tell what computer/OS you're using but it sounds like a usb identification issue.

    I'd use the usb cable that came with the kit. The installation of the correct driver is critical, and I believe the driver must be loaded before plugging the cable in. A link to the most recent driver is on the Parallax website.

    Also, if you've been playing musical usb's, its possible the Editor software is trying use the wrong com port. You can check by going in edit>>preferences>>debug port to make sure its talking to the correct one.

    It may also be necessary to use the OS device manager to manually delete any unused usb com drivers and then reinstall the correct FTDI driver before plugging in the cable.
  • KuppoKuppo Posts: 6
    edited 2010-12-30 13:48
    Franklin wrote: »
    Stamp plugged in all the way? Power switch turned on? No other equipment connected to the BOE? If you get it to identify stay with that hardware set up and work from there.
    I believe I have the stamp plugged in correctly, I can't see the thinner part of the pins...that's right, right?
    Power is on, light is green.
    Only things on the BOE is the stamp, battery pack and usb cord.
    You don't tell what computer/OS you're using but it sounds like a usb identification issue.

    I'd use the usb cable that came with the kit. The installation of the correct driver is critical, and I believe the driver must be loaded before plugging the cable in. A link to the most recent driver is on the Parallax website.

    Also, if you've been playing musical usb's, its possible the Editor software is trying use the wrong com port. You can check by going in edit>>preferences>>debug port to make sure its talking to the correct one.

    It may also be necessary to use the OS device manager to manually delete any unused usb com drivers and then reinstall the correct FTDI driver before plugging in the cable.
    I've tried using it on Windows XP(Desktop) and Vista(Laptop), with the same results on both: It's been identified a few times while randomly pressing Refresh, but it doesn't stay identified.
    When you say "the driver must be loaded before plugging the cable in", what do you mean exactly? Sorry, I've just never had to mess with any of my drivers before. :P

    Thanks guys, I just hope this isn't a hardware issue.
  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2010-12-30 14:13
    When you say "the driver must be loaded before plugging the cable in", what do you mean exactly?
    When you get the latest FTDI drivers from the Parallax site you need to load them BEFORE you plug in the USB cable to make sure Windows does not install it's own (incorrect) drivers first. You can go into the Device Manager and remove the usb devices and reinstall the new ones or, in most cases if , after installing the new drivers you plug the cable into a different USB port that works too.
  • KuppoKuppo Posts: 6
    edited 2010-12-30 17:02
    Okay, so what I did is:

    Downloaded the FTDI driver from the Parallax site.
    Uninstalled the device through the device manager.
    Unplugged the device.
    Ran the installer, "USBDriverInstallerV2.04.16".
    Plugged the device back in.
    Tried the above again, but plugged the device into another port.

    Is this what you mean? Because it didn't seem to do anything. :P

    Right now I have only one COM port, "USB Serial Port (COM 6)":
    Driver Provider: FTDI
    Version: 2.4.16.0

    Argh, I really hope this isn't a hardware issue.
  • Mike GMike G Posts: 2,702
    edited 2010-12-30 18:08
    You could have a hardware issue but...

    First, disconnect any circuits that you might have connected to the BOE/STAMP. That would be the IR stuff, servos, etc. You just want the BOE with the STAMP, power, and the USB cable connected to the PC. Preferably, you using a 6-9v 500mA power supply and not batteries. If you don't have a 6-9V power supply, that's ok, but they are very convenient and work well... as long as you pay your electric bill.

    1) Open the device manager
    2) Power the BOE/STAMP
    3) Connect the USB cable
    4) You should see a new USB serial port in the device manager
    5) Open the PBASIC editor and Run -> Identify (Ctrl-I)
    6) Or try running the following code
    ' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}

DEBUG "Hello World"
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-12-31 07:09
    According to your list, you did not reboot your computer. When you do, make sure the usb cable is not connected.
  • KuppoKuppo Posts: 6
    edited 2010-12-31 11:38
    I just unplugged my usb cord, rebooted my computer, plugged my usb cord back in, and tried to identify it.
    Nothing.
    The device manager still shows the same driver and settings as before.
  • NewGuy2NewGuy2 Posts: 4
    edited 2011-01-01 12:51
    Are you sure you've plugged in the BS2 module right-side-up?

    The symptoms you describe are typically from power problems. If you plugged in a 9-volt wall-wart to the wall and to the BOE properly, that should have worked.
  • KuppoKuppo Posts: 6
    edited 2011-01-01 19:21
    *Hallelujah / Facepalm* (It's working)

    Ok, well I guess at first it was a usb issue, but since it was on so much over the past week, I guess that drained my batteries, so that when I solved the usb issue, it still didn't work because my batteries were dead.

    Switched out the batteries, it's working great, I'm already making stuff beep and flash and spin.

    Thanks for the help everyone, next time I will remember to keep trying different power sources. :)
  • KuppoKuppo Posts: 6
    edited 2011-01-02 17:37
    Well, that didn't last long. (It's not working)

    Last night: I have the actual boe-bot structure assembled, with a little demo program that buzzes the piezospeaker, blinks an led, and rolls it forward. Works like a charm, I go to bed.
    This morning: I flip on the switch, piezospeaker buzzes, led blinks, servos turn...servos stop, piezospeaker buzzes again, piezospeaker buzzes again, etc.
    It gets worse throughout the day, until it does nothing at all, BASIC stamp can't be identified, but since the green power light is still going strong, I try wiring an led up to vdd, and it shines like the north star.
    Despite this, I went to the store and bought a brand spanking new pack of batteries, tried them, same deal.

    I'm going to try tech support tomorrow, but until then, any thoughts?
    Thanks so far.
  • Mike GMike G Posts: 2,702
    edited 2011-01-03 13:48
    Buy a 6-9V 500ma power supply for development? Check your wiring for shorts.
  • benderwbenderw Posts: 3
    edited 2011-03-11 20:00
    One of the things you can do is make a resistor, zenor, and a LED to keep track of the voltage. when you figure out the math you can set it up so the LED will go out when the voltage goes below the zenor brakedown.
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-03-11 23:13
    Don't let the green led fool you.
    '
    Buy a Wall Wart power supply for this project.
    '
    I wouldn't buy any more of those cheap Chinese battery's.
  • vaclav_salvaclav_sal Posts: 451
    edited 2011-03-14 17:40
    Do you own a VOM? I believe you can get then at any hardware outfit for around $10 (Made IN China!)
    Measure the current from your source ( batteries , wallwart etc.) You should see no more that 50mA at RUN and few mA at idle..
    Do you?
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