Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Yes, it's the dreaded "Prop not found on port..." problem... — Parallax Forums

Yes, it's the dreaded "Prop not found on port..." problem...

danielstrittdanielstritt Posts: 43
edited 2012-04-21 15:14 in Propeller 1
Ok, I have a gadget gangster pp usb setup, that worked from day 1 (which was about 6 months ago). Then I decided to take a break from electronics for about a month. I come back, and the prop ide and the propgcc simpleide won't recognize the chip. The port is active, I am using the FTDI driver acquired from the "Downloads" section of the parallax website. I have also tried other versions from the FTDI website. I have disconnected my bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and used wired, I disconnected my MIDI controller, I checked the voltage right off the pins of the smd prop chip, all fine. Arduino is working using the same drivers. I haven't done any major changes to the computer, or OS. I searched the forums for days, and all the ideas weren't helping with my case. Nothing else is using the serial port at the time either.

Windows 7 64-bit

FTDI V. 2.08

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Daniel

Comments

  • danielstrittdanielstritt Posts: 43
    edited 2012-04-20 17:13
    I forgot to mention, the prop chip runs fairly warm after I turn the board on, just incase that matters
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2012-04-20 18:54
    danielstritt wrote: »
    I forgot to mention, the prop chip runs fairly warm after I turn the board on, just incase that matters

    It matters. The prop chip usually runs cool unless the ouput pins are providing a lot of current or all the cogs are active. Check your power supply polarity and voltage, and see if any I/O pins are shorted or have high current loads.

    Best to start with a minimum system so disconnect everything you can from the gg pp and start from there.
  • danielstrittdanielstritt Posts: 43
    edited 2012-04-20 20:22
    Oh yeah, I guess I should have mentioned that too. When I tested it, the only things connected to the board were the USB cable (which I tried a few to rule out that), and the supplied DC adapter, which I hooked up to a multimeter to check polarity and that it was giving the correct polarity. Everything is working as it should, the chip just refuses to get recognized. Sadly, its the only one I have, so I cant check if the board itself is ruined somehow.

    THanks for the prompt reply as well, I know it has to get frustrating with this same problem popping up over and over on the forums.

    Daniel
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,838
    edited 2012-04-20 20:34
    Sorry, but a hot Prop is not a good sign... I've not seen a hot one come back to life yet...
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2012-04-20 20:42
    Alas, there's nothing new in terms of why the "Prop not found ..." message appears. Almost all cases are due to:

    1) Incorrect power ... usually batteries that have run down.
    2) Faulty serial connection. Sometimes the cable, sometimes a USB adapter, sometimes USB I/O drivers.

    That's really it. In unusual cases, there have been poor solder connections on the board or someone (briefly) connected a power supply backwards or shorted a high voltage to the Vdd line (anything over 4V is high).

    Anything in the "unusual" category is probably not going to be discovered through advice here. Rayman is wise ... a hot Prop is not normal ... usually indicates some kind of short in the chip from catastrophic damage.
  • danielstrittdanielstritt Posts: 43
    edited 2012-04-20 21:26
    Thanks for your help everyone. I guess I will be getting a new propeller based board. Maybe I'll try the quickstart one this time.

    Daniel
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2012-04-21 05:30
    Replace the chip. It's quite easy.
  • danielstrittdanielstritt Posts: 43
    edited 2012-04-21 13:52
    I don't know how to solder a surface mount chip. It's not the kit you build, it's the prebuilt one.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2012-04-21 14:08
    Removing the faulty chip and soldering a new one isn't difficult.
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,838
    edited 2012-04-21 14:21
    Unsoldering is the hard part... I've heard you can do it with a cheap hot air gun from a hardware store...

    There are tons of videos out there on how to solder it back up. You really just need wick and solder...
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2012-04-21 15:14
    Chip Quik makes it very easy:

    http://www.chipquik.com/
Sign In or Register to comment.