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Quickstart and Linux: FTDI FT231x vs FT232R — Parallax Forums

Quickstart and Linux: FTDI FT231x vs FT232R

prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
edited 2015-04-13 16:17 in Propeller 1
I'm talking to a quickstart using minicom terminal program.

Quickstart boards rev A with FTDI FT232R USB UART [0600] work as always.

Quickstart boards rev B with FT231X USB UART [1000] will display as normal, but do not respond to terminal input. The quickstart LEDs don't even flash.

What am I doing wrong? Do I have to create a lockfile or something? Is this something to do with running a 64 bit linux instead of 32 bit?

Thanks!

Answer 1 - if minicom worked with Quickstart Rev A but not with Rev B:
sudo minicom /dev/ttyUSB0
ctl^a z o (cOnfigure)
serial port setup
F - Hardware Flow Control : No 
G - Software Flow Control : No 

The sudo here allows saving the default configuration file.


Answer 2 - if minicom won't start and gives a permissions error :
sudo addgroup $USERNAME dialout

Comments

  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2015-04-12 15:47
    FT231X is a newer device, so what drivers are you using, and what does FTDI say about support ?
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,566
    edited 2015-04-12 15:57
    About 10 months ago I had a similar issue ... the FTDI enumerated to a COM port, but I think the other enumerated to a DEV. I was able to find a hack work around after extensive digging, At the time I just needed to open a communication COM port and ended up using a terminal program I found that was able to circumvent the problem.

    What does the command below return? when the Board is connected versus when it is removed? Does it show evaluating as a COM port or something different?

    dmesg | grep attached


    You might also need to chmod the attached device ....

    i.e.
    If my USB enumerated to /dev/ttyUSB0 then .....

    For proper permissions you may need to chmod /dev/ttyUSB0 for READ on some systems as a root user.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-04-12 16:01
    Figured out the change. Need to turn off Hardware Flow Control and turn off Software flow control
    sudo minicom /dev/ttyUSB0
    ctl^a z o (cOnfigure)
    serial port setup
    F - Hardware Flow Control : No 
    G - Software Flow Control : No 
    
    save as default. minicom now responds as before.

    I think the difference is the FT231x supports DTR, and the FT232R uses ...?
  • ElectrodudeElectrodude Posts: 1,658
    edited 2015-04-12 21:48
    @prof_braino:
    If you add yourself to group uucp (or whatever the group of /dev/ttyUSB0 is, obtained by ls -l /dev/ttyUSB0), you won't need sudo:
    sudo gpasswd -a $USER uucp
    minicom /dev/ttyUSB0
    
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-04-13 15:57
    jmg wrote: »
    FT231X is a newer device, so what drivers are you using, and what does FTDI say about support ?

    I'm using the standard drivers that come with linux by default. No additional driver installation is needed (so far).
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-04-13 16:04
    What does the command below return?

    dmesg | grep attached
    ~ $ dmesg | grep attached
    [   62.609183] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [  155.549327] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [  183.444967] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [  344.832241] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [  371.225712] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [  400.160612] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 1138.455135] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 1225.994409] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 2219.999567] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 2283.024746] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 3322.676767] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 3444.999598] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 3662.199721] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 3688.443995] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 3718.954926] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 3765.936505] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 3783.163717] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 3945.230993] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [ 4422.154891] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    [79301.111329] usb 3-8: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
     ~ $ 
    
    when the Board is connected versus when it is removed? Does it show evaluating as a COM port or something different?

    Same whether connected or removed.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-04-13 16:05
    You might also need to chmod the attached device ....i.e. If my USB enumerated to /dev/ttyUSB0 then .....
    For proper permissions you may need to chmod /dev/ttyUSB0 for READ on some systems as a root user.
     ~ $ ls -alF /dev/ttyUSB0
    crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 0 Apr 13 18:06 /dev/ttyUSB0
    

    So these premissions need Read added to Group and everyone?
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-04-13 16:17
    @prof_braino:
    If you add yourself to group uucp (or whatever the group of /dev/ttyUSB0 is, obtained by ls -l /dev/ttyUSB0), you won't need sudo:
    sudo gpasswd -a $USER uucp
    

    On Ubuntu/Mint, the group is dialout; and I did:
    sudo addgroup $USERNAME dialout
     ~ $ groups
    username adm dialout cdrom sudo dip plugdev lpadmin sambashare vboxusers
    

    I've not seen the gpasswd command in the context of fixes to /dev/ttyUSB0. Is gpasswd doing the same as addgroup, or is there another permission involved?
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