Help with CC3D/OpenPilot USB port configuration please!
0I've finished assembling my PWB/ESC/Motors. I tested them with the radio only, now I'm trying to test with the CC3D and radio.
But... a couple of weeks ago I reconfigured my CC3D for PPM to help @garyhgaryh with a little receiver question. So I've got to reset my CC3D configuration for my PWM radio.
Unfortunately, OpenPilot won't connect properly. I see the virtual USB port in Device Manager, I launch OpenPilot, then the Wizard and try to connect. OP shows "Connection Device: USB CopterControl" but Board Type says Unknown.
Would one of you be willing to connect your CC3D to your PC and:
Check your com port settings in Windows Device Manager. I'm interested in the port speed, data length, parity, FC, etc.
Launch OpenPilot and tell me what it says in the "Connection Device" field when you launch the Wizard.
Any info is greatly appreciated!
I've uninstalled the program (twice) uninstalled and reinstalled device drivers (twice), tried different USB cables (three; including two that worked properly in the past), different physical USB ports, changed the USB virtual COM Port ID... I tried my Vista computer and my Windows 8.1 computer... I just can't figure this out!
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Sorry, I'm away from my stuff (out of town) but i do have an idea: connect board, in device manager, right-click, uninstall all board related devices, then disconnect board, reboot, plug in and let divers reload.
@djslack Thanks for the feedback. Before uninstalling OpenPilot, I went to Device Manager, chose "Ports" and uninstalled the CopterControl item, checkmarked "Delete Drivers" and removed the device. Then uninstalled OpenPilot, shutdown, restart, download fresh OpenPilot v. 15.02.02 (the version that's CC3D compatible) and tried again. Same result. :-(
Tried this on two computers, both of which were able to talk to the board a couple of weeks ago when I was messing with Gary's PPM/PWM configuration, but both, now, don't want anything to do with the board.
I went through the "Rescue" process in OpenPilot to erase the board and reload the BootLoader. That seems to go as designed, right up to the part where I install the firmware. After installing firmware the system refuses to talk to the board. I even stepped back to v14 of OpenPilot and the v14 firmware. No soap.
Not really sure where to go from here. The board seems to work... I reinstalled the PPM receiver I used to troubleshoot Gary's problem. I can pair with the RX, I can disarm the FC, and I can spin up the rotors, but all the values are wrong... I need to complete the setup Wizard. But obviously can't do that if OP won't talk to the board.
Baaahh. I think I'll place an order today for a new CC3D... maybe the little mini one... while I continue troubleshooting. That way, at least I'll have a replacement on the way if that turns out to be the only solution.
@ruouttaurmind I missed the part where you said you tried two computers the first time, sorry about that. Seems like it might be a board issue, you might find more knowledgeable folks on the openpilot forum.
@djslack Well, my obsessive personality kicked in and I had to take the CC3D to work with me this morning (haven't you heard? It's "Take your FC to work day").
Some amount of success. Wishing I had brought the ZMR and radio equipment along as well.
After several failures, I was successful in downgrading the bootloader, then installing an old version of the firmware. I was still unable to connect in OP. BUT... after doing this, I was able to perform the "Rescue" process, manually erasing the board, installing the latest bootloader, then doing an automatic firmware upgrade/erase.
Now, at work at least, I'm able to connect properly and access the FC in the OP Wizard. Hopefully it'll be plug-n-play when I try again from my computer at home.
BTW, I'm not loving OpenPilot. I have an older Dell at home I use for tinkering with stuff like this. Older Celeron processor and only 2GB RAM running Vista, but it's usually suitable for email and web browsing, firmware flashing, pic and video uploads, simple stuff like that. It absolutely CHOKES on OP, slowing to a desperate crawl. I think it even cried out in agony once. During the process of messing with the CC3D, OpenPilot crashed and ate Windows on the way out. It's not exactly what I'd call stable on my Toshiba either (i7-4790, 16GB RAM, Win8.1). Even on the Toshiba, performance is intermittent, and it's crashed or halted half a dozen times.
@ruouttaurmind yeah everything seems to work it just can't communicate with my computer. I'm reading further along and it seems u resolve this. I wonder if the ppm stuff causes this? Once you go ppm u can't connect.
@garyhgaryh I suspected PPM issues, so after I got it all back together and working I swapped out for the PPM RX and did it all again. The solution below resolved the communication issue, even in PPM mode.
@ruouttaurmind One issue that still remains for me though... OpenPilot v15 won't start on my Win8.1 PC at home. It does on my work Win8.1 PC, but I can't get it to run at home. I've uninstalled it, purged everything I can find associated with it, downloaded and reinstalled... but even with the CC3D not connected, I run OP and it never starts up. It launches a DLL process in Windows, but never actually comes up. This may be related to a Windows issue I think. Along the process of troubleshooting the USB connection problem, OP crashed my computer so many times... and I tried a couple of System Restore points... I'm afraid I've mucked up Windows. For example, now my disk activity light is constantly on and my hard drive is constantly percolating. I may be forced to do a System Recovery. That'll be uncomfortable because I have a couple of programs on here that I won't be able to reinstall.
@ruouttaurmind Time for me to set a system restore point. I need to back up my system anyways as I almost lost all my photos in lightroom. I do backups once a year or so.. but since you're having problems with OP, I think I'll be cautious and do some backups tonight. Thanks for figuring out the communication issue. I haven't tried your fix yet but I'm sure it'll work for me :).
Ok, so here was the solution. I hate it when I spend hours and hours tracking something down that turns out to be SUCH an easy and quick fix.
With the CC3D disconnected, I went to Windows Device Manager.
In Device Manager, I expanded the group "Universal Serial Bus controllers (there are usually a handful of entries in that list).
I connected the CC3D and watched for a new item entry named USB Composite Device. In my case there were already two other entries matching that name. To make sure I got the correct one, I right clicked, selected Properties, then looked at the Events tab and looked for the one that matched the date and time I just connected the CC3D.
Once I identified the correct USB Composite Device, I right clicked on it and selected Uninstall. Once the uninstall was successful, I disconnected the CC3D and rebooted my computer.
After the computer rebooted, I reconnected the CC3D and let Windows rediscover and reinstall the correct driver. Basically I just sat here and stared at the dogs for 45 seconds. You'll hear the Windows Device Discovery tones indicating the device was successfully installed.
That's it! I started OpenPilot and everything worked a charm. I was able to see the CC3D, connect, upgrade, run the Wizard... everything I needed.
That's what I'm getting. Sorry for the slow response. I'm on vacation.