Problem when connecting to PC

[jhsa]

I have a strange problem with my 9xtreme radio since months now. Tried to figure it out but I can't.
Sometimes I can connect to the computer without any problem. Then suddenly, the drives just don't show up and the tx just hangs on the "Connecting" screen. It doesn't power OFF and have to disconnect the battery. When this happens, it is not just once, it is one time after the other.. Sometimes I get a popup saying that I have to format the SD Card, but the eeprom drive also doesn't show up.
Tried to disable the SD Card by hitting the trainer switch while in bootloader mode and before connecting the USB cable. Sometimes it worked, and then next time I was able to connect also with the SD Card. last time I tried, I got the eeprom drive but then the tx did freeze while in the connecting screen again.
Sometimes when entering bootloader mode gives me a pink backlight, sometimes gives me a bluish/white color.

Then suddenly, it works for a few times as if nothing ever happend, no problem at all, before it all starts again. I am starting to lean towards some hardware problem, but I would like to prove this wrong..
Any help is welcome as I am afraid I will damage the battery connector if this continues.. At the moment I have made a cable with a switch between the radio and the battery. Of course I can't go fly my models with the tx like this.
This TX was meant to be my main radio, but that won't happen until this issue is solved..

Thank you

João

[MikeB]

What bootloader revision?

Mike.

Edit: The backlight problem is due to me getting the clock frequency wrong. I fixed that in ersky9x, but it is still wrong in the bootloader.

[jhsa]

Sorry Mike, I forgot to mention the bootloader version. latest 2.0

Thanks

João

[s_mack]

Don't you have a spare 9Xtreme though? From when I shipped that once via DHL because it seemed like the first was taking a long time, etc. Maybe I'm remembering wrong. If you have it, go ahead and swap it and see if the problem goes away or not. You'll at least narrow it down to the 9Xtreme vs. something else.

[jhsa]

No, you asked me to forward it to a costumer that damaged his board, remember??
I do have his damaged one though. Still didn't get round to fix it.. IF, it can be fixed Been busy with other little projects..

João

[s_mack]

remember??

I haven't remembered anything since 1997. I think. I don't really recall.

[jhsa]

Someone here in Germany who damaged his board and he wasn't getting signal to the module I think..
You asked me to forward the board to him and I did..

João

[s_mack]

Yeah, I know I just didn't remember until you mentioned it.

[jhsa]

Steven, I think you do a better job remembering stuff than me
I can imagine the stuff you have to remember only for your business

Mike, I think this problem started when you were fixing that problem with the I2C/COM3/Bluetooth that the radio was rebooting and hanging.
On the other hand, I think I had just finished installing the 9XT. So, it could be a coincidence that it just started when doing the above.
I remember, that with this board, when there is a problem, not necessarily all of them show it, at least in the same way.

João

[MikeB]

When running normally, does the USB joystick connection operate reliably?

Mike.

[jhsa]

Sorry Mike, only now seen your post.. Yes, i think I never had problems when playing with the sim.. at least i don't remember any..
That is the radio i use for it now..

Thanks

João

[s_mack]

Confirm your address hasn't changed and I'll get another out to you. Back up your settings/models and flash the new unit with with whatever version you currently are running so the two are essentially identical from a firmware/settings/models point of view. That will be the easiest way to determine where the problem lies. I've actually had a few recent reports similar and this would be a good way to determine if the issue is a failing component or a firmware bug.

Logical?

[jhsa]

Steven, thank you.. I suggest we wait for Mike's opinion on this??
If he thinks it is better than we do that??

João

[MikeB]

Please try plugging and unplugging the USB a few times when running normally and check the USB joystick comes up OK every time.
This should check the hardware generally.

Odd as I don't have any problems.
Do you just use the one PC?

Mike.

[jhsa]

I will do that Mike..

Yes, i normally just use this PC.. I have more than one OS installed though.. Normally use windows..

João

[jhsa]

Please try plugging and unplugging the USB a few times when running normally and check the USB joystick comes up OK every time.
This should check the hardware generally.


Mike.

Mike, just did this test. Unplugging the usb cable while flying the sim, and then plugging it again.
I gained control immediately after connecting the cable every time I plugged the cable back..No problems at all..

João

[jhsa]

Please try plugging and unplugging the USB a few times when running normally and check the USB joystick comes up OK every time.
This should check the hardware generally.

Odd as I don't have any problems.
Do you just use the one PC?

Mike.

Mike, just did this test. Unplugging the usb cable while flying the sim, and then plugging it again.
I gained control immediately after connecting the cable every time I plugged the cable back..No problems at all..

João

Bump??

João

[MikeB]

I don't have any obvious ideas at this point.
I believe the watchdog is NOT enabled in the bootloader at present, which is why it can hang. I will look to add the watchdog in, then, at least, the radio will reset (into the STM bootloader if the USB is plugged in), and the power switch will then turn the radio off.
Where the hang is taking place, I don't know. The joystick test suggest there is no hardware problem with the USB.
Perhaps you could test the bootloader with the SD card removed. Have you checked the SD socket is well soldered to the PCB?

Mike.

[jhsa]

I didn't suspect the SD Card because it has been working well.
I tried once with the SD Card disabled (TRN switch) and the radio still hung.
I guess if the socket wasn't well soldered it would also affect the radio's normal functionality??
Wasn't the watchdog the cause of the other earlier problem?

Thanks

João

[jhsa]

OK, connected twice without problems..

3rd time, drives show up but I can't click on them. radio froze.
4th time, only the eeprom drive appear. couldn't click on it. Asked to format. radio froze.
5th time, equal to 3rd time

All the above the backlight color was white/light blue..

6th time, backlight was pink when start in bootloader mode. Radio connected without problems
This appears to be consistent with starting to work again some/most of the times. I kinda new the radio would work when I saw the pink BL. But can't say for sure.

Will keep trying.

João

[jhsa]

7th time, same again. 2 drives show up, can't open them and can't eject them. radio froze. white BL.
8th time, it worked. eject the drives, radio turned OFF. Still white BL.
9th time, failed. drives appeared, but asked to format. Pink BL from the start, so, not related? Can't eject drives. Radio froze.
10th time, same as the above, but with white BL.

João

EDIT: You can see the nightmare to load new test versions to this radio

João