Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on April 27, 2012 at 12:37pm

Known issue in a number of threads. I have the same problem on 2 APM 2.0s. The workaround is to use the hardwired uart 0 on the long side of the board right next to the 2x3 row ICSP header. There is something up with the one listed in the directions as there is a jumper solder pad on the bottom of the APM to connect the port to either uart0 or 2. I have tried without succes to to find the right combination to get uart0 out of the port listed in the directions but jsut use the hardwired one for now.

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3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on April 27, 2012 at 1:26pm

You can't use Xbees while the USB is plugged in. They share the same port. (This is discussed in the manual)

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on April 27, 2012 at 5:45pm

Chris, while that may be true, I have 2 APM2.0 that puts nothing out the uart0/2 port anytime ever. I know of at least 2 more here in the forum. If you know of the jumper solder pad settings on the bottom of the board, please show us a link. The uart port described in the directions doesn't seem to work for a lot of us (at least 5 people). That's not good odds.

The workaround I have described does work since the other UART0 port is hardwired all the time.

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Permalink Reply by Muthanna A. Attyah on April 27, 2012 at 8:59pm

Yes, I'm aware of this and the issue still the same when USB is disconnected !! can you direct me to a link about this issue ? I'm planning to go for 3DR Radio but afraid that the issue is with APM 2.0 not the Radio.

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on April 27, 2012 at 9:03pm

There's nothong more than what I have said, look at your board and use the other UART 0 on the long edge of the board. Read the silkscreen on the bottom of the board.

The single row of pins next to the ICSP port and the reset button.

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on April 27, 2012 at 9:09pm

Another related thread http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/xbee-problem?commentId=705844%3AC...

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Permalink Reply by Muthanna A. Attyah on April 28, 2012 at 12:15am

Thanks Vernon, I have seen both links before but it did not help in solving my 2 issues. I have strong feeling that issue of no signal on UART0/2 is board related...however I will keep digging.

Just for the record below is a photo on how my AUTOMUX Jumper is soldered to select UART0.

 

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on April 28, 2012 at 4:08am

You aren't listening to what I'm saying. I know about the jumpers, and 5 of us had the exact same problem. NOTHING comes out the UART0/2 port that is described in the directions. I am telling you NOT to use the the physical port described the the directions at the end of the board near output 7. DO NOT USE THAT PORT IT DOESN'T WORK. You already know that, we messed witht he solder jumpers too and it just doesn't work.

So, to WORK, you must use the OTHER UART0 connection, shown in your picture above at the bottom left of the picture. The bottom single row of pins on the board left to right is

UART0 (The one you need to use), UART2, RESET, 3.3V, GND, then IC2

UART 0 is next to 2x3 pin connector which is the ICSP connector. That UART0 is hardwired(not switchable and works just fine). Plug in the telemetry cable there, not into the port at the end of the board. We've asked several times about the why the directions aren't working, but nobody answered and while I'd love to fix that, we have found a valid workaround.

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Permalink Reply by Muthanna A. Attyah on April 28, 2012 at 8:04am

Vernon,

Sorry if I my reply was not clear, yes I know I should use the long side UART0 for telemetry and I wanted to share the photo with others who is trying on similar issues, My 2^nd issue as mentioned above is that I’m not able establish the connection with Planner or HKGCS using my XBEE even when I use the long side UART0, just few minutes ago I was able to resolve this issue :) it seems it was because of insufficient power to feed APM2+XBEE+SONAR+RX from a single ESC +5V. This is still not yet 100% confirmed.

Thanks anyway.

 

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on April 28, 2012 at 8:07am

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I just wanted to make sure you got it working since a LOT of people are having problems and the wiki directions don't help much as you have seen.

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on April 28, 2012 at 8:09am

Guys, if there's something you'd like us to add/clarify in the wiki, please post it here and I'll do it.

Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on April 28, 2012 at 8:29am

Chris, the concern here is that I cannot seem to find any onfo about the solder jumpers on the bottom of the APM2 board,, specifically the UART0/2 set and eactly how automux works. Because the boards are being shipped with no solder jumpers connected for the UART 0/2 connection and the telemetry instructions have no info about it at least 5 people cannot get Xbees to work via the directions. I devised a workaround using the other UART0 connection on the side. This has nothing to do with the USB, we know that rule already from the instructions. Simply put, even using a FTDI to check the UART0/2 port listed in the directions, there is nothing comming out as the board is shipped. Further, more than one of us has soldered the jumpers to UART0 and still got nothing out. Obviously there is some info from a design standpoint and intended operation that just isn't posted or we can't find it and it would be helpful to link it if it is published to the Xbee instructions.In other words, we believe instructions on what the jumpers do, how they should be configured would be helpful.

I'll put it another way-automux doesn't seem to do jack (explicative).

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