Timeout Exception: No response from controller. / Firmware 305, DRV8825,...
Version 2 of the myFocuser Project
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Hello everyone,
i am having troubles with connecting to the Nano with both myFocuserPro2Mini 2.3.5.9 and myFocuserPro 2.4.6.0. I have installed arduino, used the 305 firmware, in it the DRV8825_305 and the DRV8825HW203_305 Versions. Inside the focuserconfig.h, i only uncommented the temperature sensor.
I have three seperate Arduino Nano Every boards, all recognized by two Windows 10 computers. I uploaded the firmware both with ATMEGA 328 emulation and without (--> same result), verified correct the COM port, without errors and seemingly correct readback in the upload monitor. The (main?) writing process took 11.10 seconds, from what i gather.
I closed the Arduino IDE and with both Windows App, and the ASCOM drivers installed, i tried connecting with myFocuserPro2Mini 2.3.5.9 and myFocuserPro 2.4.6.0. I selected the COM port in question and pressed "Connect". The program prints "Query Controller" after the 2 second waiting period. Then a message box appears: "Timeout Exception: No response from controller." I alternated through all the boards and both Windows 10 computers available.
The intended configuration would be like the one also mentioned in the documentation: Nano DRV8825 Nema17PG5 + the DS18B20 Temp-Probe.
I suspect i am uploading the firmware in a wrong way, even though the Arduino IDE seems to be satisfied. Is there any way i can test this or alternate something to get it going?
Thank you any- and everyone for the help in advance and also thank you Robort for the awesome work that is inside the really extensive documentation and really easy to understand coding. My wife and I (couple in hobby astronomy) appreciate this very much.
Kind regards
Konstantin
PS: I have looked in the discussions and topics to find something applicable. Although i have seen the exception several times, it does not describe our case on hand. Unfortunately, i didn't find any clues to any possible errors i am making in the firmware upload process.
EDIT:
PS²: I have ordered additional Nano and Micro boards of different makers, to see, if it is the EVERY Variation of the Nano, which causes this. I have also ordered an ILI9341 display to see, if the board will actually display something. This might give a hint on where the problem lies. Hopefully the problem is just sitting in front of the computer and not in the hardware itself :-)
Last edit: Konstantin Schäfer 2021-03-01
Hello Konstantin!
I have exactly the same problem and tried with a few versions of myFocuserPro software. Did you managed to solve the Timeout Exception: No response from controller problem? I would love to get the solution.
My setup: Arduino Nano Every + DRV8825 + Nema 17 42HM48-0406
Best regards
Arkadiusz
Hello Arkadiusz G,
I manage to solve it. The problem were the Arduino Nano Boards that i ordered directly from Arduino themselves... well, the original from the original. I got told, that even they subcontract and have them made and branded to themselves. I sent them back and claimed the money due to incompatibility.
I ordered an Arduino Nano from AZ Delivery with an older USB Mini Port. It is recognized by the Arduino IDE as Arduino Nano, but only let's you write on it, if you select the older Chipset.
Not wanting to deal with this, i tried out standard an Arduino Uno and everything worked flawlessly right from the start. I tried also a different one from Elegoo (Arduino Uno R3) and it gets recognized right away as well. Since the Uno boards have bigger and sturdier USB connector and already come with a 12V power jack, with which you can supply the stepper, i chose to do it with the Arduino Uno board from Elegoo. Everything is nicely labeled on it as well.
It worked well with the DRV8825 and i also connected the DS18P20 Temperature Probe, which also worked right away.
I replace the DRV8825 with the TMC2209 (same pin allocation) and it worked even better. The stepper runs smoothly and feels like i have more resolution. Switching out the DRV8825 with the TMC2209 gave me now issues with the coding. The arduino thinks, there is a DRV8825 connected. So everything is fine now.
I tried it out with the software provided and also with ASCOM and N.I.N.A. and it performs like it should. I can't wait for the next clear sky to try it out.
Since I want to build two more for our other two telescopes, I will build one live from start to finish with aiming the camera right at it. It can be watched on the discord server of the youtuber astrobiscuit... Astrobiscuits Discord This will be sometime next week.
I think we can close the thread, if there is such thing done here in the discussion.
Kind regards
Konstantin
Last edit: Konstantin Schäfer 2021-03-19
As I have said before the firmware is not compatible with Nano EVERY. The Nano Every is not listed anywhere in the firmware or documents, The PDF clearly states the requirement as an AnrduinoNano with CH340G. it is mentioned a lot of times. I think it was pretty clear.
You are having communication problems due to the way the Nano EVERY manages serial communications. The Arduino Every is NOT an Arduino Nano and USB communication on the EVERY is not the same and is managed by a dedicated chip running special firmware inside that chip.
The myFP2 firmware and applications are designed to work with an Arduino Nano with CH340G.
Searching google identifies a number of serial issues associated with the EVERY. Some suggest a firmware update of the USB dedicated chip for the Every. I do not have the resources to be able to resolve this. I do not own an Every.
maybe someone can figure it out from searching google. The gleaning I have is
one has to wait 800ms after Serial.begin()
one should reprogram the usb controller chip on the Every with newer firmware
one should use Serial1 instead of Serial
and so on.
regards
Robert
Obviously i missed it, that the EVERY does not work. Since I was a complete newbie in terms of Arduino (and still am), i deemed the EVERY marking as brand thing and nothing distinguishable of the board architecture. I did spend a lot of time with the documentation though (thanks to which I was able to get everything up and running so fast and nicely), but again, for Arduino Newbies there is knowledge presupposed, which is not there yet. That's why i ran into that trap.
I documented my journey for a homemade focuser in the aforementioned community and it sparked a lot of interest. I direct them here to your awesome ongoing project and that's why I will build one live in front of everybody so they don't run into the same traps and I show them what to watch out for in the documentation.
This is the first finished focuser.
Thank you Robert, for your work on this. In two months, when the order from China will have arrived, i will try myself on the filterwheel and see how that goes.
Kind regards
Konstantin
Thank you for your answers! I'll be sending back my nano Every and get the right one this time :)
My bad is not reading the documentation in full.
Thanks a ton
P.S: Konstantin which board you'll be using when building on youtube?
I'll be using an ELEGOO UNO R3
It won't be on youtube. It will be in a video chat room on in the discord ASTROBISCUIT community server... It's a forum, but better. You can join with this link Discord Server Astrobiscuit It's completely free.
Here's a very good short and quick summary what goes on there and that's how it would look, when i build up the focuser: https://youtu.be/znAhp0Upanw?t=1365
Ok Thank you :)
What I can also do, is to also live stream building the focuser up on twitch. it will be saved for several weeks and ready to play it on demand... again, it will be sometime next week. You can find me here: https://www.twitch.tv/astrokonsti
Finally finished my focuser :D It's awesome! Thank you Konstantin for help and Robert Brown for your superb project!!!
Clear skies
Arek