Difficulties using Firmware version 300:

[William W. Smith]

Hello Robert:
Well, I have spent all day playing around with my Focuser Controller, running Firmware Version #300.
My controller started with everything: DVR8825HW204, LCD Display (1602), Buzzer, LEDs, Push Buttons, Temperature Probe, Nema17P25 Motor with Gear Box, and (4x4) Keypad.

I loaded the fimware, and tried to connect to the controller via your Windows App's Mini and Main.

I was not able to make a connection, it always timed out.

So, I reprogrammed the firware #300 in again, but this time turned everything off, except the display, and disconnected all wires except Display in the controller. I tested the controller again, and this time I could establish a connection. However, the LCD Display is stuck on one page only, showing Position and Target. It will not change. I even tried on the Windows Main App to change the display, but it never worked, just showed one page all the time.

So I connected the keypad back up, and reloaded the firmware, and retested. Not able to establish a connection with the Windows Main App. So I am taking the keypad out of my controller.

I reconnected the puchbuttons, and LED's, reloaded the firmware, and retested again, firmware #300. Still able to make a connection, and the Buttons and LEDs work too. But onoy one page on the Display.

I connected the buzzer, reloaded and retested. Not able to make a connection. So the Buzzer is coming out of the controller.

With everything that I have removed from the controller, I am left with the LCD Display, the Pushbuttons, the LEDs, the motor, and the temp probe. Still able to make a connection, but only one page on the LCD Display.

I tried the blue tooth, and it works too, but the Android App has issues, or it is the controller, I am not sure which. But I can move the motor both directions, but the android will not update the positions or get the temperature.

WSo, I hear what you say about firmware Revisions 299 and 298, not being supported, but Version #300 has issues. Major issues in my book.

So I have reloaded the firmware #298, and it will work the way I want the controller too, and the LCD Display gives me all the pages, and temperature. and etc.

So: in my afternoon, I build another controller with the solderless boards, with the .96 display( thig is real tiny), motor, and no temp probe. Under Version 298, no problems, runns fin, able to connect to it with no problem. Even with version #300, I can connect to it and it will move the motor.

So in a nuttshell, I am sticking with 298 untill a newer revision comes out.

Thanks for all your help, I have learned much about the Arduino and how it works.

William

[brownrb]

Hi William
One line of code in v300 is preventing the page options from working. This is corrected in v301 soon to be released.

On the issue of the Keymatrix 4x4, it looks like a bug was introduced way back in v285 onwards which, when the keypad is enabled, the controller will not respond.

I will be posting v284 for the leypad later today - the last known good working version for the keypad. I will also be posting v301 of the firmware with the fixes from v300

I followed your text descriptions, and was able to reproduce your findings, using my own board with Keypad, Except for the buzzer which worked for me. I confirm that enabling the keypad makes the controller unresponsive and confirm that the page display option did not work [with only one page displayed].

I confirm that these issues [keypad making controller unresponsive] date back to v285 and the page display option in v300 are fixed in v301.

Regards
Robert

[William W. Smith]

Hello Robert:
I can handly wait. All this flustration is giving me white hair, and taking me back to when it was my job troubleshooting my fellow engineers projects. They would always bring me their projects, and ask me to break it, and then I would give it back to them for fixing their mistakes.

Well I can't complain, I will await the arriveal of version 301.

Thanks for the nice reply to my message.

William