DigiX doesn't register as COM port

[tt460]

I received my DigiX yesterday.  Uninstalled my existing Arduino software (1.0.5?), downloaded & installed the Arduino beta version recommended on the DigiX wiki, downloaded the DigiX drivers and installed as per the instructions, but cannot get Arduino software to connect to the DigiX.

Went into Windows hardware manager and nothing appears when I plug the DigiX into the USB port.  I have an Arduino Uno that registers as a COM port when I plug that into the USB...  No matter what the DigiX doesn't do anything.

Any ideas?

[tt460]

Just to verify, I've verified on another PC. 

I also followed advice given at this link: http://digistump.com/wiki/digix/tutorials/basics
"If the COM port isn't showing in the Arduino IDE - unplug and replug the board. If that doesn't work - unplug, hold down the erase button on the board for a moment and then replug - you may then have to select it from the com port menu as it may be on a different port - but it is a sure way to get it to respond even if your sketch crashed the USB stack."

I still get nothing.  No COM ports show up in Arduino software.  No hardware shows up in Windows Device Manager when I plug/unplug the DigiX.

[digistump]

unplug, hold down the erase button on the board for a moment and then replug - you may then have to select it from the com port menu as it may be on a different port - but it is a sure way to get it to respond even if your sketch crashed the USB stack."

You should hold down the erase button BEFORE you unplug it - it has to be held down while the board is powered. Then unplug and replug. Let me know if that helps.

Also what version of windows?

[tt460]

OS is Windows 7 on both machines.  I have two other Arduino boards plugged into the same USB ports and one of them using the same cable I'm using with the DigiX, so I'm pretty certain it isn't PC or cable related.

I pressed the erase button while the DigiX was powered up via USB.  Before pressing the erase button it had two LEDs, one on the corner always lit, and then one towards the middle of the board labeled LED that was blinking.  After pressing erase both LEDs are lit constantly while plugged into USB.

I followed your last set of instructions (board plugged in, press erase, unplug, replug) Windows still does not recognize the board in Device Manager and neither does the Arduino IDE.

I'm not missing anything here am I?  The board can be fully powered by USB still right?  Do I need to plug in an external power supply in addition to USB to get this thing to be recognized?

[digistump]

One last request - can you try a different cable if you haven't yet?

If it still doesn't work please email me - support at digistump dot com and we'll replace it

[tt460]

Aha, my apologies.  I was able to get my hands on another cable and that seems to have done it!  Thank you for your quick replies, great work on the board!   

[boconn7782]

I am having a similar issue. I have tried two different boards and followed all of the recommended steps listed on the site and then those in this forum. When I press reset or erase, no lights blink or give any indication that anything occurred. I'm using a Macbook Pro and the boards are being powered through USB. My system report is showing a communication device but the Arduino IDE is not recognizing anything.

What do you recommend?

[tt460]

Try another cable if you haven't already.  The first cable I tried to connect with was a charging cable, I believe it lacked the conductors required for the comms.  If the cable you have was originally intended for cell phone charging it may be like this.

[gogol]

Luckily my three digiX arrived today!  Unfortunately one of them behaves like described here.
I tried it on two computers, both Win7 x64, with three different cables on a direct USB port and a powered HUB.
Two of them are recognized under all circumstances, and the LED on the corner is permanent on, while the other LED is blinking.

One digiX however just lights up both LEDs, but no reaction on the computer at all.
I tried pressing erase while powered and reconnect after that.
I connected with pressed erase button and pressed after that reset, like described in the parallel thread http://digistump.com/board/index.php/topic,1083.0.html

Also powering all three with external power, the two are blinking, and the one digix both LEDs are burning.

I checked the board from both sides, and was not able to detect soldering bridges or bad soldering spots.

Any further ideas?

[gogol]

After spending some more time, using also linux and 32-bit Win-Systems for the test, I came to the conclusion, that it must be hardware relevant.
The facts:

• The SAM3X8E has the SAM-BA bootloader in its ROM, so it can't be an issue with other Arduinos or the digispark, where the bootloader ist just damaged
• The SAM3X8E has native hardware USB support, which is used in that case, so it can't be one of the problems, with Zeners, pull-ups and/or software emulation of the USB protocol
• There is no difference connecting the digiX with an charger-cable or an true USB-cable. There are no signs of connecting a broken USB device on any operation system.

Comparing the digiX with the Due, there is one difference:
The DUE has two USB-ports.  The second port is connected to an Atmega16U2, which works similar to an FT232 as Serial over USB and connects to the UART of the SAM3X8E.
The UART on the digiX is however shared with the Wifi module, but there is the Wifi-Disable jumper.

OK, that means: When I disable Wifi and connect an FT232H cable (http://digistump.com/board/index.php/topic,1127.msg4762.html#msg4762) to Pin 0 and Pin1 (labeled also RX and TX) I have the second USB port also for the digiX.

Reading the documentation of the SAM3X (http://www.atmel.com/Images/doc11057.pdf) you can see in chapter 22.2, that the chip tries to connect the UART, after USB enumeration was not successful.
If it can read an character from UART at 9600 8N1 it starts the SAM-BA monitor on UART instead of USB.

So I connected the digiX with my FT232H cable and opened first a terminal program with 9600 8N1 on the corresponding port.  I just pressed Enter in the terminal, while I pressed reset on the digiX, which was at this point externally powered and had no USB cable in.
After that, I closed the external terminal and went into the Arduino IDE with the blink-sketch. I selected "Arduino Due (Programming port)" and the corresponding port of the FT232H and tried to upload the sketch!

And: Voila, it worked, the digiX is blinking again!

After that I researched the USB plug much more carefully (with lots of light and magnifying glasses) and detected, that the soldering didn't look so good there.  After reflowing the connections with the finest tip of my soldering iron, USB is now working as well!

[dougal]

You know, I really wish this forum software had some sort of bookmarking feature, or a "like" button, or something. Sometimes I want to just flag a thread so I can go back and reference it again later.

Great job researching and solving your problem, gogol!

[digistump]

@gogol - that is some great detective work! that one was obviously not QCed - the blinking LED is the last step of QC, so if it doesn't blink we know they didn't test it. We spot check batches for any that weren't tested, and haven't found any so far in our checking - but obviously you got one! I apologize that once slipped passed QC and us, and though it sounds like you got it fixed, if you wanted a replacement we'd be happy to exchange it.

@dougal - I like the idea of a like button that influences post rank and a favorites button - I'll look into them when I can

[defragster]

+1 for the like - this forum could use that to show it was read and approved - without adding a +1 line extending the thread

Bookmarks could be handy - though I just found in my profile: 'Show Posts' 'Show Stats' so I can see my posts.

While there I saw a 'vote' in stats - could that be abused into a Like feature?

[xeno]

I received my DigiX today, and I have the exact same problem. I tried everything have been said in this thread, but nothing seems to work.

I don't know if the first time I plug the DigiX the led labeled as "LED" (10) had to blink, but mine always stayed on.

I already tried three different usb cables, and I think they have data connectivity because I can use it to transfer files to an mp3 player.

I will try to connect it to another computer with another usb cable and post the result here next week.

[xeno]

well... nothing