Updating Jaguar Firmware for CAN

[CosmicCricket]

We are trying to configure our Jaguars for CAN, and are following the instructions on page 17 of this document:

http://content.vexrobotics.com/docs/...artedGuide.pdf

However, we are stuck on Step 4, as the Board ID dropdown menu is greyed out even after we went through step 3 successfully with all of our Jaguars blinking green during ID assignment and then blinking yellow with their ID numbers.



Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[snegi13]

I have the same problem. I also have a blinking yellow light. Instead, however, BDC-COMM is connected to COM Port 4 but it did not connect automatically I had to select "4" from the drop down box (I'm using a USB to serial cable). Also, there is a "Trusted" icon in the top left corner of the window. Otherwise, everything it the same, all grayed out and no board information. I tried resetting the jag while assigning a new board ID but even after the countdown the board information isn't any different. I would really appreciate any help, been struggling with this for a couple days.Thanks!

[snegi13]

With BDC-COMM-107 I'm getting a "COMM FAULT" and "Can't contact bootloader" error when I try to update firmware (black-jag 107).

Just for the heck of it, I also tried older versions of BDC-COMM. With BDC-
COMM-101, before I could even try to update firmware, I got a "Could not connect to specified COM port" error (no matter which usb port I try). With BDC-COMM-99, I get the same reaction as with BDC-COMM-107.

At least the USB to serial cable has more relable/replicable results. With the RJ-12 cable I couldn't even get BDC-COMM to give me the "Trusted" label in the top left corner of the window.

[jwakeman]

Originally Posted by snegi13

I have the same problem. I also have a blinking yellow light. Instead, however, BDC-COMM is connected to COM Port 4 but it did not connect automatically I had to select "4" from the drop down box (I'm using a USB to serial cable). Also, there is a "Trusted" icon in the top left corner of the window. Otherwise, everything it the same, all grayed out and no board information. I tried resetting the jag while assigning a new board ID but even after the countdown the board information isn't any different. I would really appreciate any help, been struggling with this for a couple days.Thanks!

Sounds like you are not communicating with the jag at all. Is your serial to CAN cable home made or 'off the shelf'? Do you have a second cable you can try (maybe you have a bad one). Try only connecting to a single jaguar (if you aren't already). Do you have the terminating resistor installed?

[jwakeman]

Originally Posted by snegi13

Just for the heck of it, I also tried older versions of BDC-COMM. With BDC-
COMM-101, before I could even try to update firmware, I got a "Could not connect to specified COM port" error (no matter which usb port I try).

This usually means the serial port is in use by another application. Are you sure you didn't accidently leave BDC-COMM107 running while you were trying to use this one or something?

[snegi13]

I fixed the problem with not being able to connect with the COM port by trying a couple different laptops. The serial to CAnN cable came with the kit of parts and the USB to serial cable was ordered off amazon. This is the product: http://plugable.com/products/pl2303-db9. Yes we're using a CAN terminator we made it using instructions made by Team 1718 online. We're using a single black jag right now. I haven't tried connecting to multiple jags yet and I figured I would try the black jags before working on the old tan ones. This is what the BDC-COMM screen looks like right now. Thanks!

[CosmicCricket]

Solved this problem on my end, electrical has just informed me they did the cabling wrong.

Always makes you feel a little better when it's not your fault

[snegi13]

CosmicCricket, can I ask you what you did to solve the problem on your end. How did you get rid of your blinky yellow lights?

[CosmicCricket]

After you assign an ID, the lights should blink a certain number of times depending on your ID. If it's happening beforehand, you should look at your cabling.

Our cable actually tested fine on a voltmeter, but we found out that whenever we pushed it into a port one of the wires would end up slightly out of place, which messed the entire thing up.