SSC-32 Firmware Update fail

willscott · November 24, 2015, 6:52am

Hi;

I have a SSC-32 and a botboarduino to control a 3DOF CH3-R with the PS2 controller from Lynxmotion (all purchased from you).

I can make noises briefly when I press the start button but I cant seem to get the bot to move. I suspect I need to update the firmware on the SSC-32 but I cant seem to get a stable connection. I have tried using both LynxTerm and the Sequencer Utility. The latter keeps asking to cycle after a timeout and the former offers a firmware update with the “jumper method” but that seems to repeatedly fail. The hexapod recalibration just doesn’t detect it either.

I have both the baud jumpers on to connect to the PC. Any suggestions? (I’d rather not purchase the usb version as shipping to Australia is a killer)

Thanks

Will

cbenson · November 24, 2015, 1:45pm

Can you provide several clear photos of all connections and electronics?

willscott · November 24, 2015, 10:17pm

Thanks for the quick response. I feel frustratingly close…

Attached are the various images to show the current settings & wiring. I’ve tried to copy the settings in lynxmotion.com/images/html/build99f.htm

Cheers
Will

PS sorry to put in the wrong sub. I don’t know how to shift

cbenson · November 25, 2015, 1:30pm

You have an SSC-32 as opposed to an SSC-32U. Note that when you have the SSC-32 connected to the BotBoarduino, you need to change the baud rate jumpers to 38.4k. Try this and see what happens. Also a note that you have the logic to external rather than USB so you will only be able to power the BBduino when you have a 9V battery connected.

willscott · November 25, 2015, 11:29pm

First CBenson;

Thanks for the help so far. I know I don’t have the SSC-32U. This kit I bought before the U was released but work has delayed my project. I wonder if it would fix my problems. At the moment my SSC-32 is not properly talking to the PC (either of them). I saw on the forums one person fixed his problems with a firmware update (hence my initial post title).

I’ve attached some images that show the powered results. As you can see, the BBduino has four yellow lights however RX, TX & D4 all flicker (this says to me we have some data in motion) and the green light on the SSC flashes slowly. There is only one light on the PS receiver, is this right?

Also, I’ve shown the power I’m using. I have a 9v battery that is linked to the two boards VL (BBDuino and then a wire connecting the boards) and the four AAs connected to the VL2 on the SSC. I just noticed there are still two jumpers between the connectors for VS2 and VL, is this right?

An option is to perhaps if I got a SSC-32U and got that working then could I swap the microcontrollers over. Then I have the SSC-32U for my next project… Would this work?

Thanks again

Will

cbenson · November 26, 2015, 1:44pm

The baud rate which you need to set on the SSC-32 is different when communication with the BotBoarduino versus the computer.
You should not need to update the firmware on the SSC-32 for your application.
We see that you seem to have a voltage pin connected to pin 12 on the BotBoarduino - does this mean that the SSC-32 is receiving power from both the 9V battery and the 5V from the BotBoarduino? That should not be…
Please review this image in detail: lynxmotion.com/images/assemb … uhex01.png

willscott · November 26, 2015, 9:47pm

Coleman

Thanks for being patient with me. I’ve reviewed the jumper settings and made some changes. I set my BB based on the figures in lynxmotion.com/images/html/build99f.htm that I was using to build it. There are some minor deviations:

JA is connected which explains my red light
A0 and A1 are not but not sure how this makes a difference yet

Not sure what you mean by the power. I have wired as per that diagram. The three lines next to the serial on the SSC are connected to ground, and the IOs on Pins 12 & 13 (innermost track). One wire is red if this is what you are referring to? I’ve wired as per steps 2 & 3. I have no wires on the middle line of the BB which is power. Can you clarify?

Would dropping the baud rate when communicating with the BB help? I feel it’s the SSC as I cant connect it to the PC either (no matter the jumper settings). The Servo Sequencer Utility has the found light then keeps giving me a “Com Port Timed Out” message asking to cycle the power (and I do add the extra jumper to communicate with the PC).

Thanks
Will

willscott · November 27, 2015, 7:05am

Updating: ordered a SSC-32U to see if it fixes my problems…

cbenson · November 27, 2015, 1:57pm

We’ll see if the SSC-32U solves your issues. Please keep us posted here.

willscott · December 8, 2015, 9:56pm

Hi Coleman;

I’ve swapped over the SSC for a new SSC-32U and now trying to adapt. Power I’ve kept the same (as your diagram) but plugged the TX RX and Gnd (next to the Baud button) on the SSC to IO 12, IO 13 & 13 ground respectively on the BB.

I get power lights and both the A&B lights on the SSC light while communicating. I’ve made no other changes to the SSC off the shelf. Are there any jumper changes? I still seem to have the same problems…

If this is wired right, next I will be going through lynxmotion.com/images/html/build99f.htm with a fine tooth comb unless you have any other guidance.

Thanks again for all the help.

Will

cbenson · December 9, 2015, 1:21pm

Note that the SSC-32U doesn’t need a 9V battery. You will need to update the baud rate on the SSC-32U.
Page 21 here: lynxmotion.com/images/data/l … _guide.pdf

willscott · December 14, 2015, 2:12am

Hi again;

I think I’m getting much closer. I’ve wired as per page 21 but still having trouble getting the boards to communicate. I’ve tried all three baud rates (currently left at 9600) and can get only the green A light flashing (so we are getting good data). I’ve adjusted the bb code as per below from Hex_Cfg.h:

[code]#define USE_SSC32
#define cSSC_BINARYMODE 1 // Define if your SSC-32 card supports binary mode.

//[SERIAL CONNECTIONS]

// Warning I will undefine some components as the non-megas don’t have enough memory…
//#undef OPT_FIND_SERVO_OFFSETS

#define cSSC_BAUD 9600 //SSC32 BAUD rate
[/code]
Quick questions:

do I comment out the binary mode?
is there a preferred rate that is more likely to work?
is there another place to modify?
where else could be the problem?

Thanks
Will

willscott · December 14, 2015, 3:07am

Update:
ALMOST!!

I found a bug in the initialisation of the PS2 controllers so now I get one of two response when I press start:
]
the legs immediately twitching but then I get a red B light on the SSC-32U
/:m]
]the legs move into the right position and no light/:m]
and then it all shuts back down after only a second or so with a beep. I’ve tried monitoring over USB and it all seems to reset.
I’ve tried a few combinations of the baud rates etc. I currently have commented out the binary mode again. Is this right?

Any guidance?

Will

cbenson · December 14, 2015, 1:39pm

Seems like a power issue. We’d really need to see clear photos of the entire electrical setup.

willscott · December 14, 2015, 10:45pm

Thanks for all the help.

Very close. I put in new batteries but it is still dropping out. Attached is the wiring as per page 22. You can see that 4xAA batteries (via switch) into VS1 of the SSC. VS2 is then connected to the BB.

Do I need to find a better power source? Are my amps too low which is causing the drop out?

willscott · December 15, 2015, 5:52am

Coleman;

Thanks for all the help.

Added a second battery pack and she’s up and running (drunkily).

Cheers

cbenson · December 15, 2015, 1:17pm

A 4xAA battery pack likely won’t be enough to power 18x servos under load, which explains the power issues. The suggested battery is:
robotshop.com/en/6v-2800mah- … =RB-Sta-08
Charger: robotshop.com/en/nimh-nicd-s … -1025.html