MobiFlight Community Support

It's been a long day. Module was listed as unknown. Tried all day searching to get it to work to no avail. Had the Arduino plug into my computers usb port. It work great before with ver 9.1 plugged into my usb powered hub. So I upgraded to the new 9.3 and uploaded the new firmware. Still no luck.
Then I plugged the Arduino back into the powered usb hub and it worked | BUT the Mobi flight module tab shows the name as 
Thats a weird symbol. Something weird going on here ? ? ?

Maybe its a translation problem.....
But you say....

Had the Arduino plug into my computers usb port. It work great before with ver 9.1 plugged into my usb powered hub

When does it work great ? With 9.1 whatever in USB Port or Powerd HUB or only in the USB and NOT in the Powerd Hub ?

Also WHEN does it stop to work ? Before or after you update to 9.3 ?
If problem begins in 9.1 already then the Update is no factor. Then the Problem was still somewhere else.

SOLUTION:

In case the Board Name is Corrupted this sounds like a bad Firmware Upload.

Please make a EEPROM Clear .... Flash Firmware for new and report experience.
Hopefully you got a backup of your Devices ( *.mfmc) as we recommend it. Else you have to create them for new !

When does it work great? With 9.1 whatever in USB Port or Powered HUB or only in the USB and NOT in the Powered Hub.
Answer: It work great before with ver 9.1 plugged into my usb powered hub.

Also, WHEN does it stop to work?
Answer: When plugged into my computer`s usb3 port.

Before or after you update to 9.3 ?
Answer: Before upgrade.

If problem begins in 9.1 already then the Update is no factor. Then the Problem was still somewhere else.
Answer: My Guess: It`s a power issue?
I am able to Flash Firmware only when plugged into usb power hub. I get errors if I try to flash firmware when plugged into computers usb3 port. Also tried using different usb3 ports on my computer.

SOLUTION:

In case the Board Name is Corrupted this sounds like a bad Firmware Upload.

Please make a EEPROM Clear .... Flash Firmware for new and report experience.
Hopefully you got a backup of your Devices ( *.mfmc) as we recommend it. Else you have to create them for new !

Thank You, Yes I have a backup. Will make EEPROM Clear and do a clean install of 9.3 with firmware update.
Van

Hopefully this already helps.

Maybe the issue is fully power related.... How many Power consuming Devices are on the Mega ?
I´m not a electronic geek. So i not know the specifications here.
Normaly a USB gives 500mA . Maybe you need a little more .... And the Powerd Hub gives this little more instead to the PC USB Port!

As you say... Try out a EEPROM Clear and a clean installation.
If Problem remains i recommend to Unplug your devices. Does it maybe work if all Things are Disconnected.
If YES ... Then only connect INPUTS and check again.
If already working fine connect all Outputs expect Motors and LCD/7 Seg ( Cause these are power intensive Devices)
At the End.... Find out what device is the "bad boy" or maybe see how many things you can use same time.
In easy words... try to reach the power limit step by step !

....and finally to stress this again....change the USB-Cable. Unbelievable, but true. Sometimes. At least.

I'm sure that you haven't changed the cable yet, I did not either, but from now to then MF stopped recognizing my board. After using another cable, everything was fine.
The "bad" cable is working with the board and the Arduino IDE and with other devices, but it refuses to work with MF and the board.

I assume that this might lay somewhere deep in the Windows drivers....

Thank you all for the comments. Yes I am aware of power output from usb ports. I have a great motherboard (ASUS Z97-DELUXE with many usb 2 and 3 ports.) Currently I have only a keyboard and mouse plugged in and the arduino. The arduino has only 16 switches and three leds at 3v forward current (340ohm resistor) that only light when over the marker beacons.
Specifications USB 1.0 and 2.0 port, delivers up to 500 mA or 0.5A. Also, with a USB 3.0, it can provide up to 900mA or 0.9A, which translates into 4.5 watts. Also I have tried different usb cables.
Arduino: The board can operate on an external supply from 6 to 20 volts. If supplied with less than 7V, however, the 5V pin may supply less than five volts and the board may become unstable. If using more than 12V, the voltage regulator may overheat and damage the board. The recommended range is 7 to 12 volts.

My opinion: Arduino works better using a 7 to 12 volts power supply. I was hoping mobiflight would work good just using the 5v from the usb port.

Van

I know there exist different philosophys here.

I personally recommend to NEVER use a external Power supply for the Mega.

If the Project grow up and number of Megas ( and number of power consuming devices) also increase, then we should no longer strain the Computer PSU with it.
And here Powered Hubs are the key.....Data from the Computer.... But Power from a Suply to the Hub.... Mega get its power already from USB but Power now cpomes from the Supply that is connected to that Hub.

And for sure... All High Power consuming elements like LCD,7SEG, Servo, Stepper should be powerd external....
Means 5V line NOT comes from the Mega.... It comes from a own 5v Power Supply.
Just get sure you connect (share) the GRD of the Supply with the GRD Pin of the Mega where you connect that devices.
The WHOLE Cockpit must work with the same GRD Potential.... So all GRD from all Megas and Supplys must be connected together on one point !


**************

At last...
I explane this already in the past.... And also Kai talk about this.... USB Hubs, Ports and Wires can be a bi**ch!
I have a Mega that work fine on my extention cable.... and also on my Direct Port. But NOT work on my Hub.
2 Others currently work on that Hub without trouble!
I have a Cable that work for 3 of 4 Megas.... But not work for the 4th.
So Cable,Hub or Mega not must be broke.... Sometimes its simply the combination. Some work, some not.

Thank you for the info pizman82.
I only run one Arduino and will probably not have to use another. Mine is working fine now. I believe it must be the Arduino board I have. A good friend of mine in Sweden gave it to me with other components he shipped here to me in the US. I think it may be a cheap Chinese board, but it works.
So, problem solved. Now back to working on my sim.
Thank You all for the help,
Van
My facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/628896667180635