Flashing NodeMCU V3

All ESP8266 boards running MicroPython.
Official boards are the Adafruit Huzzah and Feather boards.
Target audience: MicroPython users with an ESP8266 board.
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Pictor
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:48 am

Flashing NodeMCU V3

Post by Pictor » Fri Nov 25, 2016 12:16 pm

Hello,

First excuse the bad formatted text, but I am unable to enable BBCode! Its enabled in my profile, but I cannot use it!

I try to flash Micropython to a three NodeMCU V3 boards from different Ali-Express shops. I use the latest official binariy like that:

esptool.py --port COM5 --baud 115200 write_flash --verify --flash_mode dio 0x00000000 esp8266-20161110-v1.8.6.bin

Unfortunately I don't get a COM-port after resetting the board. When I watch the board booting, it looks like:
[code]
boot mode:(3,7)

load 0x40100000, len 32024, room 16
tail 8
chksum 0x37
load 0x3ffe8000, len 1092, room 0
tail 4
chksum 0xce
load 0x3ffe8450, len 3000, room 4
tail 4
chksum 0x16
csum 0x16
#0 ets_task(40209c10, 31, 3ffe9020, 4)
[/code]

When I take one similar board from a friend, the boot process looks like:
[code]
boot mode:(3,6)

load 0x40100000, len 32024, room 16
tail 8
chksum 0x37
load 0x3ffe8000, len 1092, room 0
tail 4
chksum 0xce
load 0x3ffe8450, len 3000, room 4
tail 4
chksum 0x16
csum 0x16
#0 ets_task(40209c10, 31, 3ffe9020, 4)
#1 ets_task(4021e1ec, 32, 3ffeaaa0, 34)
#2 ets_task(4021d224, 20, 3ffea820, 3)
rf cal sector: 1019
rf[112] : 00
rf[113] : 00
rf[114] : 02

SDK ver: 2.0.0(5a875ba) compiled @ Aug 9 2016 15:12:27
phy ver: 1055, pp ver: 10.2

mode : softAP(5e:cf:7f:0e:24:8d)
add if1
[/code]

Any ideas, what goes wrong?


Thanks for any hints!

User avatar
platforma
Posts: 258
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 5:08 pm
Location: Japan

Re: Flashing NodeMCU V3

Post by platforma » Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:41 pm

Have you tried erasing the flash with esptool.py before flashing the board?

The bbcode is disabled until you hit a certain amount of posts, for spam protection!

Pictor
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:48 am

Re: Flashing NodeMCU V3

Post by Pictor » Sat Nov 26, 2016 1:11 pm

First: I can't see, why disabling BBCode helps agiants SPAM. You have moderation switched on, that should do its job?

To my problem: Ye, I have erased the flash even multiple times. I even flashed blank.bin to 0x00000, 0x01000, 0x40000, 0x7c000, 0x7e000 like i read in another forum. I also replace esp_init_data_default.bin as desribed in http://nodemcu.readthedocs.io/en/dev/en/flash/.
Both things should not be necessary by my understanding, as esp_init_data_default.bin should be part of the combined firmware but I tried.

Regards

Pictor

User avatar
platforma
Posts: 258
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 5:08 pm
Location: Japan

Re: Flashing NodeMCU V3

Post by platforma » Mon Nov 28, 2016 9:41 am

There's only a handful of moderators, and there's more spammers trying to post. The reason you don't see any on the forum, is because we get to it first. The bbcode is indeed, disabled for a reason!

I see that you're trying to pick out info from two different sources, the best place to look for "micropython" instructions is at https://github.com/micropython/micropyt ... er/esp8266. I don't think we have any advice on flashing blank/init_data_default. Both of them, as you pointed out should not be necessary. It's probably best not to mix-flash any binaries from the nodemcu.

The boot process that you posted does actually bring up the soft AP, can you see the "micropython-xxxxx" in the list of SSIDs when the board is powered up? Pressing "Enter" after those messages, doesn't show you the ">>>" of the REPL?

Pictor
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:48 am

Re: Flashing NodeMCU V3

Post by Pictor » Mon Nov 28, 2016 12:13 pm

I tried several things, to get closer to the sources of my problem.
Now I have modified the /scripts/inisetup.py to create a boot.py, which makes the internal blue LED flashing. And reading now your response: Yes, I see also the AP from another PC. But no serial port! :-(
I have not thought about looking for the AP, as I don't need that for the planned program.

That shows now, that something goes wrong with the initialisation of the serial connection, once Micropython is starting!
The weird thing is, that in contrast with the usual serial problems, all three devices are recognized immediately from different PCs, once they are in flash-mode. As soon, as they are flashed with Micropython, there is no com port visible. Running udevadm under linux shows no single event, when I plug a flashed device into USB. As soon, as I press RST, the device gets recognized and disappears, once the finger is lifted.


Clueless

Pictor

User avatar
platforma
Posts: 258
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 5:08 pm
Location: Japan

Re: Flashing NodeMCU V3

Post by platforma » Mon Nov 28, 2016 1:29 pm

What usb-to-serial are you using and how are how are you powering the board up?
There's frequently issues related to power supply and it's always best not to use the usb-to-serial converter as a source of power. You should have an external 3.3V power line and the common ground between your power supply and the usb-to-serial adapter. I used a cheap breadboard pluggable usb power supply. Adafruit's feather, however, doesn't have this problem and it's probably one of the reasons it's officially supported.

If you see the AP being listed, that's a good indication that the binary is flashed correctly and actually running on the board.

Pictor
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:48 am

Re: Flashing NodeMCU V3

Post by Pictor » Mon Nov 28, 2016 2:19 pm

The NodeMCU V3 boards have a builtin CH340 chipset. I powered them in different ways, only via USB-cable, or in addition via 6V over the Vin.
The NodeMCU board has an 3.3 Voltage regulator, so 5V is OK. I tried different cables and different PCs, powered USB hubs, .. what you can think.

This is exactly that kind of board, I use:
Image

In all tested cases all the boards are 100% recognized once they are in flash mode (after erasing). Flashing and Erasing works everytime without any problem. The com-port just disappears, once Micropython is starting.

Pictor

ggm3888
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:30 pm

Re: Flashing NodeMCU V3

Post by ggm3888 » Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:17 pm

I am having this same issue with this exact board you show in the picture above.
Did you ever get it working?

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