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Firmware Upgrade Error in RFU: "Could not open serial port."

 

Greetings! My first post here. I have an older v5.9(ish) Gen3 Servocat from 2013 that I'm trying to upgrade the firmware to the newest (7.0). Its on an Obsession UC22. I'm following the instructions word for word in the manual; power off, flip switch to Upgrade, move jumper to both pins, open RFU, choose correct com port, serial to USB connector, set affinity to 1 processor, turn on power to servocat, load firmware, and I get this error. I've tried with and without Argo Navis turned on. With and without all the other cables connected. 2 different USB cables. 2 different laptops. Multiple different com ports (all under 8), different baud rates on the port and in RFU, compatibility mode for RFU (both laptops are Windows 11). I get a green "connected" in the ServoCAT-Sky software. In regular mode on PCB and Argo Navis turned on SCU in the command prompt is able to connect (but because it's an older version, there's no data). I've run out of ideas on things to try, I don't have an old windows 7 laptop sitting around to try that, but I haven't heard of this issue before. Anyone out there have any experience with this? Help!

-Jordan

FB_IMG_1697844246726.jpg

 

Jordan,

This suggests that you have not selected the "correct" serial port.?

Go to Device Manager | Ports?
Now unplug the USB cable to/from the ServoCAT. Doesn't matter, for this test, if the ServoCAT is powered on or not as the USB chip is powered by the PC at this point.?

Now - watch the display on the PC. Plug in the cable. The PC should "ding" indicating that a USB device has been plugged in and at the same time you should see the PORT folder 'repaint' now with that new device showing. It should say "PC USB port" and have the com port listed. That is the ServoCAT. If you unplug the cable again that will go away again.?

Now - if that is indeed what you are seeing it is possible you don't have the latest driver for that port installed. You can check that by looking at its properties.?

You can download an exe file from the manufacturer of the chip that we use/used for the USB/serial, FTDI here:?

It is self installing. Run it and it will install the latest software for the device.?

Note further you don't have to nor should you 'jump through lots of hoops' like compatibility mode etc. Don't be tempted to change other parameters -- this all does work - something simple is not correct, yet.

Gary?




------ Original Message ------
From "Jordan Ragsdale" <salmanazar@...>
Date 10/20/2023 7:33:55 PM
Subject [ServoCAT] Firmware Upgrade Error in RFU: "Could not open serial port."

Greetings! My first post here. I have an older v5.9(ish) Gen3 Servocat from 2013 that I'm trying to upgrade the firmware to the newest (7.0). Its on an Obsession UC22. I'm following the instructions word for word in the manual; power off, flip switch to Upgrade, move jumper to both pins, open RFU, choose correct com port, serial to USB connector, set affinity to 1 processor, turn on power to servocat, load firmware, and I get this error. I've tried with and without Argo Navis turned on. With and without all the other cables connected. 2 different USB cables. 2 different laptops. Multiple different com ports (all under 8), different baud rates on the port and in RFU, compatibility mode for RFU (both laptops are Windows 11). I get a green "connected" in the ServoCAT-Sky software. In regular mode on PCB and Argo Navis turned on SCU in the command prompt is able to connect (but because it's an older version, there's no data). I've run out of ideas on things to try, I don't have an old windows 7 laptop sitting around to try that, but I haven't heard of this issue before. Anyone out there have any experience with this? Help!

-Jordan

 

Thank you for the reply Gary. I tried all of the above early in my troubleshooting; Verifying com port number (Servocat-sky and SCU wouldnt work if I had the port nunber wrong), checking the driver version, etc. I also just followed the instructions the first time through, only expanding the troubleshooting steps as I went and it didn't work. I'm hoping it's something simple, I'm usually pretty savvy on things like this, but so far no luck.

Thanks,
Jordan
 

Try what I had suggested if you would please -- lets just be sure. If indeed you had it correct we can put that to the side and move on. We'll get you there :)



g.




------ Original Message ------
From "Jordan Ragsdale" <salmanazar@...>
Date 10/21/2023 10:02:41 AM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] Firmware Upgrade Error in RFU: "Could not open serial port."

Thank you for the reply Gary. I tried all of the above early in my troubleshooting; Verifying com port number (Servocat-sky and SCU wouldnt work if I had the port nunber wrong), checking the driver version, etc. I also just followed the instructions the first time through, only expanding the troubleshooting steps as I went and it didn't work. I'm hoping it's something simple, I'm usually pretty savvy on things like this, but so far no luck.

Thanks,
Jordan

 

Just as a note: The SCU does NOT connect if you are using older version firmware! There's nothing in the ServoCAT to "look" for it!! It is only with the latest version firmware that you get a connection. And since you've not, yet, upgraded, you don't have the latest version firmware. Thus the "proof" that you have the right com port at least vis a vis the SCU, isn't there.?

Gary?
 

It does "Connect" in SCU, and reads out the current Alt/AZ, but no other info. When I get the port nunber wrong, it says can't connect, when I get it right, it gives the legacy error. Wouldn't this mean I've got the "correct" port?

-Jordan

Screenshot_20231021_093356_Drive.jpg

 

Unfortunately my test stand doesn't exist anymore - everything was sent off to Bill.?

But I'm 98% sure what I said is correct. I don't remember having Pete add any coms to a pre-7.0 ServoCAT. The code is only in version 61B (extremely limited distribution - the previous, before 7.0C version was 6.0E) and after.?

Now that stated - its been a while since I ran a non-latest CAT on the SCU.... its possible I gave Pete some general PC commands (ones that a planetarium program would have used) to insert... but I seriously don't remember doing that. We are now talking mid 2014 though.?

g.



------ Original Message ------
From "Jordan Ragsdale" <salmanazar@...>
Date 10/21/2023 11:35:58 AM
Subject Re: [ServoCAT] Firmware Upgrade Error in RFU: "Could not open serial port."

It does "Connect" in SCU, and reads out the current Alt/AZ, but no other info. When I get the port nunber wrong, it says can't connect, when I get it right, it gives the legacy error. Wouldn't this mean I've got the "correct" port?

-Jordan

 

Re using the SCU on an older firmware ServoCAT. I stand corrected... indeed it WILL connect and does show the current ALT/AZ location (assuming there is a DSC connected). It will not, of course, download any parameters beyond that, that takes version 7.0C of the firmware. My apologies for misremembering this. Apparently, Pete (the creator of the SCU program) and I decided to add support for older firmware by using the existing planetarium program commands to get something back - confirming that there is a connection. Apologies to Jordan for misspeaking... meanwhile we're still working on the fix for his upgrade issue.?

Gary?
 

I wanted to leave a message on this thread saying that I resolved this issue by using an older laptop that still had Windows 10 on it. After the upgrade all the features of ServoCAT-Sky and SCU work great still on the Windows 11 computer so I only needed the older laptop to run the RFU to upgrade the firmware. It was also nice to have the box open to blow out all the dust and spiderwebs off the PCB in the servocat box. Happy to report I'm now off and running!

Cheers,
Jordan

20231019_212422.jpg

 

Jordan,
?
Super! Thanks for getting back to us. I'm glad things worked out.?
?
I've seen this before - Windows has a mind of its own. It is rather unusual but I have seen cases where changing to a different computer causes it to work. it might be - just a grab at something here - it might be that the version of the driver for the USB was not up to date (one of the questions I had asked) ... but again I've seen cases where things appeared all correct and yet it took going to a different computer to 'fix it'.?
?
The ServoCAT has nothing it can do in these situations. Know that the comms are very basic - there's nothing high level going on here - just simple data transfer stuff.?
?
One final note - if you were plugged into a USB3 port (blue internal color for the jack) ... my bad for not telling you to move it to the older generation plug. It has been known to work on the USB3 jack but I've seen more problems with its use than with the older gen jacks.?
?
Gary Myers
StellarCAT
?
Ulrich Zehndbauer
 

Hello Jordan,
I had the same problem as I wanted to update my SC today with the files Bill sent me. I just got it to work with a Windows 10 Notebook. My current Windows 11 Notebook did not work and prompted a serial port error all the time. Thanks for you hint!

Unfortunately, I ran in another problem now. After the firmware update which is 70.C now according to the scu tool, I am not able to upload the parameters of my scope any more. I have my file and ServoCat Sky prompts a upload successful message, but the readout of the SCU says nothing changed. I repeated the procedure two times, but no change.

I would really appreciate it, if somebody has an idea!

cs and best regards,
Uli?
 

I have responded to Uli in a private email but I thought I should address this here for anyone watching...

There is no issue with the upload of Uli's parameters. There is confusion between what is entered into ServoCAT-Sky and what is shown in the SCU response.
The SCU response is displaying the parameter values as they are stored in the ServoCAT. The SCU response also has a paragraph explaining that you can save the parameters to a .DAT file on your computer. If you then load this .DAT file using ServoCAT-Sky you will see the entries as you entered them.

I hope this helps anyone else who may be confused by this situation.

Regards
Bill Conrad
BRC Astro LLC
ServoCAT
Ulrich Zehndbauer
 

Hi Bill,

the issue of Windows 11 and the "could not open serial port" seems to be still there. I was only able to update my ServoCat by using a Windows 10 machine. If you will need some more on this in the future for a analysis, just let me know.?

cs,
Uli

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