WiFi RS21 firmware lost?

Archive
1

Hi,

i think i have killed something on my wifi module:

On bootup / program startup i get something like


Using mainboard GHI Electronics FEZSpider version 1.0
Program Started
RS9110 firmware version Number is           <--- firmware version number missing
RS9110 driver version Number is 4.4.5

and initialization is hanging on

wifi.Interface.Open();

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance
Knut

2

Welcome to the forum!

Make sure you have latest SDK. Can you show more of your code, please?

3

Hi Architect!

Thx for your answer!

I’m at the newest SDK/Firmware as i began gadgeteering at Xmas! (downloaded and installed all new / updated firmware).

I’ve build over the Xmax vacation my first little Gadgeteer project. Its a simple 4 motor/tire robot with a onboard FEZ Spider, steered remotely by a PC-connected XBox contoller via WiFi. It works like a charm. Having a lot of pogramming fun on the way…

At some point in time i had to remove my logic power source (a 7.4V LiPo) from the USB-DP and connected to PC-USB for further programm modification. Maybe to little current on that USB-port. The Spider begins a courious reboot -> run -> reboot loop, that i realized about 30 minutes later (was away from keyboard, so i didn’t realize quickly). It does somthing like [Boot] -> [Initialize smothley] -> [Run a few 10 seconds] -> [LCD/power breakdown] -> [Boot] -> …

After that, removed USB, and go to bed. Next day RS21 was dead!

I build up a completeley new Spider hardware (new Spider, new USB-DP, new TE35, new cables) and check the RS21 on both sockets (6?, 9?). No success, no communication with the WiFi module). I even tried wifi.Interface.UpdateFirmware() with no success (it times out after 100 secs).

Here some relevant part of my program:


        private void ProgramStarted()
        {
            StandardFont = Resources.GetFont(Resources.FontResources.NinaB);

            SetupWindow(Window, StandardFont); // <- setup some Text's in a Canvas for status messages

            TcpServer = new TcpServer(); // <-- receives steering commands for my robot after an successful wifi setup
            TcpServer.ServerStatusChanged += TcpServerOnServerStatusChanged;
            TcpServer.DataReceived += TcpServerOnDataReceived;
            TcpServerOnServerStatusChanged(TcpServer.Status);

            new Thread(() => SetupWiFi(WiFi)).Start();

            Debug.Print("Program Started");
        }



        private void SetupWiFi(WiFi_RS21 wifi)
        {
            Thread.Sleep(500);

            if (wifi.Interface.IsActivated)
            {
                if (wifi.Interface.IsOpen)
                {
                    Write(txtStatus, "Closing WiFi interface ...");

                    wifi.Interface.Close();
                }
            }

            if (!wifi.Interface.IsOpen)
            {
                Write(txtStatus, "Opening WiFi interface ...");

                try
                {
                    wifi.Interface.Open(); // <- here it goes to nirwana
                }
                catch (Exception exception)
                {
                    Debug.Print("ERROR: " + exception);
                }
            }

            if (!wifi.Interface.NetworkInterface.IsDhcpEnabled)
            {
                Write(txtStatus, "Enabling DHCP on WiFi interface ...");

                wifi.Interface.NetworkInterface.EnableDhcp();
            }

            Write(txtStatus, "Assigning interface to network stack ...");

            NetworkInterfaceExtension.AssignNetworkingStackTo(wifi.Interface);

            wifi.Interface.NetworkAddressChanged +=
                (sender, args) =>
                    {
                        Write(txtStatus, "IP: " + wifi.Interface.NetworkInterface.IPAddress);

                        TcpServer.Start(wifi.Interface.NetworkInterface.IPAddress, TcpServer.DefaultServerPort);
                    };

            bool joined = false;

            for (int i = 0; i < 3; ++i)
            {

                Write(txtStatus, "Scanning for known networks ...");

                try
                {
                    var x = wifi.Interface.Scan(Network);

                    if (x != null && x.Length > 0)
                    {
                        Write(txtStatus, "Connecting to '" + x[0].SSID + "' ...");

                        wifi.Interface.Join(x[0], Passphrase);

                        joined = true;

                        break;
                    }
                }
                catch (Exception)
                {
                }
            }

            if (!joined)
            {
                Write(txtStatus, "Can't join network '" + Network + "'");
            }
        }

I hope this is enough information to try a little remote diagnostics :slight_smile:

4

Hi Knut,

I’ve had similar problems in the past (hang on open , hang on join, but NOT the missing version number info), so your mileage may vary.
For me it came down to a combination of power (not enough) and a flaky connector on my RS21 module - i.e. I got it working by powering from a proper power supply (not USB), and giving the gadgeteer cables at both ends a firm (but not too firm :slight_smile: ) push.

Regards
Rob