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Current flash instructions

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#1 eschneider

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Posted 15 April 2015 - 03:54 AM

I want to flash my netduino mini to use .NET MF 4.2, I'm currently using serial/FTDI cable but these instruction say that boot loader requires rs232?

 

http://wiki.netduino...duino-Mini.ashx

 

http://wiki.netduino...ep-by-step.ashx

 

I'm starting to get a bit frustrated because it's seems instructions and documentation is scattered and lacking. Maybe this stuff is easy for you electrical engineers, but I'm a software engineer, with a good understanding of electronics (my dad's a biomed engineer), but I'm still getting lost.

 

Why isn't there a simple schematic showing the basic of power and the two different communications setups (rs232/FTDI)?

 

I plan to provide a revised getting started document once I work everything out. I will need it anyway for a friend who is going to work with me on this project and he's greener than me (He's 15).

 

Thanks for any help,

 

Eric



#2 Chris Walker

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Posted 15 April 2015 - 04:39 AM

Hi Eric,

Sorry, the upgrade instructions are more complicated than we'd like for Netduino Mini. [The Netduino 2 boards have a really nice upgrade procedure...but Netduino Mini requires a bit more love.]

If you upgrade from NETMF 4.1 to 4.2 on your Netduino Mini, you will need to reflash the bootloader. The bootloader can only be flashed via RS-232. My recommendation is to do all flashing and debugging via the RS-232 pins, to keep things simple. [And then you can use the TTL serial port for your application's communication with other devices/components.]

Chris

#3 kiwi65

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Posted 15 April 2015 - 04:41 AM

eschneider,

I'm on the same mission.... taking my out-of-the-box Mini and getting it updated to 4.2. This upgrade definitely requires a new bootloader (instructions here), and then flashing 4.2 (instructions here). I'm also having problems as outlined here, where I've linked to some of the important files. I wish there was one place to find these. Like you said, important bit of the puzzle are scattered.

 

I've learned a few things that may be of help.

1. Updating the bootloader definitely required RS232. TTL won't work.

2. My USB->TFDI (RS232) breakout didn't work. When I used a USB->Serial (DB9) cable+breakout I was able to sucessfully (or so it would seem) load the new bootloader using SAM-BA 2.15

3. Make sure you power the Mini down, and then back when the wiki articles say it's required.

4. Late nights and lots of coffee have helped so far.

 

Good luck. I'm still stuck getting MFDeploy to 'see' the newly flashed Mini. Would be interested to hear if you get past that step - it's towards the end of the wiki article on updating the Mini's bootloader.



#4 eschneider

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Posted 16 April 2015 - 01:34 AM

Does anyone have a tested RS232 schematic? I don't care if it's hand drawn either...

I mean can I just go buy a RS232 connector and wire it up?

 

I kind of annoys me that I bought this FTDI cable, that everyone recommends, yet I would have been better off going the RS232 route. I even considered it, yet what little I read all used the FTDI cable. There goes over $40 gone, I bought 2, one for my friend also.

 

I'm guessing this is why not many people use these, very little info on them...



#5 eschneider

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Posted 16 April 2015 - 02:32 AM

Almost forgot, I don't have a com port on my laptop, how do i connect it?



#6 eschneider

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Posted 16 April 2015 - 04:03 PM

ok re-reading posts...

 

So it looks like your using RS232 break-out board and a RS232 to USB cable?

 

Can you provide links to the items you bought?

 

Thanks,

Eric



#7 kiwi65

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Posted 17 April 2015 - 04:14 AM

Hey Eric, Here's the stuff I purchased... once I gave up on the USB->FTDI (RS232 Level) breakout that I'd purchased

 

1. USB -> RS232 DB9 cable

2. Female DB9 PCB connector

3. Breakout board







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