Need help connecting Development Board to USB PORT

Development Boards
1

I connected the SparkFun IoT RedBoard - ESP32 Development Board and the USB cable to my notebook running windows 10.

After installing Arduino IDE 2.3.8., I selected the Sparkfun ESP32 IoT Redboard from the board dropdown list and checked the Show All Ports check box, but no ports were displayed.

I compiled and attempted to upload the Blinking sketch example, but the upload failed with the error message, Failed uploading: no upload port provided.

Thinking this might be a driver issue, I installed CH340 driver, but compiling and uploading got the same results.

Thinking this might be a Windows 10 or USB port issue, I inserted a scan disk with files in the USB drive, but the USB port appears to be ok. Status: port is functioning properly.

Any suggestion you can provide would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks, Lance

2

One of the several issues may go on here. You have the CH340 driver, you said. Make sure that It is the same CH340C driver mentioned here and same procedure was followed. Also make sure you have followed all the steps mentioned in the hookup guide. I think the board came without a cable. If that is the case, a bad USB cable can be the problem. You can try another cable. Also notice if any chip gets burning hot when you power it up.

3

Hi,

Since i’m not sure if attachments are allowed on the forum, I’m responding by email.

Listed below are possible causes you mentioned and also what I found.

  1. Ensure CH340C driver is installed
    On the sparkfun website below the heading, How To Install CH340 Drivers, two options are
    provided - Windows (exe) and Windows (zip). Both of these options appear to install CH341
    driver files (see screenshots below). Where can I download the CH340C driver?

  2. Ensue Cable is not bad
    I purchased both the cable and SparkFun IoT RedBoard - ESP32 Development Board at the
    same time from Sparkfun. If you will send me another cable, I’ll test it.

  3. Ensure no chips get burning hot when I power it up the development board. The chips
    appear to be at normal temperature.

Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks Lance

image1.png
image1.png2048Ă—1536 321 KB

From Windows (exe)

image2.jpeg
image2.jpeg3264Ă—2448 3.83 MB

image3.jpeg
image3.jpeg3264Ă—2448 3.8 MB

4

I got your mail. Actually I am not a sparkfun team member. I think the generic CH340 driver is used for CH340C too. I am tagging a team member. Hopefully they notices. @TS-Russell

5

Hi,

I need the assistance of a Sparkfun employee.

Thanks, Lance

6

Not a sparkfun employee.

Sounds like you either have a bad cable or your board has a bad CH340. (Or both but thats unlikely)

Does anything show up in device manager when you plug the board in?

Does anything dissappear from device manager when you unplug the board?

If the answers to the above questions are no, it’s likely a bad USB cable. Do you have another known good cable you can try? It must be a data cable, not a phone charging cable.

7

The CH341 drivers supersede/are inclusive of the CH340c :slight_smile:

As above; the cable is the most likely suspect (share a link to the one you have if possible); try the steps post by YellowDog

8

Hi TS,

This is the cable information on the invoice,

Reversible USB A to C Cable - 0.3m | CAB-15426 | |

  • | - | - | - |

Thanks, Lance

9

Try flipping the USB A-side over and/or swapping usb ports if possible…sometimes with that reversible cable can have issues with looser fitments and such

10

Hi TS,

I flipped the development board side of the cable and got a different reaction, however its still not “seeing” the USB port or the USB port is not “seeing” the development board when plugged in to the USB port, either one.

There is something else a little confusing. Either the development board was delivered to me with the Blinking example already installed, or somewhere along the way the cable worked intermittently long enough for me to compile and upload and blink the blue light. I just don’t remember seeing the connection being made.

Thanks, Lance

11

All of of house-made boards come pre-loaded with the blink example

Watch the COM ports while plugging in the cable; how many ports appear?

12

Hi TS,

No COM ports show up.

Thanks, Lance

13

I suspect a faulty cable :frowning:

Do you have a different a to C cable you can use?

Head over to Return Policy - SparkFun Electronics (contact vendor if purchased elsewhere) and we’ll get ya squared away for the one we sent

14

Hi TS,

I don’t have a spare C cable, but I go to the link you provided to get a new one.

Thank you for all your assistance!

Lance

15

Hi TS,

I identified the problem. I didn’t seat the cable connector to the development board connector hard enough. The development board is so small I was being really careful with it - too careful. So I applied more pressure than before and heard this click and sound window 10 makes when something is inserted in the USB port.

I started Arduino IDE and associated the UNKNOWN com port to the development board, changed the Blink example from 1 second to 5 seconds, compiled and uploaded. All is well.
HALLELAJAH!

Please alert the people in the Returns Department as I placed a return request. I also will try to contact them as well.

Thanks, Lance