RTK Express – Everything works fine except USB Serial

GPS/GNSS Development Boards
1

I received my RTK Express today. It came with version 2.2 firmware. When I connected either of the USB C ports to my PC running Windows 11, nothing happened. I changed cables and also tried another PC running Windows 10 and still nothing happened.

Everything else worked fine. I was able to connect via Bluetooth to both SW Maps and NTRIP Client, successfully using NTRIP with both.

I downloaded the RTK Express 3.0 firmware and was able to upgrade the RTK Express by conecting to it by WiFi and then uploading the software from my PC using the WiFi connection.

I can run U-Center using Bluetooth. The ZED-F9P firmware version is HPG 1.13. I downloaded UBX_F9_100_HPG132.df73486d99374142f3aabf79b7178f48.bin, but I can’t seem to upgrade this over Bluetooth. I want and believe I will need to get the USB Serial working in order to take full advantage of the RTK Express. Below is a screen shot of Device Manager.

The Standard Serial over Bluetooth link (COM3) and (COM4) are both Bluetooth ports on the RTK Express.

Any thoughts on how I can get the USB Serial working will be appreciated.

Screenshot 2023-01-27 234345.png
Screenshot 2023-01-27 234345.png500×997 179 KB

2

USB Serial now working!

As I mentioned above, I tried a couple of different USB C to USB C cables, one of which I routinely use to transfer files back and forth from my Android phone to my PC, but with no success with the RTK Express. This morning, I decided to plug in a travel USB hub, connecting the USB C end to my PC. I then plugged in the USB A end of a USB A to USB C cable into the hub and the USB C end into the RTK Express and both the Express ESP32 and UBLOX ports are now working fine.

I guess the lesson for me is that if you have a “known good” USB cable that does not seem to be working, try another USB cable or two.