Trouble Connecting Mac laptop to Sparkfun ESP8266 Thing

[dgavw]

Hi,

As you will see by my question, I’m just starting with the ESP8266 Thing and have a fundamental question:

The ESP8266 Thing Hookup Guide directions are not clear (to me, at least) concerning the port connections between a Mac and an ESP8266 Thing board. I have connected power (via CH3040G Basic Breakout) using Hookup Guide Method 2 (and Method 3 jumper soldering). The Thing ESP8266 Arduino Addon has been downloaded and installed, and the Arduino Board Manager updated by selecting the ESP8266 board. The only Port option available for this board is /dev/cu.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port. This does not work with my FTDI USB-to-Serial Converter (CH3040G) and there appear to be no alternate driver suggestions or instructions in the Hookup Guide. I like the board and it’s potential but I’m stuck and can’t load a sketch yet! Help! Thanks, in anticipation of your suggestion or solution.

Here is the Error message generated:

Arduino: 1.8.9 (Mac OS X), Board: “Generic ESP8266 Module, 80 MHz, Flash, Disabled, All SSL ciphers (most compatible), ck, 26 MHz, 40MHz, DOUT (compatible), 512K (no SPIFFS), 2, nonos-sdk 2.2.1 (legacy), v2 Lower Memory, Disabled, None, Only Sketch, 115200”

Sketch uses 257688 bytes (51%) of program storage space. Maximum is 499696 bytes.

Global variables use 26572 bytes (32%) of dynamic memory, leaving 55348 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 81920 bytes.

esptool.py v2.6

2.6

esptool.py v2.6

Serial port /dev/cu.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port

Connecting…………………____Traceback (most recent call last):

File “/Users/douglas/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.5.2/tools/upload.py”, line 25, in

esptool.main(fakeargs)

File “/Users/douglas/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.5.2/tools/esptool/esptool.py”, line 2653, in main

esp.connect(args.before)

File “/Users/douglas/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.5.2/tools/esptool/esptool.py”, line 468, in connect

raise FatalError(‘Failed to connect to %s: %s’ % (self.CHIP_NAME, last_error))

esptool.FatalError: Failed to connect to ESP8266: Timed out waiting for packet header

esptool.FatalError: Failed to connect to ESP8266: Timed out waiting for packet header

_

This report would have more information with

“Show verbose output during compilation”

option enabled in File → Preferences.

[El_Duderino]

Hi dgavw,

Most likely the issue is you do not have any data lines connected for serial upload. SparkFun has two very similar ESP8266 Thing boards ([The Thing and [The Thing Dev). The Thing does not have a USB to Serial converter on board and there are no data lines on the USB connector as that is only for power/charging an attached battery. The Thing Dev has an FT231 USB-to-Serial on the board for serial upload via USB but there is no charge circuit for an attached battery. Make sure you have your serial lines connected to the [serial programming header and also make sure your USB to Serial converter is operating at 3.3V logic. That should fix the upload problems but if you are still having problems, please take a few photos of your board and attach them to your response and we can continue troubleshooting.](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/esp8266-thing-hookup-guide/hardware-overview)](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13711)](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13231)

[dgavw]

Here are the pictures. I had soldered the ESP8266 jumper for 3.3v operation. The CH3040G USB-to-Serial Converter came defaulted (and soldered) to 3.3v and was connected to the serial programming header. What I thought the problem might be was the /dev/cu.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port file as opposed to some serial file for the ESP8266 (See the Hookup Guide). The Serial choice was greyed out with no file listed in the uploaded software. By the way, I also have an ESP8266 Dev board onto which I loaded Blink. On the Dev board do I need to reset the board to load a new sketch? If so, how do I reset the Dev board to load a new sketch?

[El_Duderino]

Thanks for taking those photos and providing the extra information. I believe the problem is just driver-related for the Serial Basic. The drivers should automatically install but if they do not, you’ll need to follow the steps for Mac OS X outlined in [this guide.

Try following those instructions to install the CH340 drivers and re-upload. You should not need to manually reset the Thing since the Serial Basic should toggle DTR but if it fails, you can turn on Verbose Output during compilation and upload in your Arduino Preferences menu and that will give you more information on where it is failing upload.](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-install-ch340-drivers#mac-osx)

[dgavw]

That did the trick! The CH340 driver was what was missing. Thanks for your help, Mark. I appreciate it.