Hi, I’m having trouble connecting with the Facet. I’ve got a Pixel 5 and when I pair via Bluetooth it says GNSS Instrument Connection Failed. The Facet is running V1.9. I can log in via Wifi and I tried to update to V.10 and after clicking Upload the browser then moves to a blank page and nothing further happens.
Any suggestions what I’m doing wrong? Thanks.
Hmmm, have you tried paring with a different bluetooth device?
Have you tried updating firmware via an SD card instead?
Yes, I’ve tried with a Nexus 5 and Pixel 2 as well and same result. It pairs and then a few seconds later it disconnects. When trying to upload V1.10, on clicking the update button it says in green ‘Updating, please wait for system reset…’ then the screen on the Facet reboots, but comes up as 1.9 and the web interface says V1.9 as well.
Hey again.
Are you following this section of the guide: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/sp … tomization
Are you checking the “Enable Firmware Update” box my chance?
Eric Tewantin QLD. Facet arrived yesterday, couldn’t pair with phones/facet tried three phones.
was able to get SSID http://192.168.4.1 RTK Config or similar. Saw V1.9.
Facet displayed two bars on battery indicator and what looks like a small mobile phone icon with a bar each side, a small expanding bar in the bottom right corner like it was loading.
Plugged in the USB 2 charging lead but no indication it was charging.
Turned off to try restarting but couldn’t restart.
Today I plugged in the charger again this time it had a green LED showing charge for maybe an hour.
After the charge finished (?), indicator LED off, the Facet won’t start.
In the Facet’s brief existence, the display had random characters in places or incomplete messages. Sometimes a bit scrambled but not consistently.
Can SparkFun send out replacement boards please?
It has now been a week with no response from SparkFun in response to faulty equipment. Very disappointed.
Not sure about your BT, but your screen button issue may be related to my issues.
TLDR: 3 ribbon cables converge in one stress point, the assembler has to battle to get it all together and can easily damage something else like the lcd ribbon cable, and it’s all held together with a sticker.
I am having issues with the display and button and can say the construction is unfortunately really really bad. Like way more bad than I expected for DIY Sparkfun type products. After a day of excited ownership, I noticed the screen was flickering, and the button seemed temperamental. I realized the screen would get too dim to see except in the dark, and the button flipped between either not working, or I would think it was not working and because of the dimming problem I couldn’t tell it was turned on.
I decided to take a look inside. Umm, it’s bad. The sticker overlay you see on the front is all part of the button. Behind it is a display board and display that you cannot get to unless you remove the sticker button. The display board has 3 fairly crappy ribbon cables all jammed in that one spot, and it’s all sort of held in place with the sticker. The LCD is floating off the display PCB and connected to the PCB with a ribbon cable bent flat and soldered crooked. Now here’s the best part, there are two ribbon cable connectors of the same size, one to connect the display to the rest of the components for data, and one to connect the button sticker. Although the connectors are the same size, the ribbon cables are totally different in pin count and thickness (one inserts as it should, one is too thick, the contacts span maybe 2 pins each, and it requires some force while the LCD is dangling off the PCB).
On my unit, I see lots of signs of struggle the assembler had with putting it together, especially with the too thick ribbon cable. The tip of the sticker ribbon cable has the leads already pretty worn off where it was probably inserted over and over to get it to work, and scratches on the cable itself where it might have been forced with pliers. It was clearly a challenge for the person to get it in there, and I think said person perhaps ended up fudging the already crooked and dangling lcd ribbon cable which is not easily serviceable. The end of the button ribbon cable was so worn I could barely get it to work by reinserting it. I had to trim the end to get it to touch undisturbed contact points.
I seriously think whoever assembled my unit remembers it. It was likely a battle. I think they all might be given the choices in assembly design. It’s kind of cute what they did, but why?? There are so many button choices and better ways to connect components together.
I am contacting customer support as we speak. I don’t think you should have to go to a forum to get a defective product replaced when it’s so poorly designed and put together.
Thanks for your comments DarkFun - is DarkFun a play off of SparkFun… ?
Let’s separate the problems.
@craig1234 - Please report your connection problem on the Github repo issues section (https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_RT … are/issues). This is where technical issues are discussed and resolved via firmware as needed. We’ve tested on dozens of different phones including later model Samsung S series and Pixels going back to 4a. AFAIK, no one else is reporting connection issues.
@ericsyd - v1.9 firmware is perfectly fine. There are changes in v1.10 but they are inconsequential to BT connectivity. Sounds like the unit is charging well and the unit is running. My recommendation: attach a USB cable to the Facet and your computer. Press and hold the power button until the display shows the boot screen. The Facet should enumerate as a USB COM port (two once you have the u-blox driver sorted https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/ge … ll-drivers). If the boot screen does not appear, or if the unit appears to display gibberish, you can always override the system by holding the power button for >10s. This will force the power off. If the display is not working, it can be difficult to know what state the device is in (is it on or off?). The USB connection will show you whether the unit is on (COM port active) or off (COM port disappears).
If you need assistance with a return, please contact tech support (https://www.sparkfun.com/returns) for an RMA.
@DarkFun - Your feedback is valuable. Sounds like you’ve already contacted support for an RMA. We’ll get you fixed up shortly.
Hello Sparky
Thanks. RTK Facet: held power button for 10 seconds + +. Tried restarting, tried power off 10s+, plugged in USB to computer (iMac), tried off 10s+, tried restarting - no response, patient is dead.
Plug in USB from AC to USB charger, no charge indication, patient presumed dead.
Eric - dead indeed. What’s the order number?
Order: 6940017
We have been waiting for this for a while and had an important use for it. Disappointing to have waited for something to be done and now it will have to travel around the world as well as have a holiday in the US (when I can’t).
They tried to give a post docket earlier today but had problems with our post code. Perhaps they didn’t realise it came here with FedEx and we are in Australia ? ? ?
If through US Post, we likely don’t exist ! ! !
And possibly order 6941401.
Got it. I’ll contact you.