Vision Master E213 boards not working

smbunn · November 8, 2025, 4:23am

I received two brand new E213 boards. Connected them to my PC and they appear as serial devices. Added the Heltec Boards (https://resource.heltec.cn/download/package_heltec_esp32_index.json) into preferences and added the Heltect ESP32 Dev Boards Library. Then tried the examples, they all compile and all download but my boards do nothing. No flashing LEDs, no messages on the eINK display, no response on serial monitor. They are for all intents and purposes dead.

The fact that when plugged in no LEDs ever flash seems to be a worry. Compliling “minimal demo” takes about 10 minutes.

Are they faulty, and if so, why does the Arduino IDE happily show download progress then “reset RTS pin”: at the end?

"C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp-x32\\2507/bin/xtensa-esp32s3-elf-g++" "-Wl,--Map=C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.map" "-LC:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-07e9bf49-v1\\esp32s3/lib" "-LC:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-07e9bf49-v1\\esp32s3/ld" "-LC:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-07e9bf49-v1\\esp32s3/qio_qspi" -Wl,--wrap=esp_panic_handler "@C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-07e9bf49-v1\\esp32s3/flags/ld_flags" "@C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-07e9bf49-v1\\esp32s3/flags/ld_scripts" -Wl,--start-group "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\sketch\\minimal_demo.ino.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\Heltec_ESP32_LoRa_v3\\RadioLib_convenience.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\Hal.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\Module.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\hal\\Arduino\\ArduinoHal.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\hal\\RPiPico\\PicoHal.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\CC1101\\CC1101.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LLCC68\\LLCC68.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LR11x0\\LR1110.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LR11x0\\LR1120.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LR11x0\\LR1121.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LR11x0\\LR11x0.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LR11x0\\LR11x0_commands.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LR11x0\\LR11x0_crypto.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LR11x0\\LR11x0_gnss.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\LR11x0\\LR11x0_wifi.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\RF69\\RF69.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX123x\\SX1231.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX123x\\SX1233.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\STM32WLx.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\STM32WLx_Module.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\SX1261.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\SX1262.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\SX1268.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\SX126x.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\SX126x_LR_FHSS.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\SX126x_commands.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX126x\\SX126x_config.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX127x\\SX1272.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX127x\\SX1273.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX127x\\SX1276.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX127x\\SX1277.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX127x\\SX1278.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX127x\\SX1279.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX127x\\SX127x.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX128x\\SX1280.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX128x\\SX1281.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX128x\\SX1282.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\SX128x\\SX128x.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\Si443x\\Si4430.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\Si443x\\Si4431.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\Si443x\\Si4432.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\Si443x\\Si443x.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\modules\\nRF24\\nRF24.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\AFSK\\AFSK.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\APRS\\APRS.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\AX25\\AX25.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\BellModem\\BellModem.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\ExternalRadio\\ExternalRadio.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\FSK4\\FSK4.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\Hellschreiber\\Hellschreiber.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\LoRaWAN\\LoRaWAN.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\LoRaWAN\\LoRaWANBands.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\Morse\\Morse.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\Pager\\Pager.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\PhysicalLayer\\PhysicalLayer.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\Print\\ITA2String.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\Print\\Print.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\RTTY\\RTTY.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\protocols\\SSTV\\SSTV.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\utils\\CRC.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\utils\\Cryptography.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\utils\\FEC.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\RadioLib\\utils\\Utils.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\SPI\\SPI.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\ESP8266_and_ESP32_OLED_driver_for_SSD1306_displays\\OLEDDisplay.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\ESP8266_and_ESP32_OLED_driver_for_SSD1306_displays\\OLEDDisplayUi.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\Wire\\Wire.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\core\\core.a" "@C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-07e9bf49-v1\\esp32s3/flags/ld_libs" -Wl,--end-group -Wl,-EL -o "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.elf"
"C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esptool_py\\5.1.0/esptool.exe" --chip esp32s3 elf2image --flash-mode dio --flash-freq 80m --flash-size 8MB --elf-sha256-offset 0xb0 -o "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.bin" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.elf"
esptool v5.1.0
Creating ESP32S3 image...
Merged 3 ELF sections.
Successfully created ESP32S3 image.
"C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.2\\tools\\gen_esp32part.exe" -q "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/partitions.csv" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.partitions.bin"
cmd /c if exist "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\Insights" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.2\\tools\\gen_insights_package.exe" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E" minimal_demo.ino "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\.arduinoIDE-unsaved2025108-38056-3lf5i.w8srz2\\minimal_demo"
cmd /c if exist "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\libraries\\ESP_SR" if exist "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-07e9bf49-v1\\esp32s3\\esp_sr\\srmodels.bin" COPY /y "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-07e9bf49-v1\\esp32s3\\esp_sr\\srmodels.bin" "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E\\srmodels.bin"
"C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esptool_py\\5.1.0/esptool.exe" --chip esp32s3 merge-bin -o "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.merged.bin" --pad-to-size 8MB --flash-mode keep --flash-freq keep --flash-size keep 0x0 "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.bootloader.bin" 0x8000 "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.partitions.bin" 0xe000 "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.2/tools/partitions/boot_app0.bin" 0x10000 "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.bin"
esptool v5.1.0
Wrote 0x800000 bytes to file 'C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\arduino\sketches\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.merged.bin', ready to flash to offset 0x0.
Using library Heltec_ESP32_LoRa_v3 at version 0.9.2 in folder: C:\Users\simon\Documents\Arduino\libraries\Heltec_ESP32_LoRa_v3 
Using library RadioLib at version 7.4.0 in folder: C:\Users\simon\Documents\Arduino\libraries\RadioLib 
Using library SPI at version 3.3.2 in folder: C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.2\libraries\SPI 
Using library ESP8266 and ESP32 OLED driver for SSD1306 displays at version 4.6.1 in folder: C:\Users\simon\Documents\Arduino\libraries\ESP8266_and_ESP32_OLED_driver_for_SSD1306_displays 
Using library Wire at version 3.3.2 in folder: C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.2\libraries\Wire 
Using library HotButton at version 0.1.1 in folder: C:\Users\simon\Documents\Arduino\libraries\HotButton 
"C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp-x32\\2507/bin/xtensa-esp32s3-elf-size" -A "C:\\Users\\simon\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.elf"
Sketch uses 422603 bytes (12%) of program storage space. Maximum is 3342336 bytes.
Global variables use 23752 bytes (7%) of dynamic memory, leaving 303928 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
"C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esptool_py\5.1.0/esptool.exe" --chip esp32s3 --port "COM3" --baud 921600  --before default-reset --after hard-reset write-flash  -z --flash-mode keep --flash-freq keep --flash-size keep 0x0 "C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\arduino\sketches\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.bootloader.bin" 0x8000 "C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\arduino\sketches\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.partitions.bin" 0xe000 "C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.2/tools/partitions/boot_app0.bin" 0x10000 "C:\Users\simon\AppData\Local\arduino\sketches\7CC014B49BBE0A268D74C795ED6FAC6E/minimal_demo.ino.bin" 
esptool v5.1.0
Serial port COM3:
Connecting...
Connected to ESP32-S3 on COM3:
Chip type:          ESP32-S3 (QFN56) (revision v0.2)
Features:           Wi-Fi, BT 5 (LE), Dual Core + LP Core, 240MHz, Embedded PSRAM 8MB (AP_3v3)
Crystal frequency:  40MHz
USB mode:           USB-Serial/JTAG
MAC:                80:b5:4e:dc:ac:b4

Uploading stub flasher...
Running stub flasher...
Stub flasher running.
Changing baud rate to 921600...
Changed.

Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00000000 to 0x00004fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00008000 to 0x00008fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x0000e000 to 0x0000ffff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00010000 to 0x00077fff...
Compressed 20224 bytes to 13061...

Writing at 0x00000000 [                              ]   0.0% 0/13061 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00004f00 [==============================] 100.0% 13061/13061 bytes... 
Wrote 20224 bytes (13061 compressed) at 0x00000000 in 0.4 seconds (407.5 kbit/s).
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 3072 bytes to 146...

Writing at 0x00008000 [                              ]   0.0% 0/146 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00008c00 [==============================] 100.0% 146/146 bytes... 
Wrote 3072 bytes (146 compressed) at 0x00008000 in 0.1 seconds (273.1 kbit/s).
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 8192 bytes to 47...

Writing at 0x0000e000 [                              ]   0.0% 0/47 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00010000 [==============================] 100.0% 47/47 bytes... 
Wrote 8192 bytes (47 compressed) at 0x0000e000 in 0.1 seconds (445.8 kbit/s).
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 422848 bytes to 218921...

Writing at 0x00010000 [                              ]   0.0% 0/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x0001d51d [=>                            ]   7.5% 16384/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00030541 [===>                          ]  15.0% 32768/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00038297 [=====>                        ]  22.5% 49152/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x0003de07 [=======>                      ]  29.9% 65536/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00043e57 [==========>                   ]  37.4% 81920/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x0004982f [============>                 ]  44.9% 98304/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x0004f890 [==============>               ]  52.4% 114688/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x0005516c [================>             ]  59.9% 131072/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x0005aae5 [===================>          ]  67.4% 147456/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00060638 [=====================>        ]  74.8% 163840/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00066654 [=======================>      ]  82.3% 180224/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x0006f238 [=========================>    ]  89.8% 196608/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x00074e0f [============================> ]  97.3% 212992/218921 bytes... 

Writing at 0x000773c0 [==============================] 100.0% 218921/218921 bytes... 
Wrote 422848 bytes (218921 compressed) at 0x00010000 in 3.6 seconds (935.8 kbit/s).
Hash of data verified.

Hard resetting via RTS pin...```

If I turn on Serial Monitor and then press the middle button I get:

```============ Before Setup End ============
[   759][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 44 successfully set to type UART_RX (2) with bus 0x3fc9518c
[   759][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type UART_RX (2) successfully set to 0x4200e064
[   760][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 43 successfully set to type UART_TX (3) with bus 0x3fc9518c
[   760][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type UART_TX (3) successfully set to 0x4200e030
[   761][I][esp32-hal-periman.c:141] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 19 already has type USB_DM (45) with bus 0x3fc98a8c
[   761][I][esp32-hal-periman.c:141] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 20 already has type USB_DP (46) with bus 0x3fc98a8c
[   761][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type SPI_MASTER_SCK (34) successfully set to 0x4200d334
[   762][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type SPI_MASTER_MISO (35) successfully set to 0x4200d25c
[   762][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type SPI_MASTER_MOSI (36) successfully set to 0x4200d180
[   763][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type SPI_MASTER_SS (37) successfully set to 0x4200d06c
[   763][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type GPIO (1) successfully set to 0x4202c63c
[   764][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 9 successfully set to type GPIO (1) with bus 0xa
[   764][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 9 successfully set to type SPI_MASTER_SCK (34) with bus 0x2
[   765][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type GPIO (1) successfully set to 0x4202c63c
[   765][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 11 successfully set to type GPIO (1) with bus 0xc
[   766][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 11 successfully set to type SPI_MASTER_MISO (35) with bus 0x2
[   766][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type GPIO (1) successfully set to 0x4202c63c
[   767][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 10 successfully set to type GPIO (1) with bus 0xb
[   767][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 10 successfully set to type SPI_MASTER_MOSI (36) with bus 0x2
[   768][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type GPIO (1) successfully set to 0x4202c63c
[   768][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 21 successfully set to type GPIO (1) with bus 0x16
[   790][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type I2C_MASTER_SDA (30) successfully set to 0x42009930
[   790][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type I2C_MASTER_SCL (31) successfully set to 0x42009930
[   791][I][esp32-hal-i2c-ng.c:112] i2cInit(): Initializing I2C Master: num=0 sda=17 scl=18 freq=100000
[   791][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 17 successfully set to type I2C_MASTER_SDA (30) with bus 0x1
[   792][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 18 successfully set to type I2C_MASTER_SCL (31) with bus 0x1
[   793][V][esp32-hal-i2c-ng.c:228] i2cAddDeviceIfNeeded(): added device: bus=0 addr=0x3c handle=0x3fceda80
[   793][V][esp32-hal-i2c-ng.c:269] i2cWrite(): i2c_master_transmit: bus=0 addr=0x3c handle=0x3fceda80 size=2
E (792) i2c.master: I2C transaction unexpected nack detected
E (792) i2c.master: s_i2c_synchronous_transaction(945): I2C transaction failed
E (794) i2c.master: i2c_master_multi_buffer_transmit(1214): I2C transaction failed
[   802][E][esp32-hal-i2c-ng.c:272] i2cWrite(): i2c_master_transmit failed: [259] ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE```

mascencerro · November 8, 2025, 4:23am

Did you try pressing the reset button once it was done flashing, or disconnect/reconnect the cable? If that log is any indicator, the device is still in flash mode and hasn’t restarted yet.

smbunn · November 8, 2025, 4:32am

I have hit the reset button and the also disconnected the USB and reconnected: The Serial Monitor shows:

Software Info:
------------------------------------------
  Compile Date/Time : Nov  8 2025 17:15:49
  Compile Host OS   : windows
  ESP-IDF Version   : v5.5.1-255-g07e9bf4970
  Arduino Version   : 3.3.2
------------------------------------------
Board Info:
------------------------------------------
  Arduino Board     : HELTEC_VISION_MASTER_E_213
  Arduino Variant   : heltec_vision_master_e_213
  Arduino FQBN      : esp32:esp32:heltec_vision_master_e_213:UploadSpeed=921600,USBMode=hwcdc,CDCOnBoot=default,MSCOnBoot=default,DFUOnBoot=default,UploadMode=default,CPUFreq=240,DebugLevel=verbose,LoopCore=1,EventsCore=1,EraseFlash=none,LORAWAN_REGION=4,LoRaWanDebugLevel=0,LORAWAN_DEVEUI=0,LORAWAN_PREAMBLE_LENGTH=0,SLOW_CLK_TPYE=0
============ Before Setup End ============
========== After Setup Start ============
INTERNAL Memory Info:
------------------------------------------
  Total Size        :   384996 B ( 376.0 KB)
  Free Bytes        :   344668 B ( 336.6 KB)
  Allocated Bytes   :    34720 B (  33.9 KB)
  Minimum Free Bytes:   339388 B ( 331.4 KB)
  Largest Free Block:   294900 B ( 288.0 KB)
------------------------------------------
GPIO Info:
------------------------------------------
  GPIO : BUS_TYPE[bus/unit][chan]
  --------------------------------------  
     1 : ADC_ONESHOT[0][0]
     8 : GPIO
     9 : SPI_MASTER_SCK[1]
    10 : SPI_MASTER_MOSI[1]
    11 : SPI_MASTER_MISO[1]
    12 : GPIO
    13 : GPIO
    14 : GPIO
    17 : I2C_MASTER_SDA[0]
    18 : I2C_MASTER_SCL[0]
    19 : USB_DM
    20 : USB_DP
    21 : GPIO
    37 : GPIO
    43 : UART_TX[0]
    44 : UART_RX[0]
============ After Setup End =============
[  7118][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type GPIO (1) successfully set to 0x4202c63c
[  7118][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 0 successfully set to type GPIO (1) with bus 0x1```

smbunn · November 8, 2025, 4:27am

The a huge number of messages that say:

E (6760) i2c.master: i2c_master_multi_buffer_transmit(1214): I2C transaction failed
[  6769][E][esp32-hal-i2c-ng.c:272] i2cWrite(): i2c_master_transmit failed: [259] ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE
[  6770][V][esp32-hal-i2c-ng.c:269] i2cWrite(): i2c_master_transmit: bus=0 addr=0x3c handle=0x3fceda80 size=2
E (6769) i2c.master: I2C transaction unexpected nack detected```

smbunn · November 10, 2025, 8:19pm

I have tried everything I and ChatGPT can think of. Neither board seems to work at all on any of the examples. They seem to upload OK but there is no display and no response at all on the Serial Monitor. I can only conclude that the Heltec Vision 213 is a faulty device. Does Heltec refund money?