Wireless tracker 1.1 boot loop

#1

My wireless tracker initially powered up fine and was displaying the factory test just fine. I then went to reflash the factory test code with my wifi info to make sure it ran but fine before writing anything else to it. Unfortunately after flashing the test code to it it shows noting on the screen, the power light a “dim” orange, and the serial output only shows it rebooting constantly (like mentioned here, but I can’t even get platformio to compile even after following the posts of others who have it set up there):

ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x8 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x400454d5
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:2
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x43c
ets_loader.c 78

I’ve tried it from multiple computers with multiple cables with the same result and even scrubbed the arduino ide and reinstalled with no difference. I’m hoping someone here can help me get this going in the arduino ide (like heltec’s docs indicate it works in) before I just bin it entirely.

USB mode: hardware cdc+jtag
usb cdc on boot: disabled but enabled does not change anything
usb dfu: disabled
upload mode: uart0/hardware cdc

#2

platformio.ini file:

[env:esp32-s3-devkitc-1]
platform = espressif32
board = esp32-s3-devkitc-1
framework = arduino
monitor_speed = 115200
monitor_filters = time, esp32_exception_decoder
lib_deps = 
	adafruit/Adafruit ST7735 and ST7789 Library@^1.10.3
	mikalhart/TinyGPSPlus@^1.0.3
build_flags = 
	-D ARDUINO_USB_MODE=1
	-D ARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=1

Example (PIO) script that demonstrates GNSS and display:

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_ST7735.h>
#include <TinyGPSPlus.h>

SPIClass spiST(HSPI);
Adafruit_ST7735 st7735 = Adafruit_ST7735(&spiST, 38, 40, 39);

TinyGPSPlus gps;

void VextOn(void) {
    pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(3, HIGH);  // VExt_Ctrl active HIGH
    pinMode(21, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(21, HIGH);  // Backlight active HIGH
}

void VextOff(void) {
    pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(3, LOW);
    pinMode(21, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(21, LOW);
}

bool ledEnabled = false;
long lastPPS = 0;

void onPPS() {
    ledEnabled = !ledEnabled;
    digitalWrite(18, ledEnabled);
    if (lastPPS < millis() - 1000) {
        Serial.println(millis());
    }
    lastPPS = millis();
}

bool gpsEnabled = true;
bool usrPrint = false;

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    
    pinMode(18, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(18, LOW);
    pinMode(36, INPUT);
    attachInterrupt(36, onPPS, RISING | FALLING);

    VextOn();

    spiST.begin(41, -1, 42, 38);            // SCK/CLK, MISO, MOSI, NSS/CS
    st7735.initR(INITR_MINI160x80_PLUGIN);  // initialize ST7735S chip, mini display
    st7735.setRotation(2);
    st7735.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
    st7735.drawFastHLine(0, 93, 80, ST7735_WHITE);

    Serial1.begin(115200, SERIAL_8N1, 33, 34);  // open GPS comms
    
    delay(5000);
}

void displayGPS() {
    st7735.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE);
    st7735.fillRect(30, 96, 50, 30, ST7735_BLACK);
    st7735.setCursor(2,  96);
    st7735.printf("Lat: %8.04f", gps.location.lat());
    st7735.setCursor(2, 106);
    st7735.printf("Lng: %8.04f", gps.location.lng());
    st7735.setCursor(2, 116);
    st7735.printf("Alt: %6.2f m", gps.altitude.meters());
    st7735.fillRect(30, 126, 50, 20, ST7735_BLACK);
    st7735.setCursor(2, 126);
    st7735.printf("HDOP: %7.1f", gps.hdop.hdop());
    st7735.setCursor(2, 136);
    st7735.printf("Sats: %7d", gps.satellites.value());
    st7735.fillRect(4, 146, 50, 8, ST7735_BLACK);
    st7735.setCursor(5, 146);
    st7735.printf("%02d:%02d:%02d UTC", gps.time.hour(), gps.time.minute(), gps.time.second());

}

void loop() {
    while (Serial1.available()) {
        String input = Serial1.readStringUntil('\n');
        for (char c : input) {
            gps.encode(c);
        }
        // Serial.println(input);
    }
    displayGPS();

    Serial.printf("[%04d-%02d-%02d / %02d:%02d:%02d] ", 
                    gps.date.year(), gps.date.month(), gps.date.day(), gps.time.hour(), gps.time.minute(), gps.time.second());
    Serial.printf("Lat: %8.5f | Lng: %8.5f | Alt: %5.2f | Sats: %d | HDOP: %5.2f\r\n", 
                    gps.location.lat(), gps.location.lng(), gps.altitude.meters(), gps.satellites.value(), gps.hdop.value());

    delay(1000);
}

This is a simpler version of a larger script that I have - I have not tested this completely but it should be able to get you there!

#3

Thank you for the ini file and code. Unfortunately when uploaded the board behaves in the same way (no screen and dim orange light) even worse there is now no output to the serial monitor to even show the board is rebooting, though reflashing via the arduino ide causes that to return so I know the board is not dead. I’ve even tried uploading via a separate usb-uart bridge with the same results.

#4

I have just attempted to use the same code (from this thread and the factory test from oem) on a second unit with the exact same results

#5

Are you sure that you have a v1.1?
Nothing connected, tried different USB cables?

#6

Yeah they both have v1.1 screen printed on them and apart from the uart bridge on one both are bare. I’ve tried two different usb c cables and with the uart bridge a micro usb that I’ve been using fine with the wireless sticks that I have.

#7

Thanks for all your help @bns. I’ve gotten it working now after scrubbing platformio and reinstalling from scratch. Arduino ide is still busted but at least I can continue with my project.

1 Like