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1. 

   snigelen
   Member

   You only need one of them, cable or module, not both. (With the module you need a standard USB-AB cable tough).

   Posted 5 years ago #
2. 

   Amir Hadzic
   Member

   Is there some reason why this cable is 17$ :\

   Posted 5 years ago #
3. 

   snigelen
   Member

   I don't know. The module and the cable are basically the same thing. The cable have the ftdi-chip built into the usb-connector, so it's like an even smaller module in the connector. Maybe that, and the cable itself, adds a couple of dollars. But if you have a serial port and a breadboard you can get away with a max232 and a couple of capacitors. Maybe thats ok, for development at least.

   Posted 5 years ago #
4. 

   Amir Hadzic
   Member

   Oh well, I'll try to come up with something until the bug gets fixed. The real problem with buying the cable or the module (at least for me) is shipping and shipping fees. I have checked my local electronics shops and they don't know what FTDI is so... :\

   Posted 5 years ago #
5. 

   snigelen
   Member

   I just had a crazy idea! If you have an Arduino you can use that as a USB-serial port.
   Just put a sketch on the Arduino that doesn't use D0 or D1 (leave them as inputs) or serial communication, an empty sketch will do (empty setup and empty loop) or the "Blink" example.

   Then, to use usart1 on the maple, connect the Arduino D0 to Maple D8 and Arduino D1 to Maple D7.
   But be careful with the non 5V tolerant pins on the Maple if you have a 5V Arduino. (So don't use it with usart2 on the Maple). Don't forget to remove the connection if you reprogram the Arduino.

   Posted 5 years ago #
6. 

   leaflabsandy
   Member

   oops

   Posted 5 years ago #
7. 

   gbulmer
   Moderator

   An alternative, for Arduino owners, which we use ...

   Remove the USB lead, and power.
   GENTLY lever the ATmega from it's socket, and put somewhere safe.
   Some Swiss Army knives seem to have a narrow blade which works well for this.
   Go slow, and lever a little bit (i.e. no more than 1mm) at both ends, almost like rocking back and forth repeatedly.
   BE WARNED, rushing or levering one end too much may crack the chip, and kill it.
   Be very gently, and go slow. (No smut please, I'm British :-)

   The Arduino is now an FTDI USB to serial converter.
   Wire as sniglen suggests, but, of course, there is no need to load a sketch :-)

   PS - Further warning - if you think your Arduino has become sentient (and we think Nikki's 'Evil Ted' may be), then ensure there is *NO* USB or power applied to the Arduino while you are discussing this strategy, or getting ready to do it. Like HAL, 'Evil Ted' does not like to be disabled :-)

   Posted 5 years ago #
8. 

   Amir Hadzic
   Member

   Those are all hardware workarounds, I need something that's not expensive, preferably a software workaround. Or at least some predictions when this could be fixed...

   Posted 5 years ago #
9. 

   poslathian
   LeafLabs

   were still talking about micros() killing USB right? I have been *told* that this problem is "understood" with a patch on the way. But I wont pretend I know any more details than that. Heh. Sorry. Will keep you posted!

   Posted 5 years ago #
10. 

    perry
    Administrator

    hi amir,

    i finally had time to look at it and it turned out to be a stupid bug. you can cherry-pick this commit, it should fix it:

    http://github.com/leaflabs/libmaple/commit/1cec807e44da29c5a122e57120174f4711d95f25

    Posted 5 years ago #
11. 

    Amir Hadzic
    Member

    Aww, now I can't wait to get home from work :\ (thank you, thank you!)

    Posted 5 years ago #

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