Zigbee Bricking?

Hi All,

I have ArduPilotMega 1.x hardware and I have repeated problems with bricking zigbee modules that are connected when powering up  (about 1 out of 4 power ups will brick my zigbee).  I have seen suggestions to keep the zigbee unplugged until ArduPilotMega is powered up and then plug in zigbee.  This is a pain in the butt!

I assume the problem is somehow in signals to the zigbee boot loader when powering up.

So my questions are:  Is this problem solved in ArduPilotMega 2 hardware?  

Or even better, is there a simple solution for ArduPilotMega 1.x hardware?

Thanks!

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on January 4, 2012 at 2:52pm

Yes, it's not an issue with APM 2. Very few people see the issue with APM 1 anymore, either. Are you using the latest code? 

Permalink Reply by Darro Lin on January 4, 2012 at 9:53pm

I'm using ArduPlane 2.24, so I'm a few revisions behind.  Was there a specific software fix since then?  (I have been assuming it was a hardware issue like a weak pull-up or so...)


ModeratorPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on January 4, 2012 at 9:55pm

I can't remember. Any reason why you haven't upgraded?

Permalink Reply by Darro Lin on January 5, 2012 at 6:56pm

no, just have not needed to.  I will try the latest ArduPlane code and see if that helps.

Permalink Reply by Martin Szymanski on January 4, 2012 at 10:26pm

I have upgraded my Bee's in the past with no problem. I got them from digi direct. The base is from DIY works perfect with it.

Permalink Reply by Darro Lin on January 5, 2012 at 6:55pm

Hi Martin,

I don't understand your comment. I am also using the XtreamBee Board sold by diydrones.  The issues is that the zigbee modules are being bricked quite frequently on power up by the ArduPilotMega 1.4 board running ArduPlane 2.24 software.  I find my self having to use the digi tool to reprogram them quite often.


DeveloperPermalink Reply by R_Lefebvre on January 5, 2012 at 8:17pm

Hmmm... I haven't has a single bricking in about 20 power ups.

(knock on wood)


DeveloperPermalink Reply by R_Lefebvre on January 9, 2012 at 7:24am

Haha!  I cursed myself.  Bricked an Xbee on Saturday, can you believe it?

Permalink Reply by Darro Lin on May 6, 2012 at 10:46pm

Continue to have this issues on all versions of ArduPlane code.  And on 3 different ArduPliotMega 1.4 boards.  Also tried 3 or 4 different zigbees.

Permalink Reply by Chris Card on May 7, 2012 at 7:48pm

I haven't had any bricking problems in quite a long while with APM1 (2560) hardware [ I'm about to be jinxed].

The reason for the bricking is because radio's pin#3, the data in pin, has a shared function. When held low during power up it is a CONFIG pin. If it starts in configuration mode and there is a data stream present there is a better than zero chance that the radio will become RE-configured or populated with corrupted parameters.

The only simple, guaranteed,  way to prevent this with the x-bee is to keep the Din [pin#3] disconnected until the radio is powered and has been powered for a moment. I have not found the time length stated in the data sheet but were talking less than 200mSec for sure.

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