1st Spark core not connecting to WiFi

Troubleshooting
1

Dear All,

I (think) I tried everything in the ‘failed connecting to wifi - spark’ thread to try and get my Spark Core to connect to my Wifi again (it was fine for a few days and worked out the box).

I wasted a lot of time and it still does not work - so I bought another one to try and rule out problems with my network. The new one connects fine!

this is what I have tried taken from the the other thread.

I have tried my spark core else where and it still does not connect to wifi other wifi.

I have reinstalled my DFU driver using zadigI have dfu-util -d 1d50:607f -a 0 -s 0x08005000:leave -D cc3000-patch-programmer.bin
and got the flashing magenta then solid magenta. Then reset.Tried to connect with my android phone using tinker - no luck.used putty to input SSID etc. It flashes green but never connects.

(I have chosen ch8 on my router WPA)

What can I try now? This is very annoying as it was working out of
the box - and I have not put it in a circuit or anything like that, so I
could not have broken it. It just decided to stop working.

Should I return it back to the shop?

Thanks.

So my question is - is there something wrong with my spark core or can it be fixed?

Thanks

2

Do you have a phone that you can setup a hotspot?

Also, i would recommend that you use the patch file from: https://github.com/spark/spark-cli/raw/master/js/binaries/cc3000-patch-programmer.bin

3

Thanks for the reply kennethlimcp

Yes I can setup up a hotspot. What would I do once that is done? Try to connect like any other network? I have been to a friends house and tried on his router and it did not work. My broadband is from sky, his was from virgin - different models of routers.

4

Are you using an iPhone or Android? For Android, create a Hotspot with Open security type.

Enter the SSID of the network via USB before testing with the hotspot. If everything goes ok, the core should appear under the list of connected device for the hotspot.

Test this and see how it goes. :wink:

5

I’m using an android (samsung S5).

I have tried as you suggested. I still only get a flashing green light. Nothing listed on the the phone under connected devices.

6

So it seems like it’s the CC3000 patch issue since it is unable to successfully connect to the Hotspot even.

Can you try patching with this: https://github.com/spark/cc3000-patch-programmer/raw/master/build/cc3000-patch-programmer.bin

7

thanks for the reply kennethlimcp

im getting magenta flashes then red.

tried again an the led just stays off. If I press the mode button it then flashes magenta, then after a little while solid magenta. I then reset. Tried again with putty but just flashes green

8

@rmim that’s really weird. I’d love to keep troubleshooting with you, since I don’t want you to feel stuck in development. Do you have the Spark CLI installed? That’s the easiest way to flash different updates and configure the Core to connect to different networks.

http://docs.spark.io/cli/#installing

9

Also, I’ll send you a PM so we can continue troubleshooting directly.

1 Like
10

thanks will - your help is appreciated. I will install Spark CLI

1 Like
11

From the mention of ‘Virgin’ and ‘Sky’ I’m guessing the OP is in the UK. Is (all new and recent) UK spark core stock not already flashed with the latest CC3000 patch? Could there be old stock in the UK?

12

great deduction watson. I am indeed in the uk and did purchase both my cores here in the uk from cpc.

none-the-less I have attempted many flashes with cc3000 anyway - a certain version always gives the correct led flashes (fashing magenta then solid). I have flashed other things but it just goes to blue flashing, Im not sure if that means a successful flash - I tried all other suggestion in the other thread (deep update etc.)

13

just thought i would mention i’m using windows 8 in case that has any bearing when im flashing.

14

Hello, I’ve run in exactly the same issue…

I’ve had my Spark for a couple of months now, desperately trying to connect it without much avail. The only thing I can get it to do is rapidly flash green and then sometimes it starts flashing different colors, sometimes just green. There’s no real consistency.

Here are all the steps I’ve already undertaken:

  • Android app didn’t want to connect to my wifi network so I had to use the CLI setup
  • Spark didn’t want to connect to my wifi network using CLI setup
  • Tried factory reset, to no avail
  • Tried a deep update, to no avail (after installing dependency upon dependency upon dependency …)
  • My µFl-antenna is properly connected
  • Tried creating an unsecured hotspot, to no avail

Help me fix this please, I’m getting really fed up with this and I don’t know where to begin anymore.

15

Can you first update your Spark-cli with npm update -g spark-cli.

Then place the core in DFU-mode before executing:

spark flash --usb cc3000

Let the patch run and once it’s completed, place the core in DFU-mode again.

Use spark flash --usb tinker.

Once that is done, hold on the MODE button tilll you see rapid flashing blue light indicating that all the Wifi credentials arre cleared.

With that, send your Wifi credentials again and test. :slight_smile:

16

Did all the steps as mentioned above. Got it to breathe cyan once, but then I couldn’t access the core to claim the ID. Foolishly, I reset the wifi-credentials, and now it’s just as before: I can’t connect anymore. It keeps flashing green…

I’m more hopeful now that I got it to breathe cyan at least once :slight_smile:

1 Like
17

You do not need to claim it if you have already done so. Check your core list and see if it’s listed.

Have fun. :wink:

18

Yeah, I kinda messed up claiming the core (I forgot to press enter). I repeated the steps, but it didn’t work like it did the first time. Redid the spark setup, but it doesn’t want to connect anymore. So close…

19

You can use spark core add core_id

20

Doesn’t it need to be connected before it can be claimed? Because I still can’t connect, that’s the main issue right now, I think.

So here’s what I did, but maybe I missed a step?

npm update -g spark-cli

DFU mode (MODE + RESET, release RESET, wait for it to flash greenish after 3 seconds)

spark flash --usb cc3000

Output: FOUND DFU DEVICE 1d50:607f
checking file C:\Users###\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\spark-cli\bina
ries\cc3000-patch-programmer.bin
spawning dfu-util -d 1d50:607f -a 0 -i 0 -s 0x08005000:leave -D C:\Users###
p\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\spark-cli\binaries\cc3000-patch-programmer.bi
n
dfu-util 0.7

Copyright 2005-2008 Weston Schmidt, Harald Welte and OpenMoko Inc.
Copyright 2010-2012 Tormod Volden and Stefan Schmidt
This program is Free Software and has ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY
Please report bugs to dfu-util@lists.gnumonks.org

Filter on vendor = 0x1d50 product = 0x607f
Opening DFU capable USB device… ID 1d50:607f
Run-time device DFU version 011a
Found DFU: [1d50:607f] devnum=0, cfg=1, intf=0, alt=0, name="@Internal Flash /0
x08000000/20001Ka,108001Kg"
Claiming USB DFU Interface…
Setting Alternate Setting #0 …
Determining device status: state = dfuERROR, status = 10
dfuERROR, clearing status
Determining device status: state = dfuIDLE, status = 0
dfuIDLE, continuing
DFU mode device DFU version 011a
Device returned transfer size 1024
No valid DFU suffix signature
Warning: File has no DFU suffix
DfuSe interface name: "Internal Flash "
Downloading to address = 0x08005000, size = 25068
…
File downloaded successfully
Transitioning to dfuMANIFEST state
Error during download get_status
Flashed!

Then it disconnects and connects again, flashing green.

DFU mode again

spark flash --usb tinker

Output:

FOUND DFU DEVICE 1d50:607f
checking file C:\Users###\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\spark-cli\bina
ries\spark_tinker.bin
spawning dfu-util -d 1d50:607f -a 0 -i 0 -s 0x08005000:leave -D C:\Users###
p\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\spark-cli\binaries\spark_tinker.bin
dfu-util 0.7

Copyright 2005-2008 Weston Schmidt, Harald Welte and OpenMoko Inc.
Copyright 2010-2012 Tormod Volden and Stefan Schmidt
This program is Free Software and has ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY
Please report bugs to dfu-util@lists.gnumonks.org

Filter on vendor = 0x1d50 product = 0x607f
Opening DFU capable USB device… ID 1d50:607f
Run-time device DFU version 011a
Found DFU: [1d50:607f] devnum=0, cfg=1, intf=0, alt=0, name="@Internal Flash /0
x08000000/20001Ka,108001Kg"
Claiming USB DFU Interface…
Setting Alternate Setting #0 …
Determining device status: state = dfuERROR, status = 10
dfuERROR, clearing status
Determining device status: state = dfuIDLE, status = 0
dfuIDLE, continuing
DFU mode device DFU version 011a
Device returned transfer size 1024
No valid DFU suffix signature
Warning: File has no DFU suffix
DfuSe interface name: "Internal Flash "
Downloading to address = 0x08005000, size = 78948
…
File downloaded successfully
Transitioning to dfuMANIFEST state
Error during download get_status
Flashed!

Then it blinks blue (I guess listening mode). I hold the MODE button until it flashes blue rapidly.

Then I setup the core using

spark setup

Then I fill in the proper credentials. The core restarts, flashes green, rapidly flashes yellow, rapidly flashes red does weird stuff. It doesn’t connect.