Argon unable to connect to cloud and unable to update NCP

Connectivity WiFi
1

Hello, I just opened a very old Argon. I am unable to get it to connect to cloud. Below are some of the logs. I've tried flashing via the cli and web. I've tried using the device doctor and the device restore. It says it's updating the NCP, but it always shows version 3, never 5. I don't know what to do next. I have another argon that is working fine. Can someone take a look and suggest next steps?

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>particle flash --serial argon-ncp-firmware-0.0.5-ota.bin
NOTE: particle flash serial has been replaced by particle flash --local.
Please use that command going forward.

Flashing argon e00fce68035f29ecfb08fb06
[█████████████████████████] 100% | Flash success!

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>particle flash --local argon-ncp-firmware-0.0.5-ota.bin
Flashing argon e00fce68035f29ecfb08fb06
[█████████████████████████] 100% | Flash success!

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>particle flash --local argon
Flashing argon e00fce68035f29ecfb08fb06
[█████████████████████████] 100% | Flash success!

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>particle serial inspect
Device: e00fce68035f29ecfb08fb06
Platform: 12 - Argon

Modules
Bootloader module #0 - version 3300
Size: 48.578 kB / MaxSize: 49.152 kB
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS

System part module #1 - version 6400
Size: 538.624 kB / MaxSize: 573.44 kB
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS
Radio stack module module #0 - version 202
Bootloader module #0 - version 3100

User part module #2 - version 10
Size: 34.242 kB / MaxSize: 262.144 kB
UUID: 2b38d91cfdcad8c08f7f9be4deed0f774d5f44fbc325abafe6647b85b94bfe1b
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS
System part module #1 - version 6400

Network co-processor firmware module #0 - version 3
Size: 0 kB / MaxSize: 1536 kB
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS

Radio stack module module #0 - version 202
Size: 0 kB / MaxSize: 155.648 kB
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>particle serial monitor --follow
Polling for available serial device...Opening serial monitor for com port: " COM3 "
Serial monitor opened successfully:
0000065522 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"LOLiveGarden",-44,"84:d8:1b:7a:3a:ee",7)
0000065523 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"LOLiveGarden",-56,"d8:07:b6:71:90:16",7)
0000065525 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-58,"de:07:b6:71:90:16",7)
0000065526 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-68,"5c:d9:98:5a:b5:ae",11)
0000065527 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"DIRECT-roku-185",-69,"b8:3e:59:d4:77:0d",11)
0000065528 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-70,"8a:d8:1b:7a:3a:f2",7)
0000065530 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-71,"de:07:b6:71:90:12",7)
0000065531 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"LOLiveGarden",-72,"d8:07:b6:71:90:12",7)
0000065532 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"Rose Garden",-75,"72:13:01:3e:c5:e1",11)
0000065534 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(5,"",-75,"72:13:01:3e:c5:e6",11)
0000065535 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"Fios-bL2rH-IoT",-82,"6a:f8:53:b0:d6:10",1)
0000065536 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"meshing-around",-83,"b0:e4:d5:8a:11:b3",11)
0000065538 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"Rosado's",-93,"24:05:88:43:1e:3e",11)
0000065539 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000065540 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: Connecting to "LOLiveGarden"
0000068557 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < WIFI CONNECTED
0000069402 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000069403 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP connection state changed: 2
0000069404 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 2
0000069404 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: State changed event: 2
0000069405 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+CWJAP?
0000069407 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWJAP:"LOLiveGarden","84:d8:1b:7a:3a:ee",7,-44
0000069409 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000069409 [net.ifapi] INFO: Netif wl3 link UP, profile=LOLiveGarden
0000069413 [ncp.esp32.client] ERROR: Failed to write into data channel -60001
0000069414 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_UP -> IFACE_LINK_UP
0000069415 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000069416 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_DOWN
0000069417 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: POWERING_DOWN
0000069418 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000069418 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_DOWN
0000069419 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: DOWN
0000069420 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP connection state changed: 0
0000069421 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 2
0000069422 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: State changed event: 0
0000069423 [net.ifapi] INFO: Netif wl3 link DOWN, profile=NONE
0000069423 [hal] INFO: DNS server list changed
0000069424 [hal] INFO: DNS server list changed
0000069428 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_LINK_UP -> IFACE_UP
0000069429 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP state changed: 0
0000069429 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 1
0000069430 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: Deinit modem serial.
0000069530 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000069531 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_UP
0000069532 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: POWERING_UP
0000070833 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT
0000070835 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000071835 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP ready to accept AT commands
0000071836 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+MVER
0000071837 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < 3
0000071838 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000071839 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+GETMAC=0
0000071840 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +GETMAC: "30:ae:a4:d1:78:10"
0000071841 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000071843 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+CWDHCP=0,3
0000071846 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000071847 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP state changed: 1
0000071848 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 1
0000071848 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000071849 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_UP
0000071850 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: UP
0000071854 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+CWLAP
0000074358 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"LOLiveGarden",-44,"84:d8:1b:7a:3a:ee",7)
0000074359 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-44,"8a:d8:1b:7a:3a:ee",7)
0000074361 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"LOLiveGarden",-57,"d8:07:b6:71:90:16",7)
0000074362 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"LOLiveGarden",-68,"84:d8:1b:7a:3a:f2",7)
0000074363 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-68,"de:07:b6:71:90:12",7)
0000074364 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"LOLiveGarden",-70,"d8:07:b6:71:90:12",7)
0000074366 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-70,"8a:d8:1b:7a:3a:f2",7)
0000074367 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-70,"5c:d9:98:5a:b5:ae",11)
0000074368 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-70,"b8:3e:59:d4:77:0d",11)
0000074369 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"Rose Garden",-74,"72:13:01:3e:c5:e1",11)
0000074371 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"Fios-bL2rH",-82,"b8:f8:53:b0:d6:16",1)
0000074372 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"Fios-bL2rH-IoT",-83,"6a:f8:53:b0:d6:10",1)
0000074374 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"Fios-BootsW",-92,"b8:f8:53:f4:6f:1a",1)
0000074375 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWLAP:(3,"",-95,"6c:c3:74:e2:a1:2c",1)
0000074376 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000074377 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: Connecting to "LOLiveGarden"
0000077383 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < WIFI CONNECTED
0000078217 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000078218 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP connection state changed: 2
0000078219 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 2
0000078219 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: State changed event: 2
0000078220 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+CWJAP?
0000078223 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +CWJAP:"LOLiveGarden","84:d8:1b:7a:3a:ee",7,-40
0000078224 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000078224 [net.ifapi] INFO: Netif wl3 link UP, profile=LOLiveGarden
0000078228 [ncp.esp32.client] ERROR: Failed to write into data channel -60001
0000078229 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_UP -> IFACE_LINK_UP
0000078230 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000078231 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_DOWN
0000078232 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: POWERING_DOWN
0000078233 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000078233 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_DOWN
0000078234 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: DOWN
0000078235 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP connection state changed: 0
0000078236 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 2
0000078237 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: State changed event: 0
0000078237 [net.ifapi] INFO: Netif wl3 link DOWN, profile=NONE
0000078238 [hal] INFO: DNS server list changed
0000078239 [hal] INFO: DNS server list changed
0000078243 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_LINK_UP -> IFACE_UP
0000078243 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP state changed: 0
0000078244 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 1
0000078245 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: Deinit modem serial.
0000078345 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000078346 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_UP
0000078347 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: POWERING_UP
0000079648 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT
0000079650 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000080650 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP ready to accept AT commands
0000080651 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+MVER
0000080652 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < 3
0000080653 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000080654 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+GETMAC=0
0000080655 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < +GETMAC: "30:ae:a4:d1:78:10"
0000080656 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000080658 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+CWDHCP=0,3
0000080661 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: < OK
0000080662 [ncp.esp32.client] TRACE: NCP state changed: 1
0000080663 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 1
0000080663 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000080664 [net.esp32ncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_UP
0000080665 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: UP
0000080669 [ncp.esp32.at] TRACE: > AT+CWLAP

2

You have a very old Argon, as all of the GM production units had 0.0.5 on them already. I'm a little surprised you were able to successfully to update 6.4.x, actually.

First attempt: Try using web device doctor to see if it can successfully update the NCP.

If that doesn't work, try flashing using the CLI again, but use the --serial option instead of --local and manually put the device in listening mode (blinking dark blue) before starting the command.

If that doesn't work, report back because it may be necessary to erase the external flash before updating the NCP.

3

Hello,

Thanks for the quick reply. None of that worked. The web doctor does say it's updating NCP, but it never does..

I tried using --serial and no dice. In fact, the "flash" process goes really fast and almost as if it's not doing anything. It keeps flashing blue and gives a warining about serial being deprecated.

I tried using --usb and the flash process takes a bit longer, however when finished, the argon gets stuck in magenta.

I actually broke out a 2nd Argon that I also have super old and it's experiencing the same behavior. It's able to update the other parts of the software, but not the NCP and thus, does not connect to the cloud.

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>particle flash --usb argon-ncp-firmware-0.0.5-ota.bin -v
Flashing argon device e00fce68db942f5c11d447ce
[█████████████████████████] 100% | Flash success!

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>particle flash --serial argon-ncp-firmware-0.0.5-ota.bin -v
NOTE: particle flash serial has been replaced by particle flash --local.
Please use that command going forward.

Flashing argon e00fce68db942f5c11d447ce
[█████████████████████████] 100% | Flash success!

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>particle serial inspect
Device: e00fce68db942f5c11d447ce
Platform: 12 - Argon

Modules
Bootloader module #0 - version 3301
Size: 48.802 kB / MaxSize: 49.152 kB
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS

System part module #1 - version 6401
Size: 539.216 kB / MaxSize: 573.44 kB
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS
Radio stack module module #0 - version 202
Bootloader module #0 - version 3301

User part module #1 - version 5
Size: 11.972 kB / MaxSize: 131.072 kB
UUID: 72b73bfab5c902dbe9ec90a13958c90408c6fa4758b9f9c5cfb5100141c1c58b
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS
System part module #1 - version 326

Network co-processor firmware module #0 - version 3
Size: 0 kB / MaxSize: 1536 kB
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS

Radio stack module module #0 - version 202
Size: 0 kB / MaxSize: 155.648 kB
Integrity: PASS
Address Range: PASS
Platform: PASS
Dependencies: PASS

C:\Users\Roberto\Downloads>
4

It should take several minutes to update the NCP firmware, and you may get solid magenta for a while.

Also I was mistaken earlier; erasing the external flash is a solution to a different problem, not this one. The NCP software isn't stored in the external flash, it's sent directly to the ESP32 and stored there, which is why you can't update it in DFU mode.

Next thing to try: Downgrade the device to Device OS 3.3.1 using Device Restore USB. Then try particle flash --local argon-ncp-firmware-0.0.5-ota.bin again.

The last thing to try would be to also downgrade the Particle CLI and use the --serial option but I don't think that should be necessary.

5

Downgrading and then flashing the NCP firmware did the trick!

Thank you so much!!!