Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

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prabu_venkat
 
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Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by prabu_venkat »

This is a followup mail of the replacement I got for my Pi B+. First up, I should say : I am terribly-terribly upset over the issues I am having with purchases from Adafruit.

I am trying to list down all my observations :
  • 1. After my first purchase did not go through well (see earlier conversation - viewtopic.php?f=50&t=65224) - I was offered a replacement. I purchased a 3.5" TFT which I wanted to use as a console. This I wanted so that I do not have any external connections from the PI out, and there by reduce as many points of failures as possible.
    2. I received my replacement Pi, mounted the PiTFT and powered up. The device came up, and I was greeted with the All-Bright-White-But-Nothing-Else problem (see img-0). I skimmed through the forums tried whatever has been suggested, nothing helped.
    • a. With the PiTFT connected, there was a steady draw of 0.32-0.34 Amps, @ 4.98-4.99 V
      b. The only good thing compared to my earlier experience was that there was a faint flicker of a green led and the red led remained on.
    3. Since my PiTFT did not help, I T-cobbled out to connect to my Mac (Yosemite 10.10) with the console cable - only to stare at a blank screen, no console output/input (see img-1 and img-2).
    4. I have followed every fix suggested in Adafruit, Mac, and driver forums, tried every version of PL2303 driver - out there, revisiting and trying every fix suggested in the forums. But I have not been able to get anything appear on my screen.With the
    • a. Console cable connected, and the power from MicroUSB (so red wire of the TTL cable is not connected), there was a steady draw of 0.18-0.19A @ 4.98-4.99V
      b. Again the only good thing compared to my earlier experience is the faint flicker of the green led and the device did not shut it self down.
      5. No, I do not have access to any other monitor.
I am not sure how proceed from here - would like to listen to what you have to say. Only too very tired and irritated that I have not been able to make one iota of progress with my Pi.
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adafruit2
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by adafruit2 »

hiya, please remove the PiTFT, connect the console cable directly to the Pi, and start it up, does the console cable and terminal software work
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruits-ra ... sole-cable

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Franklin97355
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by Franklin97355 »

Can't tell from the pictures as I can't see the cable twist but it looks like you have the cable the wrong way. The white wire should go to pin 1 on the pi (closest to the back edge)

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prabu_venkat
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by prabu_venkat »

I removed the T-cobbler and the console cables and powered up the Pi - now it only powers up (Red LED is on), but no more blinking green LEDs.

I turned power off, connected the T-cobbler (as per img-#3 at: https://www.adafruit.com/products/1754) and connected the console cable (as per: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruits-ra ... t-the-lead).

When I power up the Pi - and connect Terminal (OSX, screen cmd), i still don't see anything. Most importantly, the Green LED is not blinking any more. Red LED is on. Power doctor shows: 0.19-0.18A @ 4.98-4.99V.

(sorry no images - don't have my camera; hope it is ok).

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adafruit2
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by adafruit2 »

hmm, do you have an HDMI or composite monitor you can connect to the Pi, just to see if its able to boot at all?

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prabu_venkat
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by prabu_venkat »

Sorry, i do not have a HDMI/composite display.

I have now tried with both Wheezy and Occidentalis (on separate cards, and using Ray Vijoen's method https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ras ... sing-a-mac).

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adafruit2
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by adafruit2 »

have you *ever* been able to boot the raspberry pi successfully into linux?

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prabu_venkat
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by prabu_venkat »

The first time I booted up the Pi (which I received as replacement) with the PiTFT connected, I think it booted up fine, but I was not able to see anything because the screen was washed out (img-0 I posted in this thread). And probably the time when the green LED was blinking, but I do not know.

I really did not appreciate the tone of your response. All I am thinking now is that it has been a big mistake on my part to have chosen Adafruit and paying for the overseas shipping - I have a pi and a tft which do not work plus all the accessories I invested in from your shop.

adafruit
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by adafruit »

thanks for the post, our tone is happy and helpful :) it really depends on how anyone reads the text and the mood they're in, we often add smiley faces and more to make this super clear. have you *ever* been able to boot the raspberry pi successfully into linux? that's where we'd like to start, it would help us help you :)

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prabu_venkat
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by prabu_venkat »

:-) ok.

The first time I booted up the Pi (which I received as replacement) with the PiTFT connected, I think it booted up fine, but I was not able to see anything because the screen was washed out (img-0 I posted in this thread). And probably the time when the green LED was blinking, but I do not know.

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adafruit2
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by adafruit2 »

hi, it doesn't sound like you were ever able to boot your Pi

check out http://www.raspberrypi.org/ and https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ras ... spberry-pi for getting an SD card burned properly and booting

you may want to find a friend with an HDMI or composite (NTSC or PAL) monitor or TV to help verify its bootingup, then you can come back to the PiTFT which requires a working setup first!

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prabu_venkat
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by prabu_venkat »

I earlier mentioned (see quoted) how I write the SD cards - using Ray Vijoen's script. When I booted with the PiTFT, I used the image from the tutorial: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pit ... sy-install - i understand the image comes with everything I require to boot right into the pitft.
prabu_venkat wrote:I have now tried with both Wheezy and Occidentalis (on separate cards, and using Ray Vijoen's method https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ras ... sing-a-mac).

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adafruit2
 
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Re: Pi B+ Problems (Season 2)

Post by adafruit2 »

yep but since its not working, we have to figure out what could be going amiss - the best place to start is from the beginning, and have an HDMI or Composite display attached!

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