Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

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KVS
 
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Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by KVS »

Hi Adafruit,

I have a new Hallowing MO Express. Have been following your instructions to import eye files. However, when I plug the Hallowing into a USB port and double-click the reset button, a bright green LED comes on (near the capacitive pads) but the unit does not show on my Mac anywhere.
Help appreciated - thanks!
Kevin

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by KVS »

I'm running OS10.11 on iMac

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

a bright green LED comes on (near the capacitive pads)
That's the NeoPixel and the green indicates the bootloader is seeing the USB comms from the PC OK. So, from the point of view of the Hallowing, everything is working.

Do you have a second PC available to try this on? That'd be easiest just to check that it might be something specific to that one mac.

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by KVS »

Hi Carter,
thanks for the response.

I just tried the same procedure on a Macbook Pro laptop.
The led that previously lighted green on the iMac now shows red on the laptop. I retried 3 times.
Previously on the iMac, it would be green sometimes - other times red. I would restart it and most times it would go to green (but still not show on the desktop)

BTW - battery is also connected and charged if that makes any difference.

Thanks!
Kevin

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by KVS »

a little more info:

On the 7th attempt I got the light to turn green on the laptop. But nothing shows up on the laptop.

On both computers I also tried:
Put Hallowing in reset mode while connected to USB
Put Hallowing in reset mode THEN connect to USB
Put Hallowing in reset mode with computer off/USB connected - then start computer
Tried using Disc Utility to manually mount the Hallowing but it doesn't show as a device there either.

Each with the same outcome.
K

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Try different USB cables. This looks like an intermittent connection issue on USB. Getting green sometimes (good) and red others (bad).

To test, just keep double pressing reset to get into bootloader mode. If the NeoPixels show red, then the problem persists and it is expected that nothing will then show up on the PC. If the NeoPixels are green, then it is expected that something should show up on PC (however, there are some known cases where it can not).

There have been cases of people going through half a dozen cables before finding a good one.

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by KVS »

Tried 3 differeent cables - same results on 2 computers.

I ordered MFi Cert cables as these aree data cables and not just charge cables. Maybe this will make a difference. Cables arrive tomorrow.

BTW - I'm not missing a driver or app am I?

- will keep you posted
Kevin

P.S. after we solve this, we will need to revisit why the capacitive pads and light sensor are not responding unless the default eye config doesn't use those functions (?)

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by KVS »

Hi Carter,
Got it displaying on the desktop. I did a little troubleshooting and found that USB-microUSB charge cables don't work. Most people don't know there is a difference between charging and data cables even though they look exactly the same.
So I ordered and tested a cable certified for data and it worked immediately.
And the light sensor works as well.

You may want to pass this one to the other users - thanks for your help!

BTW - do you have any posts/instructions about the proper hookup of the capacitive pads?

Thanks!
Kevin

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Ugh. Charge only cables. We have numerous warnings about them in various places and they are a huge source of problems. Unfortunately, there a lot of them out there. There also seems to be a lot of just poorly made cables as well.

Glad you figure it out and got it working though. Thanks for sticking with trying new cables.

Are you looking for code examples for the cap pads? You can use them as is if you want, no hook up required. The exposed copper "teeth" act as the touch surfaces. Or you can alligator clip to them, etc.

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by KVS »

Code examples would be great - I'm new at this (even though I worked in advanced robotics and high energy plasma physics in Silicon Valley!)
Can't know everything :)

Thanks,
Kevin

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Take a look at the general guide for the Hallowing M0 here:
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-hallowing
It covers the basics as well as Arduino and CircuitPython programming usage.

For Arduino, touch uses this library:
https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_FreeTouch
Here's an example usage:
https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Le ... _Board.ino
which is from this guide:
https://learn.adafruit.com/hallowing-spirit-board

Here's info on captouch in CircuitPython:
https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpytho ... -cap-touch

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Re: Hallowing not connecting to Mac via USB

Post by KVS »

Thank you!

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