Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

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adafruit2
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by adafruit2 »

make sure the board is plugged in, and you can use ls /dev/cu.usbmodem* from
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=191051&start=45#p925598
to verify that the device exists

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shop4mondon
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by shop4mondon »

I'm using a Mac

Here's a screenshot of the menus...
...Arduino seems to recognize the device
Attachments
Today's screenshot copy.png
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adafruit2
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by adafruit2 »

OK - we're not using the arduino ide now so it should be closed
is there anyone near ya that is experienced with using Terminal and command line stuff on a mac?

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shop4mondon
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by shop4mondon »

Howdy

Near Me ...I am the person who knows what a terminal is... ;-)

But, I have gotten lost in this forum's troubleshooting strategies.
I'll try again

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shop4mondon
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by shop4mondon »

Code: Select all

Last login: Tue May 31 12:01:23 on ttys000

The default interactive shell is now zsh.
To update your account to use zsh, please run `chsh -s /bin/zsh`.
For more details, please visit https://support.apple.com/kb/HT208050.
BSH-STF-DCARTE3:~ don.carter$ avrdude -v -patmega32u4 -cavr109 -P/dev/cu.usbmodem* -b57600

avrdude: Version 7.0
         Copyright (c) Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) Joerg Wunsch

         System wide configuration file is "/usr/local/Cellar/avrdude/7.0/bin/../etc/avrdude.conf"
         User configuration file is "/Users/don.carter/.avrduderc"
         User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping

         Using Port                    : /dev/cu.usbmodem*
         Using Programmer              : avr109
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 57600
avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "/dev/cu.usbmodem*": No such file or directory
avrdude: opening programmer "avr109" on port "/dev/cu.usbmodem*" failed

avrdude done.  Thank you.

BSH-STF-DCARTE3:~ don.carter$ 
BSH-STF-DCARTE3:~ don.carter$ 

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adafruit2
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by adafruit2 »

you should make sure the /dev/cu.usbmodem* device is appearing, if you cant use * just type out the full device. the earlier instructions tell you how to find the device name.

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shop4mondon
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by shop4mondon »

Howdy

I apologize, but I have lost track of the strategy and instructions you are asking me to complete.....so many posts and responses

Can you post a step by step set of instructions?

I'd be happy to follow up

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adafruit2
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by adafruit2 »

hiya - i dont think we're going to be able to get them fixed without someone who is more experienced skilled at using Terminal/command line. your best bet is to just transition to using CPX's - the CPC's are probably fixable, perhaps someone will come along at your place who can hack on them later :)

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shop4mondon
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by shop4mondon »

Woa !

I've been teaching with Technology for almost 30 years.
I have never had a tech support person or forum mediator simply give up.

I can run the terminal. just need you to give me the instructions for typing in the commands.

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westfw
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by westfw »

I know that Adafruit has requested that random folk like me "butt out", but at this point I'd like to volunteer to look at some of the broken boards, if you're willing to mail them to me (that may not be practical, depending on where you're located. I'm in the CA bay area.)
In theory, I have the tools and expertise to look into the problem in more detail, and I find the problem "interesting."

There is a "thought flow" to debugging this sort of thing, which is very difficult to maintain across the high delay of a forum-like conversation.

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shop4mondon
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by shop4mondon »

Howdy westfw,

I appreciate your offer to help. I found the problem interesting, as well...for a while.

These gadgets were only $18, so we're prepared to write them off....
...unless, Adafruit wants to send us 7 new CP Classics to replace the dead ones..;-)

I still respect the Adafruit organization and the vibe around learning and DIY

I just think they need a better Tech Support structure than a forum.

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westfw
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by westfw »

I appreciate your offer to help.
I can't tell whether that's a yes or a no. PM me via email to the same username at the usual places (yahoo, gmail, hotmail) if you want a mailing address. (I guess Adafruit's forums don't have a PM function.)


(Philosophical Hand-waving follows)
a better Tech Support structure than a forum.
A forum is a great structure for supporting low-cost (or free) products. When it works well, customers' questions are answered by other customers, and the answers are archived "forever" as a database for anyone that might have a similar question in the future. And there's a HISTORY of issues. EAGLE (the PCB CAD program) was a great example - they offered a free version for hobbyists (with no official support), and a forum, and pretty much all of the new hobbyist questions were answered by slightly less-new hobbyists. Arduino itself operates similarly - there is very little actual Arduino Corporate presence on their Forums, and yet that is where people go for help (and usually get it.)
Adafruit is better; you CAN get official responses via their forums, in addition to other-customer feedback.

It's brilliant, when it works. Of course, it doesn't always work. :-(
If you had tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff, and a "support contract", it would be time to send a "Field Service Technician" to your site to investigate. (And they might end up shaking their heads and getting you a replacement.)

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shop4mondon
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by shop4mondon »

westfw !

THANX for your thoughtful responses....
...I enjoy forums for all of those reasons, too
I use them frequently.

The school year ends soon and I have run out of time to dedicate to these gadgets, so I won't be able to take you up on your offer.

We'll buy the Express models next time. We have not experienced any problems with them, yet. We have been programming them with Python.
It will be interesting to see if they are better....or if Python is better...or whatever is better !

Have Fun
DON

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westfw
 
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Re: Circuit Playground Classics---dying in droves

Post by westfw »

We'll buy the Express models next time. We have not experienced any problems with them, yet. We have been programming them with Python.
@shop4mondon: Apparently CircuitPython is getting too big for the Cortex M0 processor in a playground express, and you should consider the Circuit Playground Bluefruit instead. See viewtopic.php?f=60&t=192932

(the Bluefruit is the same price as the Express, but has a faster and more powerful processor, as well as bluetooth LE support. My only concern would be that it MIGHT be slower running Arduino code, due to the overhead of the bluetooth stack and whatever OS it uses (MBed?) But that's less likely to be an issue if you're already using Python,

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