PilotAware

British Forum => Technical Support => Topic started by: peteb on June 20, 2016, 12:33:55 pm

Title: SOLVED! - Newbuild not working.
Post by: peteb on June 20, 2016, 12:33:55 pm
I've just assembled a new bridge onto a new raspberry pi2B.....all in to a nice new case too. 
I've also installed the latest software on the memory card.....and fitted that into the slot.
All ready for initial power-up......exciting! 
Except.....nothing happens. 
Nothing at all. 
No lights.
I connected the hdmi lead to a tv.......and it shows 'no signal'. 
I'm stuck now.
Any ideas anyone?
Pete.
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: dougblair on June 20, 2016, 12:40:14 pm
I assume you have done it by buying bits not a kit.  I would be very suspicious of your power supply.  Can you connect something else to the micro usb plug, maybe a phone , to prove you have power . 
Do you have all the other bits plugged in GPS, wifi dongle and adsb/tv dongle ?

Doug
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: Admin on June 20, 2016, 05:35:38 pm
I agree with Doug, I would strip back to just the RPI, power and HDMI.
If nothing comes out - you have either an RPI or Power issue

I know it doesn't help, but this is why we put so much effort into the PilotAware Classic,
in order to ship a known working system.

Thx
Lee
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: peteb on June 20, 2016, 11:36:31 pm
As part of my troubleshooting.......I've tried two different power supplies. 
I then fitted the new bridge to my previous RPI (the b+ model)......which had been working with the home-soldered ARF kit that I part exchanged for the new bridge version.
Still nothing. 
The only common part to both set-ups now.....is the new bridge.   It's hard to believe it's the culprit, but at this stage, that's where logic is pointing me to. 
Yes - I have all USB devices plugged in......in the recommended locations. 
I will try the 'strip back' to RPI, power and HDMI.  Thank you both for your suggestions.
I'll let you know how I get on.

Just for background info.....this was originally a working version from the beta trial......and was working on the 'Frisian' trip where I met Lee at The Sywell breakfast meeting. 
I upgraded to the new bridge as generally recommended.
And I upgraded the RPI to the 2B model to utilise the voice alert facility.
I was already in too deep to take the easier route of buying a ready built classic. 
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: Admin on June 20, 2016, 11:43:23 pm
Hi Pete

So are you saying if you remove the bridge it works ?
Thx
Lee
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: peteb on June 21, 2016, 06:16:07 am
Hi Lee.
Not saying that directly.......I'm just saying that I can't get either RPI to work.....and that's testing with the bridge installed on each one for testing. 
Having slept on it.....I'm thinking that suspecting the bridge is a mistake. 
And checking the power supplies as you've suggested is a better course of action.
It's just that I tried 2 different power supplies......so assumed power was good.
I'm now planning to test by strip back to just:- RPI, power and HDMI.
I guess I should leave the micro SD card in?
Can you tell me what I should expect to see?
Should it be red/green lights on the Ethernet socket, and data on the screen (via HDMI) ?

Thx
Pete.
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: DaveStyles on June 21, 2016, 07:54:26 am
Just to mention in passing.
We have a bank of known good units that run a program that tests the Bridge. Each and every Bridge that goes out has been tested, just like each and every component on the Classic. I'm only saying this so that you know there is a QC process for the Bridges as well as the Classics.

Anyway, back to your problem, you aren't even seeing a red power light on the RPi ?
Even if you don't put an SD card in, you get a red power light. That red power light is hard wired to the power coming in. Have you tried 2 different power leads as well ? Could be a faulty power lead.

regards

David Styles.
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: Richard on June 21, 2016, 08:32:59 am
I have just had a similar problem as you described.  OK elimination, remove everything on the Pi, with the SD card installed with the software.  Now add power, observe the lights on the Pi you should get red on all the time and green flashing.....
If all ok plug in the wifi dongle and repeat as above observing the lights on the Pi. Repeat for all the other USB devices.

My problem was when the wifi was pluged in the red Pi power light turned of halfway through the boot of the Pi . The wifi seemed to be working as it was flashing and I could connect to it (sometimes)

I will explained in another thread how I bust it......

Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: peteb on June 21, 2016, 09:08:11 am
Hi guys.....first of all I have to own up to a stupid mistake.....I was looking at the lights on the Ethernet socket.  DOH!
With the RPI out of the case this morning......yes - I can see the two lights on the RPI circuit board.
They are both steady though.....so I guess that means no data upload from the SD card?
(Latest software downloaded from the website yesterday....20160511).
And still no signal on the HDMI......I guess that's to be expected with no flashing green light.
What next chaps?
Thanks for the support btw. 
I'm now suspecting the SD card.....or I haven't installed the software on it correctly.....?
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: Paul_Sengupta on June 21, 2016, 09:12:44 am
You have the card the right way round?  :)

One person got a chipped faulty SD card, but since you've had it in a PC and that works, it should be OK. Did you format it with the formatter program?
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: peteb on June 21, 2016, 09:17:23 am
Card the right way round?    Yes.   And yes - I deserved that!  😊

And yes....I used the paw formatter. 

I might try it again though......although this will be the 3rd time.  (I did it twice yesterday - as part of my troubleshooting). 
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: Richard on June 21, 2016, 09:25:37 am
On your SD card after download and unzip to SD card...Have you put the Files on the SD card to the Root of the SD card? Then installed with you RPI?
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: DaveStyles on June 21, 2016, 09:30:40 am
You're not the person that "thought the card was a bit stiff, so tapped it in with a tiny hammer" are you ? (Obviously the socket is designed so that you can't put the card in upside down.)

When you say "Paw formatter", I presume you mean the recommended standard SD card formatter, and you are selecting to resize the card on format, before copying the files on ?

Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: peteb on June 21, 2016, 09:49:47 am
Haha.  Guys.....go easy on me.  😉
I'll admit to looking at the wrong lights.....and I am suitably embarrassed.
Tapping the card in with a hammer?   Omg!  No - not me. 
Dave......'resizing' the card is ringing alarm bells for me.....I'll look at that again.
Richard - to the root....yes. 

Thx
Pete.
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: JCurtis on June 21, 2016, 10:46:49 am
Haha.  Guys.....go easy on me.  😉
I'll admit to looking at the wrong lights.....and I am suitably embarrassed.
Tapping the card in with a hammer?   Omg!  No - not me. 
Dave......'resizing' the card is ringing alarm bells for me.....I'll look at that again.
Richard - to the root....yes. 

Thx
Pete.

If you're anywhere near Cambridge, happy to help if needed...
Title: Re: Newbuild not working.
Post by: brinzlee on June 21, 2016, 11:40:27 am
Where are you based ? There are lots of kind folk that will help you with your build.....Southend....If that's any closer !!
Title: Re: Newbuild not working. - Solved
Post by: peteb on June 21, 2016, 11:42:22 am
Success !   Yay !   
It was the 'resizing' part of the SD Card format that I must have skipped in error.

It still took me a couple of goes.....but I got there eventually.   

Thanks to everyone for your help......Brilliant !

And thanks JC for your offer too.   

I'm now seeing my Pilotaware on my wifi.......so the next step is licensing and config. 
That'll be fun - for later.   😉

All the Best. 
PeteB

Title: Re: SOLVED! - Newbuild not working.
Post by: peteb on June 21, 2016, 10:27:13 pm
Brinzlee- thanks for the offer. 
Cheers. 
Pete