Zigbee2mqtt: Unable to flash CC2531

[tynor88]

I'm following the guide Getting Started - having exactly the same parts, I'm unable to have both the CC Debugger and CC2531 to turn on when they are connected in the circuit as described. If I connect the CC Debugger and CC2531 indvidually they show up on the PC correctly. As soon as the downloader cable / BTool Programming Connector is in between, they both shut down (both lights are off).

Could some of the items be defective? Is there another way to flash the CC2531 with the current parts.

[HannesDi]

show us a photo how you have connected / plugged all together

[tynor88]

@HannesDi sure, here you go. As you can see, no lights 👎

[HannesDi]

hmn ok.. looks like correct plugged directions for the cables...

have you tried another usb plugs like the rear ones? probally a usb power problem

or on a other pc?

[tynor88]

I tried on my laptop. Same issue. If I connect them individually they work fine and I see both in the Device Manager on Windows 10. That's why I'm thinking Its something with the BTool.

[ptvoinfo]

@tynor88 1. Try to press the "Reset" button on the debugger. Sometimes I need to make 2 or 3 retries.

1. I hope BTool is a typo. We use Z-Tool to upload firmware.

[lolorc]

weird, why would you connect the cc2531 to computer when trying to flash it ? your debugger does power the cc2531 through the debug cable, doesn't it ?

[FelixUster]

Did you try to plugin the connector on the cc2531 with the cable on the other side ? I needed to do this. have flashed 5 sticks like that

[JLFN]

I hade the same error the problem was the cc debuger driver that got installed automatic.
Did you try to install the driver manualy? 32bit version?

[HannesDi]

weird, why would you connect the cc2531 to computer when trying to flash it ? your debugger does power the cc2531 through the debug cable, doesn't it ?

because: https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/wiki/Getting-started
point 4; "Connect BOTH the CC2531 USB sniffer and the CC debugger to your PC using USB."

and i can confirm only when both is connected / powered the led turn from red to green
so: NO the debugger does not power the cc2531 trough the debug cable

[tynor88]

I've tried everything and as soon as the Downloader connector goes in between, both the CC Debugger and Zigbee USB sniffer turns off.

[tynor88]

Hmm, I was looking at pictures and from what I can see I received this Downloader Connector:

Rather than this:

Are there any differences? Everybody is linking to the last one, but for some reason the sender from AliExpress sent me the first one (even though the pictures stated differently). I don't have the "CBAN DEBUG" in the top right corner and it looks a little bit smaller.

[Koenkk]

Can you post a picture of your board without the cable attached to it?

[tynor88]

@Koenkk sure here you go:

[Koenkk]

Board seems to be fine, my guess it that either your CC debugger or sniffer is defective.

[tynor88]

But if I connect them without the board in the circuit, they both show up on Windows and drivers get installed correctly. So do you still think that is the case?

[Koenkk]

Can you try to connect the pins directly by using jumper wires? (so that you don't need the flat cable/connector board)

[tynor88]

@Koenkk i tried what you suggested with jumper wires. Result is:

If i connect the CCDebugger with the connector board: CC Debugger turns off (lights)
If i connect the Zigbee Sniffer with the connector board: Zigbee sniffer turns off (lights)

If i connect them in a circuit, both of them turns off as soon as the connector board goes in between.

[BudBundi]

@Koenkk sure here you go:

Is there a connection from the middle down pin to the big pad down right in the picture, it seems so and if i'm correct that if false.

[pixeldoc2000]

@tynor88
Maybe have a look at https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/wiki/Alternative-firmware-flashing-methods if you have an Arduino laying around.

This way you could test if your CC2531 is ok.

If you have a multimeter you could test if all the pins on the connectors are wired correctly. Verify if all the Pins on the small connector match the big connector.

[ericstewart22]

If you have a NodeMCU laying around that would work too. I had trouble getting this to work so I documented my eventual set up as a comment over here..

https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/issues/78

[UnrealKazu]

I had an identical problem when I tried flashing for the first time after all components arrived from Aliexpress. Turns out that the problem in my setup was the downloader cable. The 10 pin header was not correctly soldered, and a tiny amount of solder short circuited two pins. This tiny amount was only visible after removing the plastic separator.

I would suggest checking the pin header with a multimeter to make sure that each pin is not linked to another one.

[tynor88]

I had an identical problem when I tried flashing for the first time after all components arrived from Aliexpress. Turns out that the problem in my setup was the downloader cable. The 10 pin header was not correctly soldered, and a tiny amount of solder short circuited two pins. This tiny amount was only visible after removing the plastic separator.

I would suggest checking the pin header with a multimeter to make sure that each pin is not linked to another one.

Based on this reply ended up ordering another downloader board + cable, and it was indeed the problem. After i received a new one, everything worked perfectly.

Thanks for all the replies in here.

[Koenkk]

@tynor88 thanks for reporting back!

[Largo2005]

For your information, I had the same issue. I've ordered all the needed hardware from Aliexpress. But when connecting the USB dongle to the CC Debugger using the downloader cable, it was not recognized (the led of the CC Debugger stays red). The problem was that 5 pins of the 10 pins header were short circuited. It even broke my CC Debugger.
I've ordered a new CC Debugger and a new downloader cable. Now everything is working fine...

[chriskgr]

I had an identical problem when I tried flashing for the first time after all components arrived from Aliexpress. Turns out that the problem in my setup was the downloader cable. The 10 pin header was not correctly soldered, and a tiny amount of solder short circuited two pins. This tiny amount was only visible after removing the plastic separator.

I would suggest checking the pin header with a multimeter to make sure that each pin is not linked to another one.

Same problem also for me. I cleaned up the pins/circuit board and after a reset the green light showed up. Thanks UnrealKazu

[j360b]

I had an identical problem when I tried flashing for the first time after all components arrived from Aliexpress. Turns out that the problem in my setup was the downloader cable. The 10 pin header was not correctly soldered, and a tiny amount of solder short circuited two pins. This tiny amount was only visible after removing the plastic separator.
I would suggest checking the pin header with a multimeter to make sure that each pin is not linked to another one.

Same problem also for me. I cleaned up the pins/circuit board and after a reset the green light showed up. Thanks UnrealKazu

How did you clean the downloader cable board?

Tnx for the information

[chriskgr]

I took out the excessive solder from the board and pins and then cleaned it with alcohol. Hope it helps.

Στις 2 Μαΐ 2019 19:57, ο χρήστης j360b [e-mail] έγραψε:

I had an identical problem when I tried flashing for the first time after all components arrived from Aliexpress. Turns out that the problem in my setup was the downloader cable. The 10 pin header was not correctly soldered, and a tiny amount of solder short circuited two pins. This tiny amount was only visible after removing the plastic separator.
I would suggest checking the pin header with a multimeter to make sure that each pin is not linked to another one.

Same problem also for me. I cleaned up the pins/circuit board and after a reset the green light showed up. Thanks UnrealKazu

How did you clean the downloader cable board?

Tnx for the information

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[RegularBloke]

I was having similar problems and discovered that Pin 8, 9 and 10 were all shorted.

[j360b]

Fixed it by buying a new connector from gban.cn.
The diymore.cc connector was broken/solden incorrectly for me too.

[LupinIII]

I had the same problem. For me the issue was the fine pitch ribbon cable that came with the set from aliexpress. One of the 10 lines had no continuity (measured from the solder pads on the adapter board to the solder pads on the dongle). And of course it was the only one that couldn't be "fixed" by plugging in the connectors rotated by 180° on both ends, because it was the reset pin in one orientation and the DD (debug data) pin in the other orientation. (what I read only 4 out of the 10 pins are necessary when flashing)
The cable worked after I squeezed both ribbon connectors in a vice. It looks like one of the knife contacts in the connectors hadn't made contact to the copper in the ribbon. Visually the connectors were correctly seated even before that.
The adapter board is one of the "diymore" btw. The soldering looked fine on it, although I only checked after I read this thread when the flashing didn't work. I guess I was very lucky since it seems that in some cases the bad soldering job can even kill the programmer.

[NodeGuy]

My debugger light is also always red. Can I buy all of these parts from someone like Texas Instruments instead of AliExpress so that they're more likely to work?

[pixeldoc2000]

@NodeGuy

My debugger light is also always red.

• Did you try to press the Reset Button on the Debugger (multiple) times with CC2531 connected?

• Did you connect the CC2531 AND the CCDebugger with USB?

• Did you check the Ribbon Cable and Adapter PCB for correctly wiring, shorts and bad solder joints?

You can buy the stuff from TI, but it will cost a small fortune.

You can buy CC2531 preprogramed on eBay (at least in Germany).

You can try to flash the CC2531 with Arduino or ESP.

[NodeGuy]

Thank you for your suggestions. I tried pressing the Reset Button multiple times and made sure both devices were connected via USB. I visually inspected all the parts but didn't take the time to investigate shorts or bad solder joints.

What I did instead is buy the CC-DEBUGGER directly from Texas Instruments for $49. It came with higher-quality components sealed in an anti-static bag and worked on the first try. Paying an extra $33 over what I gave AliExpress was worth the time savings and peace of mind for me.

@Koenkk how about we add the above option to the documentation as an alternative source for people who want to trade more money for reduced risk?

[Koenkk]

Paying $49 for a CC-DEBUGGER is not worth it, for that money you can buy a CC26X2R1 (https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/information/supported_adapters.html)

[NodeGuy]

Oh sure, now he tells me! 😉

Thanks for pointing out that page; I hadn't seen it before. It would be helpful to add a link to it from the What do I need? page.

After some digging on the TI website it looks like this would be the best option for me:

SimpleLink™ multi band CC1352R wireless MCU Launchpad™ SensorTag kit

Is it compatible with your project?

[Koenkk]

I don't know about that one. I would recommend buying one off https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/information/supported_adapters.html a link can be found after Can be bought via ...

[NodeGuy]

Ah, thank you. After exploring your https://github.com/Koenkk/Z-Stack-firmware I see that a) you've done a lot of amazing work on this (thank you!) and b) the CC26X2R1 firmware is not ready for production yet so I'll try the CC2531 for now.

[Koenkk]

CC26X2R1 firmware is ready for production (forgot to update docs), thanks for mentioning.

[pixeldoc2000]

@NodeGuy @Koenkk

After some digging on the TI website it looks like this would be the best option for me:

SimpleLink™ multi band CC1352R wireless MCU Launchpad™ SensorTag kit

This looks like a pretty nice device compete with case and external antenna. Much better than a bare dev board like CC2531 or CC26X2R1 ;-)

Anyway, i'm still quite happy with my GBAN Zigbee Dongle and Z2M.

@Koenkk
Why is the GBAN Zigbee Dongle removed from https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/information/supported_adapters.html ?

[Koenkk]

It has been merged with the CC2530 (as it is basically the same device and is still mentioned Can be bought on e.g. AliExpress: CC2530, CC2530 + CC2591, GBAN GB2530)

[OPolpo]

I had an identical problem when I tried flashing for the first time after all components arrived from Aliexpress. Turns out that the problem in my setup was the downloader cable. The 10 pin header was not correctly soldered, and a tiny amount of solder short circuited two pins. This tiny amount was only visible after removing the plastic separator.

I would suggest checking the pin header with a multimeter to make sure that each pin is not linked to another one.

Thank you so much.
I had the same problem. I fixed my board by scratching the soldering between the pin on the back of the board.

[burningTyger]

Another way to fix the "no green light" problem. I didn't push hard enough to actually connect the cable between the CC and the Downloader Connector. The cable works only when the board pins pierce the tiny cables. I just plugged it in being a bit too tender.

[Ramblurr]

Is this CC1352R linked above supported by zigbee2mqtt? It's not on the supported adapters page.

[wouzer]

I had an identical problem when I tried flashing for the first time after all components arrived from Aliexpress. Turns out that the problem in my setup was the downloader cable. The 10 pin header was not correctly soldered, and a tiny amount of solder short circuited two pins. This tiny amount was only visible after removing the plastic separator.

I would suggest checking the pin header with a multimeter to make sure that each pin is not linked to another one.

I had exactly the same issue. The little board connecting the two flat cables was short circuiting two pins. Fixed the poor soldering quality and it worked. So check carefully!
(Unfortunately this was after I ordered a new debugger, as I thought that one was broken :-(.... )