[burtlo]

PRESCRIPT: After all this below, I'm now unable to boot my CC3D. I only get a single yellow light, blinking slowly until becoming solid. I'm guessing I need to recover my board like this?

So I bought stuff for a Flamewheel clone (didn't realize the pedigree when I bought the stuff). The OpenPilot looked geeky, so I got that, and I got my very first standalone transmitter, [this Spektrum unit](http://www.banggood.com/2_4G-6CH-S603-Receiver-Supported-JR-Spektrun-DSM-X-DSM2-Transmitter-p-961733.html).

I'm poking around with things, stuck a bit because I don't have power leads (d'oh!), but I'm working on configuration with the LibrePilot software. It gave me this, after going through the setup wizard (a cool experience in itself):


I see the pinouts for the CC3D board here:


Here are the pinouts for the TX:

According to the first diagram, I should use the left Flexiport, though according to the docs, it really doesn't matter which port I use.

So, I basically have three questions now:

1. Do the four wires from my Flexiport all go into the S603 TX, and if so, how?
2. What powers the CC3D?
3. The terms TX and RX are somewhat interchangeable, right? Depending on how they're being used? e.g. this S603 is a TX, and my TBS Tango controller is also a TX, but mostly a Receiver...?

Btw, I have my motors in place, ESCs connected to motors, ESCs connected to PDB (bottom plate of the frame), and ESCs connected to the CC3D. All that is pretty clear so far. Besides the questions above, I have to provide power to the PDB, and I should be all wired up, right?

NOTE: Cross-posted here, as I was active in the MMW forums recently, and just discovered these forums for LibrePilot.

[TheOtherCliff]

Some quick notes.

You need firmware and GCS to match.  When you change firmware you should erase settings and do configuration wizard from the beginning.

Chinese salesmen often call a Revo a "Revo".  That is a Revo, not a CC3D.  Make sure that you have a CC3D before doing anything more.  It will say what it is on the board itself.

You should be able to flash and run the bu_coptercontrol.opfw file with just the rescue procedure.  Firmware page disconnect USB.  Press Rescue.  Plug in USB.  Open and navigate to the opfw file.  Flash it.  Boot it and let it run for 20 seconds.  Now you have a known correct bootloader.  Use same procedure to flash fw_coptercontrol.opfw  Search forum or wiki for more about rescue if you need to.

If you are using just a Spektrum Sat Rx, realize that it must be bound using the full receiver before it will work.  More importantly, realize that it needs 3.3v and if you connect it like that picture (direct to CC3D without a voltage regulator), you may burn it out.  There are CC3D "EVO" boards that have more ports that have 3.3v power... but normal boards put out 5v on all ports (they actually just put out what they are given by the ESCs).

It's not clear which receiver you are using.  (and receiver is usually abbreviated RX, not TX ... TX is for transmitter).

Search the wiki for DSM and you should find some receiver connection instructions.

Flight battery connects to ESC.  ESCs usually have a BEC "step down to 5v" inside and that 5v comes out of the small 3 wire connector.  That connects to the CC3D and powers the CC3D.  The CC3D powers the receiver because all the ports and ESC connector power connections are connected internally in the CC3D.

[hwh]

..., [this Spektrum unit](http://www.banggood.com/2_4G-6CH-S603-Receiver-Supported-JR-Spektrun-DSM-X-DSM2-Transmitter-p-961733.html).

I'm poking around with things, stuck a bit because I don't have power leads (d'oh!), but I'm working on configuration with the LibrePilot software. It gave me this, after going through the setup wizard (a cool experience in itself)...

Once you get it connecting to LP again you need to re-run the wizard and tell it what receiver you have. If it gave you that diagram then you made a mistake and told it you have a Satellite receiver, the one you linked to isn't a Satellite receiver.  It could be hooked up PWM or PPM.

[burtlo]

@TheOtherCliff, thanks for all that info. My board _does_ say "CC3D". Here's what I bought: http://www.banggood.com/OpenPilot-CC3D-Flight-Controller-STM32-32-bit-Flexiport-p-937044.html

The Receiver I bought is this: http://www.banggood.com/2_4G-6CH-S603-Receiver-Supported-JR-Spektrun-DSM-X-DSM2-Transmitter-p-961733.html

I'm having a serious power problem, though. I had previously connected it to LibrePilot, and run the wizard, which had me do an upgrade of firmware to match versions.

Towards the end, as I documented above, I was recommended to connect the CC3D to the RX, which puzzled me, so I did nothing but write some posts for help. In the meantime, though, I lost connection with the CC3D, to the point that it doesn't get recognized on USB by Windows, nor by LibrePilot.

When I try your suggestion of using the Rescue feature, LibrePilot times out.

Now, just trying one last time, I get zero lights from the board via USB. I'm writing for replacement at this point.

@hwh, thanks, I _did_ select the DSM Satellite option, only because it said DSM. I'll try the others when I can.

[hwh]

...Now, just trying one last time, I get zero lights from the board via USB. I'm writing for replacement at this point. ...

Zero lights is either a bad board or sometimes a bad USB cable or port.

[burtlo]

For once, I actually remembered to review the easy possibilities, and tried at least three cables. I'm pretty convinced, though I will still maintain an open mind. :-)

[manikmodder01]

I have bought 4 f3 flight controllers 1 naze32 ver5 2 cc3d and all of them had issues usually about a week in with no crashes

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[manikmodder01]

Srry forgot to mention all were purchsed from banggood i do not shop with them anymore i buy local or from a manufacturer that support the software

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[burtlo]

That's becoming the more obviously prudent choice, @manikmodder01! I have been waiting on the RotorX Atom V2 after contributing to their Indiegogo campaign, and have been overly budget-minded in the meantime. I'm coming to my senses, though, seeing how the mass production still has too high a failure rate than I would hope.

Supporting local is good business, too, but the local shops around me seem slow to get into this level of the hobby. I'm surprised at that, but I'm seeing signs from some that they're interested in getting more committed.

[manikmodder01]

Just started picking up around here theres spme local guys trying to get an old warehouse or something so we ha e a race track its kinda nicr

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[burtlo]

Awesome! Whereabouts do you live? North of San Diego, CA, here.

[hwh]

Srry forgot to mention all were purchsed from banggood i do not shop with them anymore i buy local or from a manufacturer that support the software...

Everyone's experience varies, I've purchased probably ten assorted FC from BG over the last year or so.  F1, F3, and F4 based.  I've never had a problem with any of them.  Some people (like you apparently  ) have bad luck and get ones with problems.

[burtlo]

So I got wondering about things again, and I pulled my seemingly dead CC3D out of the drawer. I tried again on my normal USB ports, and nothing at all. Then, I tried on my USB charging hub, which has both 1A and 4A output. I connected to the 4A output, and the lights seem to have gone through the normal boot procedure!

Unfortunately, I'm not seeing a change in connecting via USB. I did try the FTDI interface, but I was a bit rushed and I'm either not doing it properly, or there's still more in the way.

Interesting note, to me, that increased current seems to have helped the board.

[TheOtherCliff]

Does anything on the board get uncomfortably hot after say 5 minutes?  That would imply there is a problem.

[burtlo]

No, even without cooling, it's a steady slightly warm temperature.