Solution: Problem flashing the new F3FC Board

[GAntonjo]

I had problems flashing my new and shiny F3FC card with the latest version of TriFLight. Following the setup video from David, I could see the board enter Bootloader mode and in my computer’s Device Manager I could see the Bootloader Device connected. But CleanFlight could not connect to the Bootloader port.

Solution for me: Start Chrome (I actually started Chrome App Selector) as administrator (right click and run as administrator). This was on my Windows 7 Enterprise x64 laptop.

After I started CleanFlight from this administrator enabled Chrome, flashing was fast and without problems. My Mini is now F3FC-alized!!

[swissfreek]

Did you try just flashing it without DFU? I have several F3 boards (not the F3FC but a Lumenier Lux and a TBS PowerCube) and I wasn’t aware you needed to use DFU mode because I’ve flashed them all repeatedly without issue…

[GAntonjo]

Well, since I have a cheap Naze32 F3 clone from China at hand, and this one do flash without DFU, I first tried to flash the F3FC board the same way. Since that did not work, I looked up the procedure David mentioned in his new setup video. There I found his notes about changing the driver for the STM Bootloader, but even so the CleanFlight Configurator did not recognize the STM Bootloader port. Only when I started CleanFlight Configurator as Administrator, I was able to flash the F3FC board.

So, bottom line is, if you do see the STM Bootloader in the Device Manager (Under USB Controllers), but still are not able to flash the board, start CleanFlight Configurator as Administrator. This should help.

[swissfreek]

Interesting. Well thanks for the info I’d probably assume I had a bad board.

[GAntonjo]

Another finding today – the “flash on connect” does not work. Took some time before I discovered that I actually had to press “Flash” button to make flash newest firmware to the F3FC board.

Hint – If the port in upper right corner of the CleanFlight configurator states DFU, you are in Bootloader mode and should be able to flash the board (maybe even without using administrator user).

[lauka]

The flashing directly without bootloader button works at least on the CF 1.13 rebased version. Haven’t tested on beta 3.

[villalji]

2Hi, thanks, that did the trick for me as well, I tried everything that David says in his video, but I could not get into “flashing mode” until I started google chrome as administrator, then it detected the board as DFU.
Now the problem I have is to change the motors rotation in BLHeli Suite.
I have done it successfully with other littlebee ESCs, but with a Naze32 v6 board, and it went super easy.
With the F3FC, everytime I connect it, it initially detects it as USB7 just fine, but when BLHeliSuite tries to read the ESCs, the port goes (apparently) into DFU mode, and the program cannot access the port.
Did anyone succeeded configuring the ESCs via BLHelisuite with the F3FC board?

[Gun74r]

Hi Swiss Freak. My name is Michael.
I purchased and have just started building my new tricopter from RCExplorer. I noticed that in these forums you are one of the guys who seems to really know his stuff. I’m not very experienced in programming the boards of multi rotor aircraft and am having real trouble with this build. I would really like to talk to someone about some of the issues I’m having. I have tried to solve the problems by looking through these forums but my problems are quite simple ones and I think that they aren’t actually problems for anyone else. Davids videos are helpful but I’m just not figuring it out. I’m getting bogged down.
I wondered if maybe I could chat to you perhaps on skype or facebook chat so that I could ask you your advise and help. I’m a bit stuck with things.
Anyway, if you are able and willing that would be great I have a list of things that I need to ask and I guess there will be more things after that. My facebook name is Michael Gunner but you can find me by typing my number in. 0400972848 I’m in Sydney Australia. I would be happy to chat whenever you have some spare time.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Regards. Michael

[swissfreek]

Ha! Me? Knows his stuff?? In a thread with @lkaino, the master of the firmware himself and @gunder-a-johansen? Well gee, I’m flattered. Really I’m just bored and answer all the easy questions, and probably spend more time on here than I should. But I’d be glad to help if I can. I’m in the United States, so you’re 14 hours ahead of me in Sydney. I will try to hit you up when I get home this evening and that should be mid-day or late morning for you on Saturday. If that’s not good we can probably figure something out.

[Gun74r]

Thats great Swiss, or do I call you Mr Freak? I look forward to chatting. I have lots of questions and will have a pen and paper at the ready. Regards. Mike Gunner

[swissfreek]

Hey Mike, did a search for you on Facebook, had no luck finding you by your number. Your name brought up many results, so I can’t tell which is you.

[Gun74r]

Heya Swiss.. I guess that’s one of the things I never understood about facebook. It can be a difficult thing to find a person on there even when you’re standing right in front of them. So, I’ll give yo my email. [email protected]
Please send me a message there and I will give you every last detail so that we can connect on some platform or another. My list of questions is growing by the minute!
Chat soon Swiss.

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