Help requested with Scheduler update/roi problems

[derelicte]

I have been trying to update the firmware on my 4210 disco so that I can use the roi port, but I'm having some problems.

The roomba reports the current firmware date as 8/11/05 (mm/dd/yy, beeps are - -... --.). When I plug the remote into the roomba, it says power on, then after around 3 seconds, it says done. If I check the firmware data again, it reports the same date. I have tried removing the battery and checking the date again and it is the same.

The remote is brand new. I can schedule the roomba, so I know that it has the scheduling software, but the roi doesn't seem to work. I may have issues with my roomba serial cable, but it does pass loopback tests and when I plug it in, it wakes up the roomba.

Isn't the scheduling software also supposed to contain the roi update?

Thanks!

[Fraggboy]

derelicte, What was the Firmware date before you updated? I wonder if the Scheduling Remote doesn't have the latest firmware.

If it's still under warranty, you can call iRobot, and see if they will ship you an OSMO to update the Roomba that way.

[vic7767]

This may get moved to the hacker forum but, what type of cable are you using and what OS are you running your Comm package on ?

[derelicte]

derelicte, What was the Firmware date before you updated? I wonder if the Scheduling Remote doesn't have the latest firmware.

If it's still under warranty, you can call iRobot, and see if they will ship you an OSMO to update the Roomba that way.

the original firmware date was 8/11/05 (mm/dd/yy). the scheduler remote doesn't appear to update the firmware. I haven't tried calling irobot yet, but I have a feeling it is long out of warranty.

[derelicte]

This may get moved to the hacker forum but, what type of cable are you using and what OS are you running your Comm package on ?

the cable is a based on a usb to serial adapter with a pl2303 chip that I have removed the max232 on. the os is xp. The software I tried was scitester from roombadevtools. I haven't tried it with linux yet.

the story gets a little stranger. the roomba's mfg date is 9/24/04 (mm/dd/yy), but the firmware is dated 8/11/05 (mm/dd/yy). The box doesn't have the "electrical and software interface..." sticker on it, but inside the box is a little blue piece of paper that says:

iRobot Osmo includes a charging update that helps Roomba maintain peak battery performance. Roomba will begin a 16 hour charge when the battery is extremely low. If Roomba is stored on a charger it will rarely use the 16 hour charging cycle.

I'm guessing that my roomba was refurbed and the firmware was updated, but does it also include the roi?

[vic7767]

See if you can fire up another term program, like Hypertem or Realterm, optioned for 57600, N, 8 & 1. Connect to the SCI port,,remove the battery, hold down the Pwr button 20 seconds, replace the battery. You should see some info display on your terminal that will have the firmware installed date.

[ProTech Robotics]

Derilicte, seems both posts are concerning the same matter so I am including our dialogue here to keep everything together.

Quote From "SCHEDULER UPGRADE with remote firmware and cable" http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewtopic.php?t=4933&start=80

Sorry, the cables I have are loaners and would need to be returned. I would either get a scheduler upgrade package [from iRobot] that would have the cable or get the OSMO unit. Both will upgrade the firmware and SCI

Chris,

Are you 100% sure that the scheduler update contains the roi update as well? I'm finding this to not be the case. I can schedule the roomba, but I can't talk to it through my cable. It could be a cable issue, so I'm going to verify the cable with a newer roomba tomorrow hopefully.

The firmware on my roomba before and after the scheduler update is 8/11/05 (mm/dd/yy). The remote didn't appear to update my roomba.

ANSWER:

derelicte, I had posed this question in the hacker section some time ago with no answers to date.

http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... ght=#30129

So the question now is;

What if any is the difference in the firmware that is loaded into the Scheduler Remotes and the firmware loaded into the OSMO units? I do not have an answer for this but it stands to reason that there is a difference unless the OSMO and Schedulers are giving different build dates for the same firmware versions. Anyone have an answer?

The Scheduler Remote will update the Firmware to a build date of 050421 which includes the ability to schedule your roomba along with the 2.1 enhancements, which was the purpose of the original post. If the already installed firmware has a build date newer then 050421 then the scheduler will report "DONE" immediately without the 100-0 countdown. (It wont overwrite a newer firmware flash)

Do you have an older roomba that you would like to add the functionality of a scheduler upgrade to? iRobot sells a Scheduler upgrade kit ($99.99) with a cable that connects from the scheduler remotes connector to the non-scheduler Roombas 7pin mini-din connector. This cable is to be used with the scheduler remote to update the roomba firmware to add the ability to use a scheduling remote with your roomba.

The issue for some, like yourself is that you wanted the cable to update the firmware to include everything that an OSMO includes and it appears to lack some features, the extent of "what is lacking" is unknown to date. There is no way to peer inside the software of either the scheduler or OSMO to find out exactly what is missing.

So the issue is not the cable or the scheduler that you are using to do the update, the Scheduler Remote will update the Firmware to a build date of 050421 and will not overwrite a "newer" date. From here you may need an OSMO to get what you want accomplished above the scheduling features.

So I ask again from anyone who knows What is the difference between an OSMO update and a Scheduler Remote Update? The revised build datecodes are different between the two upgrade types after the update is done so it only stands to reason that there is "some" differences between them.

[derelicte]

See if you can fire up another term program, like Hypertem or Realterm, optioned for 57600, N, 8 & 1. Connect to the SCI port,,remove the battery, hold down the Pwr button 20 seconds, replace the battery. You should see some info display on your terminal that will have the firmware installed date.

nothing was displayed. according to the info from chris, it seems that the scheduler update doesn't contain the roi update as well.

Looks like I need an osmo.

[derelicte]

thanks chris. I must have missed that thread you posted with the scheduler firmware date. That explains why it didn't update my roomba.

I guess I need an osmo in order to get the roi update.

[ProTech Robotics]

according to the info from chris, it seems that the scheduler update doesn't contain the roi update as well.
Looks like I need an osmo.

I am not saying that it doesn't contain the SCI/ROI update. After the update by Scheduler on an '04 RED I can access the SCI without the OSMO as vic7767 mentioned above. I am just stating that there may be some differences between an OSMO and a Scheduler remote updates that aren't known. Your situation seems to be a different fault since you can't get it to recognize any SCI information and you should.

[derelicte]

according to the info from chris, it seems that the scheduler update doesn't contain the roi update as well.
Looks like I need an osmo.

I am not saying that it doesn't contain the SCI/ROI update. After the update by Scheduler on an '04 RED I can access the SCI without the OSMO as vic7767 mentioned above. I am just stating that there may be some differences between an OSMO and a Scheduler remote updates that aren't known. Your situation seems to be a different fault since you can't get it to recognize any SCI information and you should.

interesting. it could be my cable. I'll try testing it out on another roomba with a post 10/05 firmware date before I give up and look for an osmo.

Thanks again!

[vic7767]

One thing you can do that will test the cable is to plug your charger directly into the Roomba, connect the cable to the SCI and you should see charging data output one message per second. This should occur on any OSMOed or non OSMOed Roomba with an SCI port and not 5th generation.

[derelicte]

One thing you can do that will test the cable is to plug your charger directly into the Roomba, connect the cable to the SCI and you should see charging data output one message per second. This should occur on any OSMOed or non OSMOed Roomba with an SCI port and not 5th generation.

good advice! does it output a text string that hyperterm/etc. will display or does it just send out a hex value?

there is an activity light on my adapter that is flashing about once per second, but nothing is being displayed in hyperterm or putty.

[vic7767]

It should be ASCII text and look something like this:

bat: min 13 sec 27 mV 16587 mA 781 deg-C 25
bat: min 13 sec 28 mV 16699 mA 788 deg-C 25
bat: min 13 sec 29 mV 16727 mA 775 deg-C 25
bat: min 13 sec 30 mV 16754 mA 781 deg-C 25
bat: min 13 sec 31 mV 16754 mA 775 deg-C 25
bat: min 13 sec 32 mV 16754 mA 781 deg-C 25
bat: min 13 sec 33 mV 16754 mA 775 deg-C 25

[derelicte]

I definitely don't see that. I must have some type of problem with my adapter. I'll check it out tomorrow with a scope at work.

It is strange that if I connect the tx and rx pins together at the 8 pin mini-din, what I type in hyperterm is echoed back and stops if I remove the loopback.

Thanks again for your help!

[derelicte]

success! sort of. the problem I was having had to do with my usb to serial adapter. the activity led was preventing the rxd signal from going below ~1.5v. once I disabled the led, I could start reading charging data from my roomba.

However it appears that the firmware I have on my roomba dated 8/11/2005 (mm/dd/yyyy) contain the roi. note this is newer than the scheduler remote update.

I tried the cable on another roomba with firmware dated 10/4/2005 (mm/dd/yyyy), and I can control that roomba with scitester. I can't control mine, though.

Looks like I still need an osmo.

[vic7767]

You can get a brand new one to keep from here;

http://www.elementdirect.com/product_in ... b57c83790f

[vic7767]

Thread update, derelicte was able to obtain a GraySmoke/Black OSMO and update his Roomba with the ROI.

[derelicte]

Thread update, derelicte was able to obtain a GraySmoke/Black OSMO and update his Roomba with the ROI.

yep. now it's hacking time!

ironically I had request an osmo from irobot before another poster graciously loaned me their's. well today I got an email from irobot stating they shipped me a purple osmo?!?

it could be a typo. I'll see what actually arrives.

thanks again everyone for your help!

[vic7767]

I'd sure like to dump the image on that OSMO, it might have some interesting contents.