ST16 About Controller Version n/a

[Nicolai]

Hello,
On my ST16, the versions are not displayed under About Controller Typhoon H, it says Gimbal n/a, Autopilot n/a, Realsense n/a, only the camera version is displayed. You can't do a complete firmware update via the built-in CGO3+ camera, although it is displayed, update successful. All other functions of the camera work. I then added another CGO3+, with this a firmware update is possible and all versions are also displayed under About controller/Aircraft displayed.Do any of you know this problem?

 

[Pier2162]

Hi. Welcome.
Never heard about this problem, but wait for others more expert than me.

 

[h-elsner]

The FW version that are displayed on the ST16 are transferred from camera via WiFi connection. The camera must be bound to the ST16. The FW from Autopilot (flight controller) and RealSense will be transferred from flight controller to gimbal and from gimbal to camera via serial connection. And no surprise the FW from gimbal to camera too.
If we know the path we can go ahead with diagnosis:
- If we see the video from camera on the ST16 screen then camera is bound and Wifi connection is established.
- If we can control the camera pan with the knob from ST16 then the serial connection from flight controller to gimbal is established and working.
- Remains the serial connection to camera. If we don't see the FW versions and the Sensor files on the ST16 flight logs are empty then there is something wrong with it. My first attempt would be wiring between gimbal and camera. It is a black thin 3 wire cable (UART1: GND, Rx,Tx). First side is on the gimbal main board:

The other side is on the camera WiFi board:

On both sides also the drivers may be bad but this needs deeper HW diagnosis.

 

[WTFDproject]

Hello,
..., only the camera version is displayed.....

What camera version is displayed?
A screenshot would be helpful.

@h-elsner, are all the missing versions and drone update firmware carried by the UART cable?

@Nicolai , has there been any crash, hard landings, dropped camera, camera disassembly, long storage period, camera/gimbal firmware updates or any other pertinent event between the last time the system worked and the first time it did not?

 

[h-elsner]

are all the missing versions and drone update firmware carried by the UART cable?

Yes. The ZigBee (SR24) connection is not used to transfer such data packages.

 

[WTFDproject]

Yes. The ZigBee (SR24) connection is not used to transfer such data packages.

@Nicolai,
If you need help inspecting the UART cable, let us know.
Damage is most common at the roll joint between the horizontal/vertical arms (breakage), and inside the vertical arm at each/any of the screw mounts (crushing). There may also be corrosion in the connectors as shown in the images above provided by @h-elsner.

 

[Nicolai]

Den Copter mit ST16 und CGO3+ Kamera hatte ich mir vor kurzem erst gebraucht als 2 Typhoon H gekauft.Die ST16 verbindet sich mit dem Copter und der Camera,der Copter liegt,funktioniert,die Kamera überträgt das Bild zu der ST16,Bilder und Videos können gemacht werden.Schwenken,nicken funktioniert auch.Als ich unter About Controller nachgeschaut habe,sah dies so aus.

Google Translation:
I recently bought the copter with ST16 and CGO3+ camera second-hand as a 2nd Typhoon H. The ST16 connects to the copter and the camera, the copter is lying down, works, the camera transmits the image to the ST16, pictures and videos can be taken. Panning and nodding also work. When I looked under About Controller, it looked like this.

 

[WTFDproject]

....Als ich unter About Controller nachgeschaut habe,sah dies so aus.

Google Translation:
.... When I looked under About Controller, it looked like this.

Google Translation:
Das UART-Kabel dient der Kommunikation zwischen der Kamerakugel und der Gimbal-Platine.

Alle funktionierenden Elemente werden entweder direkt zwischen der Kamerakugel und dem Controller oder über das SR24-Modul in der Drohne zwischen dem Controller und dem Gimbal-Board übertragen. Für diese Artikel ist keine Kommunikation zwischen dem Gimbal-Board und der Kamerakugel erforderlich.

Alle Dinge, die NICHT funktionieren, müssen über das UART-Kabel zwischen der Kamerakugel und der Gimbal-Platine transportiert werden, bevor sie zum Controller gelangen

Eine vernünftige Schlussfolgerung könnte sein, dass ein Problem mit dem UART-Kabel oder seinen Anschlüssen vorliegt.

Original:
The UART cable is the communication between the camera ball and the gimbal board.

All the items that are working either go directly between the camera ball and the controller, or they go between the controller and the gimbal board by way of the SR24 Module in the Drone. For these items, no communication between the gimbal board and the camera ball is needed.

All the things that do NOT work must travel between the camera ball and the gimbal board through the UART cable prior to going to the controller

A reasonable conclusion might be that there is a problem with the UART cable or it's connectors.

 

[h-elsner]

Die Verbindung zwischen Gimbal und Kamera ist weg. Tja, wie oben gesagt ist wohl das anfälligste Teil das Kabel zwischen Gimbal-Hauptplatine und der Kamera. Da würde ich anfangen zu suchen.

The connection between the gimbal and the camera is broken. As mentioned above, the most vulnerable part is probably the cable between the gimbal main board and the camera. Here I would start looking.

 

[Nicolai]

I also thought about the UART cable and have already measured it. I also measured the cable from the contacts at the top of the camera, via the slip ring, to the main board and it has contact.

 

[Nicolai]

Maybe it's also the sockets on the board for the UART cable on the mainboard or WIFI board

 

[Nicolai]

There was no error when measuring the diameter of the UART cable, but it would be conceivable since it is always moving mechanically. Alternatively, you could also plug in another cable as a test, but I don't have a replacement for testing.

 

[WTFDproject]

I also thought about the UART cable and have already measured it. I also measured the cable from the contacts at the top of the camera, via the slip ring, to the main board and it has contact.

Die UART-Kontakte haben möglicherweise andere Probleme.
Die Kontakte auf der Kardanplatine haben möglicherweise gebrochene Lötstellen.

Der Anschluss am Kameraende weist Designvariationen auf. Es gibt mindestens 3 Variationen hinsichtlich der Verwendung von Pins. Es ist möglich, dass jemand ein falsches UART-Kabel von einer anderen Kamera verwendet hat. Die richtige Pinbelegung ist in dieser Zeichnung dargestellt:
CGo3+ Uart1 Pinout

Wenn kein Problem mit den UART-Kabeln oder -Verbindungen gefunden wird, besteht der nächste Schritt darin, die fragliche Kardanplatine auf der funktionierenden Kamera zu installieren, um zu sehen, ob das Problem an der Kardanplatine liegt. Wiederholen Sie dies mit dem UART-Kabel, der Kameraplatine usw., bis Sie die Komponente mit dem Problem finden.

The UART contacts may have other issues.
The contacts on the gimbal board may have broken solder joints.

The connector on the camera end has design variations. There are at least 3 variations of where pins are used. It is possible that someone used an incorrect UART cable from another camera. The correct pinout is shown in this drawing:
CGo3+ Uart1 Pinout

If no problem is found with the UART cables or connections, the next step is to install the gimbal board in question on the working camera to see if the problem is with the gimbal board. Repeat with the UART cable, camera board, etc. until you find the component with the problem.

 

[WTFDproject]

....
View attachment 31690

@h-elsner ,
Do you recognize the camera firmware version shown in Post #7?
It seems older than the versions I can find.

@Nicolai ,
What was the file name/number of the firmware you mentioned in post #1.

 

[h-elsner]

The camera FW is part of TyphoonH_Ver2.21_E.bin, a very early FW. It has gimbal FW 1.22 which is one version below 1.25. To update the FW is worth to try but I'm thinking about the procedure. I remember, I have had also a camera with UART problems that partially could be solved with FW update.
Let me check tomorrow if I find what I have done.

This thing is really a rare piece with historic FW. We should let it as it is and put it in a museum

 

[Nicolai]

I'll check the pin assignment of the UART cable.
I did a firmware update on B30. However, this only worked with a different CGO3+camera on the copter.

 

[Nicolai]

This was the firmware update with the camera not working, I had looked at the version on the copter with the GUI and there was still the old version on the copter.

 

[Nicolai]

This was the firmware update with another working CGO3+camera

 

[Nicolai]

Unfortunately I don't have any other cables or circuit boards to test and replace

 

[WTFDproject]

Unfortunately I don't have any other cables or circuit boards to test and replace

Yes, but you now have the camera, controller and the drone all on current firmware. The gimbal firmware of the problem camera is the only thing you can't access. It is probably well out of date but at least it is working.
The good camera could be used for troubleshooting the bad cable, but I think I would not do so for the very little you would gain. The risk of damaging the good camera is too high.
Finding a parts camera on-line or someone sending you a cable are about the only options for getting a cable. It will do no good at all to replace the gimbal board unless you can find someone that can calibrate it to your camera system.