ESP-07 flashing

[insippo]

I have usb ttl converter and i use linux. 3,3v to vcc,gnd to gnd, tx to rx, rx to tx, esp-07 ch-pd to 3,3v and fpr program gpio to gnd. I use esptool. All is ok and esp easy uploaded. After this i unconnect gpio0 and tx and rx and powering esp-07.Nothing. I upload esp easy R120 1024 version.

[Shardan]

Hello,

Use a separate power supply for the 3,3V, not the power from the TTL converter.
I kow that there are reports on the net saying that works. Due to my experiences it mostly does not.
Remember that EspTool just shows that data is going out.
It does not say if data arrives in the flash neither does it re-read the flash for correct data.

On another note there might be versions of ESP-07 with 512KB on the market.
Try the 512 version.

Regards
Shardan

[insippo]

I try with separate power supply.

[fred]

Hi fellow countryman

Flashing ESP-07 is very easy but took a while before I figured the right way out.
I use ESP-07S modules with 4M memory and according to my measurements their current consumption spikes are around 500 mA. So as Shardan pointed out the 3.3V power supply should handle that.

I attach hereby the schematic so it's easier to understand the connections. In my case FTDI and 3.3V voltage regulator are both power by USB. FTDI has 3.3V output.

1. connect USB cable to FTDI and power to the voltage regulator, S1 should be off
2. while keeping down FLASH pushbutton, switch on the power to the ESP with S1
3. release the FLASH button after a few seconds
4. now you can flash it with ESPEasy flash upload tool
5. after successfully flashing the ESP switch off the S1, disconnect GPIO15 from the ground and power it up again and you are ready to go

Hopefully this helps,
Fred

[insippo]

This is good tutorial. Thank you.

[Shardan]

Hello,

just one point:
On the circuits used here i did not connect GPIO15 to ground for flashing.

Instead of this connection i've implemented a 10 KOhm resistor
from GPIO15 to ground permanently.
That does the job and GPIO15 can be used without connecting
back and forth for flashing.

As the ESP-07(S) is made for soldering on a PCB connecting do ground for flashing
would need an extra jumper so the resistor is a much easier way.

Regards
Shardan

[insippo]

https://goo.gl/photos/4H4FwXhrVCNGFpeD6

I solder to back side voltage regulator ht7833 and using for programming Gizwitz esp-12f bottom sIde. Works good.

[fred]

Hi,

Shardan - good point, thanks for sharing

insippo - really cute and compact unit, worth replicating. Have you made that FTDI module yourself or is it readily available from somewhere?

BR
Fred

[insippo]

FTDI i bought from Aliexpress. Aliexpress is wonderland.
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?lt ... st=0&tc=af

This is better.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-L ... -uR7uBY3Rz

[Shardan]

Hello Insippo,

again the warning: Do not use FTTI programmers from cheap sources!

The FT232 is a well known chip - and possibly one of the most often faked chips at all.

FTDI (Future Technology Devices Inc) has taken measurements against the big number of unlicensed copies.
The actual driver for the chip recognizes the fake chip and scrambles the data sent to the ESP.

So following the flash program you see a successfully flashed chip - but the data sent to the ESP
are not valid and the ESP does not boot.

A real FT232 chip is expensive - around 3..4 USD when bought in big numbers of pieces.
So these cheap "FTDI-Progger" for 2...3 USD are usually faked chips as the chip is more expensive then the whole progger you buy.
A real FTDI progger comes around 15...20 USD!

Again: These cheap proggers will not work with the actual drivers!

More, very detailed info can be found here: https://zeptobars.com/en/read/FTDI-FT23 ... e-supereal

If you want a cheap flash progger that works reliable choose a progger with CH340G or CP2102 chip.
As far as i can see there is no advantage with the FTDI over the CH340G or CP2102.
These chips are used by WeMOS D1 Mini (CH340G) and NodeMCU (Older Versions: CH340G, newr Versions: CP2102)
Just watch out to buy a version that has 3,3V.

Example CH340G:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Sh ... 42fbe8b4ae

Example CP2102:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1PCS-CP ... 0cf678d310


Regards
Shardan

[insippo]

I have one from these 2.
NO . I have this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-sh ... .15.CqyWkw

[Shardan]

Hello Insippo,

Without having hands on your progger i assume it's a fake.
At first the price... the whole progger including shipping costs about half of the real FTDI chip. Not very likely that this is a genuine FT232.
Second, the chip from FTDI has the markings lasered in the surface... as far as i can see the markings on this chip are printed.
The surface is as smooth as glass, lasered markings are burned into the surface and would be visible, even on those pictures.

To clarify what happens:
FTDI Drivers from about 2012 to 2014 had a very agressive way: if they detected a fake chip they just brick it. Period.
This is possible as the manufacturer of the fake uses a small microcontroller to emulate the FT232 - it's literaly reprogrammed to death.
The progger is just garbage afterwards. This gave FTDI a lot of critic so they revoked that version.
The newer drivers from 2/2016 replace the data sent to a device (ESP for example) with a "NON GENUINE DEVICE FOUND".
Obviously it won't boot on any ESP-Chip if the code is replaced with that text.

It might be possible to get it to work if you can get very old windows drivers (and if they run under win7 /win10).
Best way: Dump it and get a CH340G or CP2102 progger.

Regards
Shardan

[insippo]

I use linux maybe 10 years or 15. This is my first and last FTDI programmer. I do not use this every week, every month. But every year. Last 5. Working or not. I do not know exactly. From where and what module is perfect ?

This is really not good?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-sh ... -uR7uBY3Rz

[Shardan]

Same as above.

The Chip alone costs 3..4 USD when bought in lots of thousand!
Look at the price! Look at the markings! Printed, not lasered.
Forget all these 2USD modules. It's just fake.
It is not possible to sell a module for 2 USD with a chip on it that alone costs 3..4 USD.

A progger with a genuine FTDI will cost at very least 10... 15 USD.
I use these progger cables... Look at the price: https://www.reichelt.de/Programmer-Entw ... ANGUAGE=EN

The CH340G should work with Linux too: http://sparks.gogo.co.nz/ch340.html

The CP2102 has Linux drivers too.
Silicon Labs has Linux drivers: http://www.silabs.com/products/developm ... cp-drivers
A completely open source driver for the CP2102 is availlable from Etheus: http://www.etheus.net/CP210x_Linux_Driver

Regards

[insippo]

This company bought these ftdi serial converters from China and..... Yes. End price is 19.90€. Like arduino nano in us shop 18€.

[Shardan]

Try it, if you want.
I don't trust chinese FTDI adapters any more and use genuine FTDI cable from a trustworthy reseller where I can return it if it won't work and get my money back.
For breadboard and experimenting I use the other mentioned ones. They work without a problem.
Some of the other ones work even better as some have extra signal pins so i can use ESPlorer to sedn a "Reset" or pull down the GPIO0 for flashing with the flash tools.

This is the CH340G i use, you can see the "RTS" and "CTS" pinholes:
http://img.dxcdn.com/productimages/sku_398436_1.jpg

Regards and Happy Easter Days
Shardan