A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out waiting for packet header

[lanegg]

I am trying to get the Arduino IDE setup for a Adafruit ESP32 Dev Board and can't get the sketch to upload to the chip. I am just trying to use the Blink example sketch. I have held down the Boot button followed by pressing the EN button before/after clicking the upload button in the IDE. I have verified the correct port is in use and have set the baud rate to 115k instead of 921k as it defaulted to.

I am able to upload images compiled using make from the command line and also from Eclipse. Is it possible that the $PATH variable added for it, or the other copy of the ESP SDK to cause a conflict?

FWIW I am using a Win10 host OS running a Ubuntu VirtualBox VM. Everything should be latest as I just setup the Arduino IDE a few minutes ago.

The error I get is (I have verbose upload logs enabled):

Arduino: 1.8.1 (Linux), Board: "ESP32 Dev Module, 80MHz, 115200, None"

Sketch uses 115275 bytes (11%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1044464 bytes.
Global variables use 9480 bytes (3%) of dynamic memory, leaving 285432 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 294912 bytes.
/home/lane/Arduino/hardware/espressif/esp32/tools/esptool --chip esp32 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 115200 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash -z --flash_freq 80m --flash_mode dio --flash_size 4MB 0x1000 /home/lane/Arduino/hardware/espressif/esp32/tools/sdk/bin/bootloader.bin 0x8000 /tmp/arduino_build_988194/sketch_mar16b.ino.partitions.bin 0xe000 /home/lane/Arduino/hardware/espressif/esp32/tools/partitions/boot_app0.bin 0x10000 /tmp/arduino_build_988194/sketch_mar16b.ino.bin
esptool.py v2.0-dev
Connecting...

A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out waiting for packet header
A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out waiting for packet header

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

[lanegg]

I shut down the Ubuntu VM and tried directly from the Win10 host and got the same error. However, I shut down Putty and all Arduino IDE instances then cycled the power on the board. I started the IDE and did not start Putty and things worked. I think Putty was causing a lock on the COM port that was being released when the Putty session was stopped. Similarly, I was using Minicom on the Ubuntu machine. Even though I was stopping Minicom before I tried to flash I think something was getting dinked in the process.

Anyone who stumbles on this, make sure all your serial terminals have been shutdown and the IDE is the first thing opened.

[lanegg]

Spoke too early. I went out for dinner and upon my return and the dev board is back to the same error about timing out waiting for a packet header. I tried the above tricks with no luck this time.

[Hans Dorn]

Hi,

try editing the last line in your platform.txt, and add "--before esp32r0" to the esptool options.

If you're lucky, you won't have to push any buttons at all when uploading.
(Worked for me on the sparkfun board)

Code: Select all

tools.esptool.upload.pattern={cmd} --before esp32r0 --chip esp32 --port "{serial.port}" --baud {upload.speed} write_flash -z --flash_freq {build.flash_freq} --flash_mode {build.flash_mode} --flash_size {build.flash_size} 0x1000 "{runtime.platform.path}/tools/sdk/bin/bootloader.bin" 0x8000 "{runtime.platform.path}/tools/sdk/bin/partitions_singleapp.bin" 0x10000 "{build.path}/{build.project_name}.bin"

[bombix]

Hi,

Im also having this problem.
I have an ESP-WROOM-32 Dev board.
When i try to upload some firmware i get:

Connecting...

A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out waiting for packet header
A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out waiting for packet header

My platform.txt file located in arduino/hardware/expressiff last lines are:

Code: Select all

tools.esptool.upload.protocol=esp32
tools.esptool.upload.params.verbose=
tools.esptool.upload.params.quiet=
tools.esptool.upload.pattern={cmd} --chip esp32 --port "{serial.port}" --baud {upload.speed}  --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash -z --flash_freq {build.flash_freq} --flash_mode {build.flash_mode} --flash_size {build.flash_size} 0x1000 "{runtime.platform.path}/tools/sdk/bin/bootloader.bin" 0x8000 "{build.path}/{build.project_name}.partitions.bin" 0xe000 "{runtime.platform.path}/tools/partitions/boot_app0.bin" 0x10000 "{build.path}/{build.project_name}.bin"
tools.esptool.upload.network_pattern={network_cmd} -i "{serial.port}" -p "{network.port}" "--auth={network.password}" -f "{build.path}/{build.project_name}.bin"

I also tryed to keep the boot button pressed during the upload. The upload happens but then the esp reboots and looks like nothing was uploaded.

Thanks in advance

[lanegg]

The issue is timing related to when the publish command is issued and when the boot button is pressed. I haven't nailed down exactly when things needs to be pressed, but I have had okay luck if I press the boot button while Arduino IDE is in the process of compiling the sketch. Its not 100%, but it works most of the time.

[bombix]

Hi,

Thanks for the tips, but unfortunaly i could get it to work after some trying several times... :/
Any sugestions?

[bombix]

I manage to upload pressint boot right when arduino ide starts uploading.
But after it in teh serial port i get

Code: Select all

rst:0x10 (RTCWDT_RTC_RESET),boot:0x13 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
configsip: 0, SPIWP:0x00
clk_drv:0x00,q_drv:0x00,d_drv:0x00,cs0_drv:0x00,hd_drv:0x00,wp_drv:0x00
mode:DIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fff0008,len:8
load:0x3fff0010,len:2016
load:0x40078000,len:7780
ho 0 tail 12 room 4
load:0x40080000,len:252
entry 0x40080034

Something isnt right...

[lanegg]

Try again with something like Blink. I think if an Arduino sketch seg faults you get that result and the core dump or stack trace is not piped to the terminal. At least one of the sketches I was trying had that behavior, and it was because something was crashing in the sketch.

[bombix]

Hi,

I manage to upload using platformIO.
Do you think is better to install a linux VM to use the esp32?

Thanks in advance