New ROCK64 doesn't boot

[evilbunny]

I've already tested these images. The same results:

All 3 leds on
Ethernet led on

And nothing happens: no hdmi output, no dhcp requests....

Thanks

What is the url to the image you flashed to sdcard?

[p3ntium]

I've already tested these images. The same results:

All 3 leds on
Ethernet led on

And nothing happens: no hdmi output, no dhcp requests....

Thanks

What is the url to the image you flashed to sdcard?

From Armbian, I've flashed this: https://dl.armbian.com/rock64/Ubuntu_xenial_default.7z
and this: https://dl.armbian.com/rock64/Debian_str...desktop.7z

[Rocklobster]

Just a complete long shot but is your power supply good. Is it giving out the correct amperage. All I can think of at this is a faulty SD card reader on the board or a faulty board.

[Z80]

Double check to make sure your microSD card is fully inserted and CLICK-LOCKING INTO PLACE.

The Rock64 uses a push to lock, push to release microSD socket, similar to the old Raspberry Pi 2, but MUCH STIFFER (becomes easier after a few times, but takes a fairly good push the first time around).

Because of this it's easy for someone familiar with the newer Pi 3's light friction fit microSD to think they have the card inserted, when it's actually NOT MAKING CONTACT AT ALL.

May seem really silly, but did bite me for about 5 minutes when I tried the Rock64 for the first time.

[pfeerick]

Always it's hard like this? I mean, I have a lot of raspberries pi 3 and all boot at first time after burn the image with etcher.
With this board (Rock64), after my experience and other posts I've read, it seems that the Rock64 is hard to get a stable boot...

It's very frustrating...

No, not always. Just when people use the development images when there are changes being tested which result in their boards not working, or use cards that the rock64 doesn't like (neither of which issues the raspberry pi are immune to... just they don't happen as often as it's a more mature board and community), things don't work well

So, like rockcklobster suggested, if you can, check and make sure your power supply is working properly - the right voltage is between 5.0  & 5.2 volts (it should drop nearer to 5.0 under load). And also as Z80 said, double check the microSD socket to make sure it is going in properly.

If you've got your usb serial set at 1.5M (1500000) baud, and are not getting any output with 6 (GND) and 8 (usbserial-RX) (don't worry about 10/TX for now - especially as power from the TX connection can stop the rock64 booting cleanly) and an image such as bionic-minimal-rock64-0.6.44-239-arm64.img.xz doesn't work or give any output at all, then it's most likely 1) a microSD card mismatch (have you tried a Samsung EVO card yet?) 2) a power supply fault 3) your usbserial can't cope with a 1.5M baud rate or 4) the board is DOA and needs to be replaced.

[p3ntium]

Hi all! Good news
First, thanks to all for the responses.

Finally, it seems a problem with the voltage. I've used a 5v 2.5A (5.02v effective) power adapter, and it wasn't work. Now, I've replaced with a 5.2v 2.6A (5.11v effective) power adapter and it works always, and with all images.

Thanks again!

[Z80]

Hi all! Good news
First, thanks to all for the responses.

Finally, it seems a problem with the voltage. I've used a 5v 2.5A (5.02v effective) power adapter, and it wasn't work. Now, I've replaced with a 5.2v 2.6A (5.11v effective) power adapter and it works always, and with all images.

Thanks again!

Glad you got it sorted out and were able to get your Rock64 up and running!

From an engineering prospective, the 5.02 volts should have been just fine so most likely you got bit by something else like the power supply's ripple and noise spec.

A lot of power supplies designed as 'quick chargers' are pretty noisy, and this can be a big issue when powering a system with more stringent ripple and noise limits.

Hopefully, for future prospective Rock64 users, your experience will help them avoid problems.

Price wise, the official 3A power supply is quite a bargain, and should help avoid these kinds of issues.

[pfeerick]

Hi all! Good news

Great to hear it's working! Have fun now that your New Toy is playing ball

From an engineering prospective, the 5.02 volts should have been just fine so most likely you got bit by something else like the power supply's ripple and noise spec.

My experience is the biggist killer is the noise/ripple, and the voltage sag with load, which is made worse by overly long leads, too thin a wire guage and crappy connectors. Hence the move away from the microUSB connector (1.8A max rating and crappy connectors at the best of times), and bumping the voltage up to 5.2v to overcome voltage sag.

[Rocklobster]

My long shot wasn't that long after all. The recommended power supply of 3ah 5v to power the Rock64 assumes that it delivers what it says it does. I have an old ip camera power supply delivering 2ah 5v powering my Rock64 without any problem. The quality of the windings in a power supply can vary greatly depending on build quality. Obviously your original power supply wasn't up to the job in hand.

Glad to see you finally got it sorted out. After trying so many images I suspected your problem lay in the hardware and not in the software. Now you can get on and enjoy your Rock64.