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AudioMoth not recognized by computer

Hello,

I have a set of AudioMoths that I've borrowed from someone. They have been used in the field before. All of the units but one will properly read when plugged into my computer, and I can flash them and configure them.

One device does not get read by my computer as an AudioMoth when plugged in, and can not be detected by the flash and configuration apps as a result. Here's what a functional AudioMoth and the broken AudioMoth look like when detected by my computer:

The broken one is not recognized as an AudioMoth. I noticed that the driver is different - the broken device has driver

"usbser" instead of "winusb". I tried to manually change the driver and it wouldn't let me.

I read similar posts on this forum where this issue occurs, but in those examples the device was flagged with an error sign, and the driver could be updated. I searched for new drivers and none were found. The device can be flashed when using the paperclip trick, but will still not be recognized by the configuration app. When plugged in without the paperclip trick, both red and green lights are flashing, once per second.

Any advice on how to fix this issue?

Thanks,

Amanda

6 comments

6 Comments

Amanda Zak

Apr 15

Did some more testing and am coming back to this.

When testing the unit, the red light blinks quickly regardless of mode, and was recording clips even when in USB/off. I could get the solid red/flashing green in custom mode if I pressed the switch inward, but upon releasing it went back to blinking red. So yeah, looks like the switch is broken!

Alex Rogers

Apr 15

Replying to

Yes, sounds like the switch. There are a few threads on repairing the switch:

https://www.openacousticdevices.info/support/device-support/simple-audiomoth-switch-repair?origin=notification Alternatively, you could put the AudioMoth USB Microphone firmware on to make live recordings. This doesn't need to use the switch.

Alex Rogers

Apr 08

Is the switch in DEFAULT? That’s the only way it would immediately try to make a recording and then show an SD card write error - flashing red and green LED together. If you switch to CUSTOM you should get a continuous red and flashing green LED.

Otherwise the switch may be broken so it is in DEFAULT all the time. Try switching it back and forwards a bit.

Edited

Amanda Zak

Apr 11

Replying to

I'll need to revisit this after my sd cards arrive next week. I'll check back in after I can do some testing. Thanks for the help!

Alex Rogers

Apr 08

Hi, That's quite strange. Does the flash process seem to proceed as normal when you launch it into the bootloader mode with the paperclip? When it is appearing as a USB serial devices, does the Flash App connect to it and allow you to reflash the firmware?

To appear as a serial device for AudioMoth needs to be running and the USB interface is working fine. The only way it should appear as a USB serial device is if it is starting in the bootloader, which only happens if the PROG pins as connected together on power-up, or if the firmware is complete absent. Neither seem to be the case here. Alex

Amanda Zak

Apr 08

Replying to

When I do NOT use the paperclip, the red and green lights flash continuously and the device is not recognized by my computer at all.

When I do use the paperclip, the computer sees it as:

And the flash app recognizes a device in serial flash mode:

It flashes normally, and it did successfully update to 1.11.0. After the flash completes and the device restarts, though, it disappears from the flash app and from my computer again, and the red and green lights begin flashing. So yes, it does appear to flash normally when being read as a USB serial device (as far as I can tell!).

"The only way it should appear as a USB serial device is if it is starting in the bootloader, which only happens if the PROG pins as connected together on power-up..."

It is only appearing as a USB serial device when I use a paperclip to start it up in bootloader mode, as otherwise it just doesn't appear at all. Hopefully I'm understanding this right :)

Edited