Wow Nicolson looks like you've taken a Delorean trip to the future and you were able to get EZ-B firmware version 85!!! Very weird. With your USB to serial adapter try doing a firmware update to v12, the firmware updater comes with the ARC download, look for it in your programs under "EZ-Builder"

DJ even has a small tutorial on updating your EZ-B firmware.

P.S. I hope that you are using a USB-TTL serial adapter, as normal serial communication from a COM port is 7-12V and will most likely damage the PIC chip, where as TTL level serial is usually in the 5V range which is ok for the PIC chip (even voltage levels at 3V should still be OK).

Thanks sater_j10 for your feedback. I did try to update the firmware using the USB to serial adapter. Here's a video showing what happened:

What speed does the USB to serial adapter work at can you alter this parameter? I doubt the firmware is V85 for what you are trying to do you need to know bit rate, parity etc to communicate correctly with the PIC chip. Good luck

Yes winstn60, I have full access to alter this parameter. The actual parameter is: 9600 bits per second, 8 data bits, parity None, stop bits 1, flow control None. Do you know the matching parameter for the PIC chip?

Well I don't know actually

It could be 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200, 230400, 460800, 921600, and 1382400

I stumbled across what looks like the bluetooth module used on the EZ-B

clicky

Suggest you try 9600 and then go up in stages and see if you get more sensible results you. The original settings look to be 115200, N, 8, 1 from this data sheet

If this doesn't work I suggest you need a new EZ-B board

Thanks winstn60 for keeping in touch. There is a way to find out the exact parameter: please go on your computer to control panel, device manager, expand "Ports (COM and LPT), double click on the standard serial over bluetooth link COM port for your bluetooth connection, then click on the port settings tab, you should see the exact parameter.

Yeah I'm pretty sure that it's 9600 baud. It seems to me that you may have to get your PIC chip re-flashed the firmware seems quite messed (i.e. V85 showing up). DJ should be able to do it for you when he gets back from Vacation, or else you might be able ship your EZ-B back to Solarbotics if you purchased it from us and we can always quickly re-flash it for you. (Be aware that we ship ground when sending stuff back so it may take a little while).

Thanks skater_j10, yes I bought the EZ-B from this website. I will ship it back to you today, would you please let me know the address? don't worry about the shipping cost, I am willing to pay to get the EZ-B back fast.

It has been a frustrating week, many of my friends are desapointed, some are talking about $100 dollars scam! But me personally I don't think the EZ-B is a scam: to many of you guys in this forum seem to be happy with it and too much had been put in both the board and the software. The EZ-B is a master piece, it's the best way to build real robots.

Thank you all for your support.

Nick