Cube Orange+ recognized as COM7 but Mission Planner shows no COM ports

Cube Autopilot
1

Hello,
I recently purchased a Cube Orange+ (Standard Set) from RobotShop. Windows Device Manager detects it as:

“Cube Orange+ Mavlink (COM7)”

…but Mission Planner shows no COM ports at all, and QGroundControl also cannot connect.

What I’ve tried:

  • Installed the STM32 driver (dpinst_amd64 from STM32CubeProgrammer “Win8” folder)

  • Installed Mission Planner via MSI (run as Administrator)

  • Tested on two different Windows laptops using known good USB cables

  • Tried multiple USB ports, changed COM numbers, rebooted, repeated tests

  • The Cube’s LED fast-blinks continuously

  • Device Manager always shows Cube Orange+ Mavlink (COM7), but MP’s COM dropdown is empty

What I’m looking for:

I’d appreciate guidance on basic troubleshooting steps to determine whether:

  1. This is a driver/firmware issue, or

  2. The cube may need replacement or servicing

Thank you,
Paul
Sundre, Alberta, Canada

2

It seems like the Cube might be in bootloader mode - try installing firmware without selecting a COM port in MissionPlanner.
Apart from that, the other symptoms are typical of a COM port conflict, like two devices both trying to use “COM7”

3

Hi Shawn,
Thanks for the guidance — much appreciated.

I tried the bootloader-mode approach you suggested.
Using the normal Load Firmware method in Mission Planner (with no COM port selected), the Cube Orange+ successfully accepted firmware and exited bootloader mode.

Windows now shows two ports:

  • Cube Orange+ Mavlink (COM8)

  • Cube Orange+ SLCAN (COM9)

At this point the Cube has no LEDs lit, which I believe is normal until it’s on a full carrier board.

Mission Planner still isn’t showing the COM ports, but the Cube itself appears to be in much better shape now.
I’ll continue testing once I have more time.

Thanks again — your help is appreciated.

4

Hi Shawn,

Just an update — your suggestion pointed me in the right direction. The Cube was indeed stuck in bootloader mode.

I used Mission Planner’s firmware upload (letting MP detect the board without selecting a COM port), and it successfully loaded ArduCopter onto the CubeOrange+.

Windows now shows:
Cube Orange+ Mavlink (COM8) and Cube Orange+ SLCAN (COM9),
and Mission Planner connects normally, downloads parameters, and behaves as expected.

Thanks very much for your help — greatly appreciated.

Paul