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  4. Connect to the Brain

Connecting to the Console Serial Port in Web-Based VEXcode V5

To print to the Console in web-based VEXcode V5, a connection to the Console Serial Port is needed. This second port is needed because the first serial port links the V5 Brain to the device for project downloads from a browser.

Note: To print to the Console, the V5 Brain must stay connected to the device via a USB cable while using the Console Serial Port.

VEXcode V5 Print Console that is unavailable and shows a message that reads Console Serial port is currently not connected. Please connect to the Console Serial Port to use the Print Console. There is a link to Learn More below.

If the Console Serial Port is not connected, the Print Console in VEXcode V5 will show as unavailable.

Connecting to the Console Serial Port

V5 Brain with its Power button highlighted.

Ensure the V5 Battery is charged and is connected to the V5 Brain.

Turn on the Brain by pressing the Power button on the Brain.

Brain connected to a laptop computer using a micro-USB cable.

Connect the V5 Brain to your device using the Micro-USB cable.

VEXcode V5 with the Brain dropdown menu opened and a Brain already connected. The Console Serial Port status is Disconnected, and the button below reads Connect Console Serial Port.

Ensure the V5 Brain is connected to the device via the first web-serial port. For more information on this connection process, view the article for your device:

The Brain icon should be green and the Brain name/Team number should appear.

VEXcode V5 Toolbar with the green Brain icon highlighted, indicating that the Brain is connected.

Once the Brain is connected to the first web-serial port, select the green Brain icon again.

VEXcode V5 with the Brain dropdown menu opened and a Brain already connected. The Console Serial Port status is Disconnected, and the button below is highlighted and reads Connect Console Serial Port.

Select Connect Console Serial Port.

macOS/Chromebook

VEXcode V5 Browser Connection prompt for macOS or Chromebook that reads Your browser will now attempt to connect to your V5 Brain's Console Serial Port. On the browser connection prompt, please select the item labeled VEX Robotics V5 Brain with the higher ID number and press Connect on the connection prompt. There is a link for More Information below. There are also two buttons below, one reads Cancel and the other reads Continue. The Continue button is highlighted.

Windows

VEXcode V5 Browser Connection prompt for Windows that reads Your browser will now attempt to connect to your V5 Brain's user port. On the browser connection prompt, please select the item labeled VEX Robotics User Port and press Connect on the connection prompt. There is a link for More Information below. There are also two buttons below, one reads Cancel and the other reads Continue. The Continue button is highlighted.

Select each image above to enlarge.

A prompt will appear based on your device. Select Continue.

macOS/Chromebook

macOS or Chromebook browser connection window, with two items titled VEX Robotics V5 Brain. One item is already paired and has an ID number of 2101, and the other has an ID number of 2103. The item with the ID of 2103 is highlighted.

Windows

Windows browser connection window with two listed items. The first item reads Vex Robotics User Port, and the second reads Vex Robotics Communications Port and it is already paired. The item titled Vex Robotics User Port is highlighted.

Select each image above to enlarge.

  • macOS/Chromebook: Select the V5 Brain with the HIGHEST ID number from the list of Brains available. The lowest ID number will already be paired.
  • Windows: Select User Port. The Communications Port will already be paired.

macOS/Chromebook

macOS or Chromebook browser connection window, with the item with the ID number of 2103 selected. Below, the Connect button is highlighted.

Windows

Windows browser connection window with the item reading Vex Robotics User Port selected. The Connect button below is highlighted.

Select each image above to enlarge.

Select Connect once your choice is highlighted.

VEXcode V5 with the Brain dropdown menu opened and a Brain connected. The Console Serial Port status reads Connected and it is highlighted.

Once the connection is successful, the Console Serial Port will display as Connected. The Print Console will now be available for use.

Disconnecting from the Console Serial Port

Brain now disconnected from the laptop computer's micro-USB cable.

To disconnect your device from a V5 Brain, unplug the Micro-USB cable from your device or the V5 Brain.

V5 Brain with its Power button highlighted.

You can also disconnect a V5 Brain from web-based VEXcode V5 by turning the Brain off.

Turn the Brain off by holding the Power button until the screen on the Brain goes black.

VEXcode V5 with the Brain dropdown menu opened and no Brain connected.

Both of the methods above will disconnect the V5 Brain from both web-serial ports, showing the V5 Brain icon as white.

For more information, help, and tips, check out the many resources at VEX Professional Development Plus

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