# "Ping device failed to initialise" using ping-arduino

**URL:** <https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/ping-device-failed-to-initialise-using-ping-arduino/9352>\
**Category:** Ping Sonar Devices\
**Tags:** ping\
**Created:** [March 26, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/ping-device-failed-to-initialise-using-ping-arduino/9352 "2021-03-26T11:21:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 6

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**Author:** ![EliotBR](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/eliotbr/32/6937_2.png) [@EliotBR](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/EliotBR)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 7:14am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/ping-device-failed-to-initialise-using-ping-arduino/9352/6 "2021-07-20T07:14:47Z")

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@Josh1977

I’ve spoken with our software team and apparently the reasoning for using 9600 baud is that Arduino Software Serial can have issues going much faster than that, especially when there’s much other code running. We’re planning to update our Arduino examples to work correctly with our latest `Ping_V3.28_auto.hex` firmware (enabling both 9600 and 115200 baud without needing to change firmware), and change our documentation to say that 115200 baud is possible, but not recommended unless on Hardware Serial.

See the following GitHub Issue for progress:

> <https://github.com/bluerobotics/ping-arduino/issues/29>
>
> Currently this library doesn't support our latest firmware (\`Ping\_V3.28\_auto.hex…\`), so users wanting to use Software serial generally need to downgrade their firmware to get it working, or use 115200 baud at the risk of communication reliability issues.
> 
> \- \[x\] @patrickelectric has mentioned it should just require sending alternating \`10101010...\` for a while on startup, if the baud isn't 115200. Not sure if this only handles 9600 or if it's also possible to use other bauds in between. 
> 
> \- \[x\] If production doesn't already flash and ship with 3.28 then that should be changed.
> 
> This should reduce issues like #27 and #19, and other similar problems from people not reading or understanding our \[Ping with Arduino guide\](https://bluerobotics.com/learn/using-the-ping-sonar-with-an-arduino/#change-the-baudrate-to-9600).
> 
> \- \[x\] Once this is complete we should update that guide and our example code and docs to be more clear that 9600 baud is \_recommended\_ for Software Serial, and other bauds are possible but "at user's risk", unless using Hardware Serial, in which case 115200 should work without issues.

In the meantime, if 115200 is working without issues for you then you’re welcome to continue using it, but if it is having some problems then I’d recommend either

1. changing to an Arduino with additional hardware serial ports (e.g. Arduino Mega), and using hardware serial instead of software serial OR
2. connecting your Ping to your computer via a [BLUART](https://bluerobotics.com/store/comm-control-power/tether-interface/bluart-r1-rp/) (or some other USB to TTL Serial converter), and [updating the firmware](https://docs.bluerobotics.com/ping-viewer/firmware-update) to `Ping_V3.27_9600b.hex`, after which you should be able to use 9600 baud software serial in your Arduino script. (Detailed instructions with screenshots [here](https://bluerobotics.com/learn/using-the-ping-sonar-with-an-arduino/#change-the-baudrate-to-9600))

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