Issue reading certificate from Toniebox (CC3200)

Toniebox Hardware CC3200 (V1, V2)
1

Hi everyone,

We’ve been trying to read out the certificate from a Toniebox (Model CC3200) for several weeks now.

Python, Pip, git, and the cc3200 tool are all installed, along with the drivers for the UART adapter. The box was connected to the PC as follows:

IMG_0298
IMG_02982481×1749 143 KB

The Toniebox showed a solid green light and did not play the startup melody, so I assume it successfully entered UART mode.

However, as soon as I try to execute the first command to read it out:

C:\>cc3200tool -p COM3 --reset dtr read_flash ExtractedFromBox/backup.bin
2026-01-02 21:13:22,500 -- Connecting to target...
2026-01-02 21:13:24,821 -- timed out while waiting for ack
2026-01-02 21:13:27,027 -- timed out while waiting for ack
2026-01-02 21:13:29,243 -- timed out while waiting for ack
2026-01-02 21:13:31,471 -- timed out while waiting for ack
2026-01-02 21:13:33,685 -- timed out while waiting for ack
2026-01-02 21:13:33,690 -- Could not connect to target: Did not get ACK on break condition

I have already tried the following troubleshooting steps:

• Used a different PC.

• Used a power charging cable instead of the battery.

• Checked resistors and continuity of the connection using a multimeter.

• Tried a different adapter (First: AZDelivery Kompatibel mit FT232RL USB zu TTL Serial Adapter für 3,3V und 5V kompatibel mit Arduino inklusive E-Book!: Amazon.de: Computer & Zubehör , Second: elecTricky - DIY Parts | FT232 USB-TTL-Serial-Adapter | online kaufen ).

• Tried different wiring setups (breadboards, female jumper wires with stripped ends connected directly to the adapter and the clip shown above).

• Connected SOP2 to VCC on the adapter.

Oddly enough, one time when I accidentally connected VCC to TMS, I actually got a some kind of connection, but I haven’t been able to reproduce this since.

C:\Users\Nathalie>cc3200tool -p COM3 --reset dtr read_flash backup.bin
2025-12-12 15:23:01,607 -- Connecting to target...
2025-12-12 15:23:05,365 -- Connected, reading version...
2025-12-12 15:23:13,843 -- timed out while waiting for ack
2025-12-12 15:23:13,843 -- Could not connect to target: No ack for packet opcode=0x2f

Thanks for trying to help.

2

Did you try manual reset instead of dtr reset?

3

I tried manual reset with both UART programmers, but still got “timed out while waiting for ack”

4

How did you connect the uart with your pc? Directly? USB hub? Tried all available usb ports directly?

5

the Uart programmers both have an Usb mini port, so I connected the Uart with a short usb mini to Usb A cable to the pc and even tried an other cable.

And I’ve tried all the Usb ports of the pc.

6

Hi everyone,

I finally managed to get it working. The problem was a combination of hardware and software.

Software: It turned out that the cc3200tool was apparently not installed correctly.

Out of desperation, we installed the entire package (Python, PIP, Git) again on a third PC. In doing so, I noticed that Git had not been correctly added to the PATH. I added this manually and then installed the cc3200tool. After that, we connected everything and lo and behold… we could finally read the files!

After it worked on that PC, I checked the PATH on the first PC and, sure enough, the PATH for Git was missing there as well. After I updated the PATH, I completely deleted the cc3200tool from the PC and reinstalled it via Git-CMD. Now it works on that PC too.

I admit I don’t know what the Git PATH has to do with the correct installation of the cc3200tool, but I can only report that this is how I was able to solve the problem.

Regarding Hardware: We performed the successful readout using the CP2102 Adapter [Link] (even without a battery). After this worked, we wanted to test the other adapters as well.

I hope our odyssey helps someone else if they run into similar problems.
And thank you verry much @henryk for trying to help.

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