How do I know if my Finch Robot 1 is connected to my computer?

If you have a successful connection to your Finch 1 the LED in the Finch 1’s nose will blink in rainbow colors for a few seconds. If the LED didn’t turn rainbow colors, your USB connection is not working.

You might have a bad connection through your USB cord. This is especially a risk when using newer MacBooks that only have a Thunderbolt port. If you are using a dongle to go from Thunderbolt to USB, see our suggested dongle page. If your dongle does not appear on this list, it may not be compatible with the Finch 1.

To test your USB connection:

• Disconnect the USB cord from the Finch 1, your computer, and any adapters. Count to 10. Securely reconnect the USB to your Finch 1 and computer. If that doesn't help then:
• Try a different USB port on your computer. If that doesn't help then:
• Try using a different USB cord. If this works, you had a bad USB cord. If this is the case, let us know and we may be able to replace your USB cord if it is still covered under warranty!

Note: A flashing beak does NOT mean you are successfully connected through software, merely that the Finch 1 has power, and that the USB connection is good. The software itself should tell you when it has established a connection with the Finch 1.

If your Finch 1 was working but then seemed to disconnect

• Save your work and close the programming software you’re using. 
• Disconnect the Finch 1 from USB.
• Reopen the programming software.
• Re-run your program. If it works, then the issue was probably a software glitch.