How to connect Vex Microcontroller to Vex Joystick

Below is a guide to teach you how to connect Vex Microcontroller to Vex Joystick.

1. Make sure that your Microcontroller is OFF.
2. Using a Vex USB A to A Cable, connect 1 end to the Microcontroller, and the other end to the computer.
3. Turn ON the microcontroller.
4. Open up ROBOTC for Vex Robotics 4.x.
5. Under "View", select ROBOTC preferences and detailed preferences.
6. Then, select "Platform".
7. Click on the drop-down menu that says "Platform Type".
8. Choose "Vex Robotics", then "Vex 2.0 Cortex".
9. Click on "Change Port".
10. Choose the port that says "Vex Robotics Comm Port" and click "OK".
11. Click "Apply" on the ROBOTC preferences window, then click "OK".
12. Under "Robot", choose "VEX Cortex Communication Mode", then "VEXnet or USB".
13. Under "Robot", choose "Platform Type", then "VEX 2.0 Cortex".
14. Under "Robot", choose "Platform Type", then "VEX Robotics", then "VEX 2.0 Cortex".
15. Under  "Robot", choose "Download Firmware", then "Automatically Update VEX Cortex".
16. If the Microcontroller is fully updated, acknowledge the pop-up window, if not, continue with the update.
17. Open "VEXnet Upgrade Utility".
18. Next to "Default Code", click the button so that is says "ON".
19. Click "Download Default".
20. Unplug the Microcontroller and turn it OFF.
21. Plug the cable into the VEX joystick. It should be OFF.
22. Under "View", select ROBOTC preferences, and detailed preferences.
23. Then, select "Platform".
24. Select "Change Port"
25.  Choose the port that says "Vex Robotics Comm Port" and click "OK".
26. Click "Apply" on the ROBOTC preferences window, then click "OK".
27. Under  "Robot", choose "Download Firmware", then "Automatically Update VEXnet Joystick".
28. If the joystick is fully updated, acknowledge the pop-up window, if not, continue with the update.
29. Unplug the joystick
30. Connect the VEXnet Key to both the joystick and the microcontroller, 1 each.
31. Turn them both on and wait a few seconds, until the lights on both devices are green.
32. Congratulations! Now you can control your robot using the VEX joystick!

Set Up the Programming Environment

Once you finished building your first Robot, you are ready to set up the programming environment such that you can start program your robot. The following important document and Wiki link will help you set up the communication between your laptop and your Cortex microcontroller such that your group can formally kick off the programming project.

Using the VEX Cortex with ROBOTC 
Getting Started with the VEX Cortex Wiki

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