# Starnote+wifi card: Serial-over-i2c: unexpected protocol byte count **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [September 15, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288 "2025-09-15T15:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gomario2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@gomario2](https://discuss.blues.com/u/gomario2)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288/1 "2025-09-15T15:30:46Z")
```auto Hi - I'm testing w/ starnote and quickly hooked up a ESP32 Adafruit Feather V2 to the XS QWIIC to the QWIIC connector on the esp32, SDA <-> SDA SCL<->SCL GND<->GND I issue a notecard.begin call and I'm seeing : [ERROR] serial-over-i2c: unexpected protocol byte count {io} The library on the host side is blues notecard 1.7.1 ``` I saw in a post that it was mentioned this error may have been fixed in FW 9.2.3 v which I am running. What did I do wrong ? ---
**Author:** ![zfields](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/zfields/32/29_2.png) [@zfields](https://discuss.blues.com/u/zfields)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288/3 "2025-09-15T15:36:05Z")
Hi @gomario2 , Would you mind sharing a quick photo, and the relevant setup section of your code? Also, the section of the code where you setup the Note and send it. Cheers, Zak ---
**Author:** ![gomario2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@gomario2](https://discuss.blues.com/u/gomario2)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288/4 "2025-09-15T16:46:53Z")
![20250915_094242](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/blues/original/2X/d/d3a548cf96bf52caad9c634f24eedcb45c6b9b23.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![gomario2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@gomario2](https://discuss.blues.com/u/gomario2)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288/5 "2025-09-15T16:51:40Z")
As for the notecard , I just call Notecard notecard; notecard.begin() The code is part of a much larger product which is running fine w/ the cellcard only solution. I’ll break it out to a very simple loop. My 1st thoughts on this was I had old FW ( notecard fw or the api ) . \* I did a I2C scan and it came back w/ addresses 0x17 and 0x6A , not sure why there are 2 addresses , I expected only 1 Also, in the pick the USB is connected to the XS board as well as the host mcu. ---
**Author:** ![gomario2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@gomario2](https://discuss.blues.com/u/gomario2)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288/6 "2025-09-15T19:55:17Z")
As for the notecard , I just call Notecard notecard; notecard.begin() The code is part of a much larger product which is running fine w/ the cellcard only solution. I’ll break it out to a very simple loop. My 1st thoughts on this was I had old FW ( notecard fw or the api ) . \* I did a I2C scan and it came back w/ addresses 0x17 and 0x6A , not sure why there are 2 addresses , I expected only 1 Also, in the pick the USB is connected to the XS board as well as the host mcu. _ **UPDATE** _\*\*\*\*\*\*\* I switched the wifi card for a cellcard and it worked. Also, I had to change some things in my code due to the Adafruit Feather is a esp32-pico-mini vs esp32S3 I use in production. I don’t use WiFi in our solution so sat+cell is where I’m headed anyways. Thanks for listening to me walk through this 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zfields](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/zfields/32/29_2.png) [@zfields](https://discuss.blues.com/u/zfields)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288/7 "2025-09-16T13:52:34Z")
I’m glad I was able to be instrumental in your success! 🤣 All kidding aside, I’m glad you are up and running, and thanks for reporting. We will try to replicate your issue with the Wi-Fi Notecard. Cheers, Zak ---
**Author:** ![zfields](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/zfields/32/29_2.png) [@zfields](https://discuss.blues.com/u/zfields)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288/8 "2025-09-16T14:12:32Z")
@gomario2 I have a follow-up for you. The Note ESP is the only Notecard without pull-ups on the I2C lines, and from what I can tell from the [ESP32 Adafruit Feather V2 Schematic](https://learn.adafruit.com/assets/109518) it doesn’t either. This would explain the odd address, 0x6A, as well as the protocol error. I would imagine, if you added pull-ups or any generic Qwiic peripheral from Adafruit, it would behave better. Again, thanks for reporting, because now there is help for the next person to find. All the best, Zak ---
**Author:** ![gomario2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@gomario2](https://discuss.blues.com/u/gomario2)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/starnote-wifi-card-serial-over-i2c-unexpected-protocol-byte-count/3288/9 "2025-09-17T19:46:48Z")
Thanks thats a great observation – I have a custom board w/blues and will also check that schematic because that board is working great.