iTop Skywalker V2 setup

Before you start

Four quick checks before you plug anything in:

1. Install the Roastline desktop app (the Electron build) — not the browser-only simulator.
2. Use a data-capable USB cable. Charge-only cables will not work.
3. Install the correct USB-serial driver so your computer shows a port (step 2 below).
4. Close Artisan or any other app that might already be using the serial port.

1 · Identify your USB chip

iTop Skywalker V2 uses a USB-to-serial chip inside the cable/board. Most Skywalker units use the CH340, which Roastline auto-detects. Find yours, then install its driver below.

Windows — open Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT) (or Other devices if the driver is missing), then Properties → Details → Device instance path and read the VID_XXXX&PID_YYYY. A CH340 shows USB\VID_1A86&PID_7523\….

macOS — list connected serial devices in Terminal:

2 · Install the driver

macOS (CH340 / WCH)

1. Install WCH CH341SER for Mac.
2. Replug USB. If prompted, allow the driver in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
3. Confirm a call-out port exists — use /dev/cu.*, not /dev/tty.*, e.g. /dev/cu.wchusbserial2120 or /dev/cu.usbserial-2120.

Roastline accepts small naming differences (with or without a hyphen before the number).

Windows (CH340 / WCH)

1. Install WCH CH341SER. Reboot if prompted, then replug USB.
2. In Device Manager you should see USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM4) with VID_1A86&PID_7523.
3. Do not install FTDI drivers if Device Manager shows VID_1A86 — that is a CH340.

Check available ports in PowerShell:

Linux

1. Most modern kernels already include the ch341 / ftdi_sio modules. If yours doesn't, install the WCH CH341SER for Linux driver.
2. Add your user to the dialout group, then log out and back in:

Then check for /dev/ttyUSB* or /dev/ttyACM*.

3 · Connect over USB

This is the usual path when the roaster is plugged in with USB.

1. Open the device picker → iTop Skywalker V2.
2. Expand Connection & settings (advanced).
3. Under Connection, select USB serial — not Bluetooth (AKROASTER).
4. Serial port → Refresh, then pick your WCH port — e.g. /dev/cu.wchusbserial2120 (macOS) or COM4 (Windows). Your choice is saved automatically.
5. (Optional) Turn on Allow machine control to send burner / air / drum commands. It's off by default — the session stays read-only until you enable and save it.
6. Click Save, then press Start.

4 · Verify the connection

Open View → Console Log (Cmd+Shift+L on macOS, Ctrl+Shift+L on Windows). A good USB connect looks like:

Turn on Tools → Serial Debug Logging to see the raw traffic. Readings should come back as a comma-separated temperature line on the USB path (not /dev/cu.AKROASTER):

Adjusting burner to 10%, air to 25%, and drum to 80% should send:

5 · Connect over Bluetooth

Use Bluetooth only when you're not using USB for this session.

macOS

1. Pair the roaster in System Settings → Bluetooth.
2. In Roastline, choose Bluetooth (AKROASTER) → Start. The port /dev/cu.AKROASTER is auto-detected.

Windows

1. Pair in Settings → Bluetooth & devices.
2. Note the outgoing COM port (its name contains "Bluetooth").
3. In Roastline, choose Bluetooth (AKROASTER) → Serial port → Refresh → pick the Bluetooth COM → Start.

Troubleshooting

Skywalker V1 vs V2 reference

Both share the same TC4 telemetry (READ, CHAN, UNITS, FILT). The difference is in machine control: V1 uses semicolons and named commands; V2 uses commas and OT output channels.

Takeaway: V1 drum is on/off only — any slider value above 0% sends DRUM;100. V2 controls the drum speed directly with OT3,{value}.

Milestone events are the same on both (standard TC4 EVT numbers): Charge EVT,1, Turning point EVT,2, Dry end EVT,3, First crack start EVT,4, First crack end EVT,5, Second crack start EVT,6, Drop EVT,8.