Loading from Arduino to USB Module fails: A fatal esptool.py error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP8266: Timed out waiting for packet head

Hi All, newbie Bittle owner here.

I am hitting issue loading the sketch to my wifi module via the usb module.

Have checked all versions of boards and libraries.

Have successfully loaded sketch to an M5StickCPlus.

I do have an M1 Macbook but have installed the Apple Silicon version of the Arduino IDE and this has worked for M5Stick as above.

I do NOT have the wifi connected to nyboard while loading from IDE... just laptop usb to usb adaptor to wifi module.

USB adaptor lights all come on as expected but I do see a yellow light flashing when first connected and also when trying to load (flashes are sometimes blue sometimes yellow).

I suspect a faulty USB module as this has been noted on other threads and also a work peer who has worked with Bittles.

Any other investigations before I blame the hardware? I have a conference demo in two weeks so this is getting fine given time to deliver to Australia for new hardware! Many thanks

. Variables and constants in RAM (global, static), used 29392 / 80192 bytes (36%)

║ SEGMENT BYTES DESCRIPTION

╠══ DATA 1616 initialized variables

╠══ RODATA 1848 constants

╚══ BSS 25928 zeroed variables

. Instruction RAM (IRAM_ATTR, ICACHE_RAM_ATTR), used 60083 / 65536 bytes (91%)

║ SEGMENT BYTES DESCRIPTION

╠══ ICACHE 32768 reserved space for flash instruction cache

╚══ IRAM 27315 code in IRAM

. Code in flash (default, ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR), used 369984 / 1048576 bytes (35%)

║ SEGMENT BYTES DESCRIPTION

╚══ IROM 369984 code in flash

esptool.py v3.0

Serial port /dev/cu.usbserial-11330

Connecting........_____....._____....._____....._____....._____....._____....._____

A fatal esptool.py error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP8266: Timed out waiting for packet header