Firmware upgrade process for V5 Basic works based on built in usb bootloader. Vario/GPS board with connected USB cable and triggered bootloader will show up under PC as additional drive. Drive has limited capacity and will always show dummy firmware.bin file. We have to delete dummy firmware.bin file before copying new firmware file into vario/gps board. Name of the new firmware doesn’t matter, but it must have .bin extension. Also if we load wrong firmware into vario/gps board, nothing bad is going to happen. Vario/GPS board will not boot up and stay in bootloader mode.
There are two microUSB ports available. One is native for ebook reader (used for battery charging, files uploads/downloads, flying app upgrade). Second microUSB port is located next to the vario volume/configuration button. You can use PC, MAC or Android tablet (with usbotg cable) to establish connection with vario/gps board.
To check what is Your current vario/gps firmware version, You must enter Monitor screen under XCsoar/TopHat or Terminal screen under LK8000. You should be able to see incoming baro/gps data from vario/gps board. Hold vario volume button to enter vario configuration page. On the first top line, there will be info what current firmware version is loaded. Firmware versions are coded by month_subversion_year (for example v5a_2016 means, firmware from May,version alpha,year 2016)
To check what is Your hardware revision (rev1 or rev2) follow up this manual and after You connect vario/gps board into PC/MAC take a look into how large is CRP_DISABLD drive (this is internal vario/gps board flash memory capacity)
CRP_DISABLD with 64Kb is Rev1
CRP_DISABLD with 256Kb is Rev2
Click picture to zoom and open in new window.
Firmware upgrade process under PC or Android(with usbotg cable):
- Make sure V5 is turned OFF
- plug usb cable between vario/gps board and PC
- hold vario/gps volume button and power on V5 using ereader power on button (lk8000 or XCsoar, or TopHat will boot up)
- release vario/gps button
- vario/gps board is going to show under Your PC as tiny additional drive CRP_DISABLD (vario/gps at this moment is not sending or processing any data, it will not beep or react to button anymore)
- enter this drive and delete existing dummy firmware.bin file
- download suitable new firmware file from my website, there are 3 different firmware files available
- for old hardware version with dual baro sensors,
- new hardware with dualbaro version,
- new hardware with imu/baro version,
- copy new_firmware.bin into V5 CRP_DISBLD drive
- eject CRP_DISABLD drive from PC, and disconnect usb cable
- turn OFF V5 instrument (exit LK8000 or XCsoar or Tophat app), V5 should be powered OFF
- wait few seconds, and turn V5 device ON (usb cable should be unplugged)
- V5 has now new firmware loaded into vario/gps board
- because there were some issues related to slow data transfer, all new firmware (from June 2016) require baudrate speed change from 19200 to 115200kbs
- enter devices setting in the LK8000 or XCsoar or TopHat to change baudrate speed (click to zoom picture)
Firmware upgrade process under MAC:
Mac user interface (Finder file manager) handles files on external drives differently, and requires different approach. CRP_DISABLD drive is going to show under MAC, but deleting and copying new firmware file using drag and drop feauture will not work. File will be copied, but vario/gps board is not going to see the new firmware file. (this is because file is copied into higher CRP_DISABLD sectors).
We are forced to use Terminal app and delete old firmware.bin file and copy new firmware file manually.
- Make sure V5 is turned OFF
- plug usb cable between vario/gps board and MAC
- hold vario/gps volume button and power on V5 using ereader power on button (lk8000 or XCsoar, or TopHat will boot up)
- release vario/gps button
- vario/gps board is going to show under Your MAC as tiny additional drive CRP_DISABLD (vario/gps at this moment is not sending or processing any data, it will not beep or react to button anymore)
- open Terminal app (Applications > Utilities > Terminal)
- download suitable new firmware file from my website, there are 3 different firmware files available
- for old hardware version with dual baro sensors,
- new hardware with dualbaro version,
- new hardware with imu/baro version,
- access CRP_DISABLD drive using command line (type command and hit enter)
cd /Volumes/
cd CRP\ DISABLD/
- delete old firmware.bin file
rm firmware.bin
- copy new_firmware.bin into V5 CRP_DISBLD drive and check if new.bin file is the only file on CRP_DISABLD drive
cp ~/Downloads/V5BasicIMUBaroRev2_v7a_2016.bin new.bin
ls
- turn OFF V5 instrument (exit LK8000 or XCsoar or Tophat app), V5 should be powered OFF, disconnect USB cable
- wait few seconds, and turn V5 device ON (usb cable should be unplugged)
- V5 has now new firmware loaded into vario/gps board
- because there were some issues related to slow data transfer, all new firmware (from June 2016) require baudrate speed change from 19200 to 115200kbs
- enter devices setting in the LK8000 or XCsoar or TopHat to change baudrate speed (click to zoom picture)
Final notes:
I have notices on some PCs, MACs, that some apps (like antivirus apps, or drive managers for media files) are creating catalog files under any connected flash drive. Same happens with connected vario/gps CRP_DISABLD drive. If You notice that there are some other files created by windows or macos, please also delete them before copying new firmware file.
Some microUSB cable have very short plug. If You are not able to trigger usb bootloader, check different usb cable.
Vario/GPS when entering usb bootloader mode, will no beep, or make any sounds.