Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

MMDVM_HS Hat hardware
G4ZAL
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:14 pm

Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by G4ZAL »

I have just bought a Chinese jumbospot clone with OLED (board is not marked with type or version).
It does work, but I want to check it upgrades before leaving feedback.

In pi-star -> Expert -> SSH I use:
sudo pistar-findmodem (and it returns)
Detected MMDVM_HS (GPIO): /dev/ttyAMA0 (MMDVM_HS_Hat-v1.4.17 20190529 14.7456MHz ADF7021 FW by CA6JAU GitID #cc451c4)

When trying to update (or downgrade) with command:
sudo pistar-mmdvmhshatflash hs_hat (or sudo pistar-mmdvmhshatdowngrade hs_hat)
it downloads data from the internet, gets so far along and then returns this...

stm32flash Arduino_STM32_0.9

http://github.com/rogerclarkmelbourne/arduino_stm32

Using Parser : Raw BINARY
Interface serial_posix: 57600 8E1
Version : 0x22
Option 1 : 0x00
Option 2 : 0x00
Device ID : 0x0410 (Medium-density)
- RAM : 20KiB (512b reserved by bootloader)
- Flash : 128KiB (sector size: 4x1024)
- Option RAM : 16b
- System RAM : 2KiB
Write to memory
Erasing memory
Got NACK from device on command 0x43
Can't initiate chip erase!
Failed to erase memory

Resetting device... done.

No matter what I try, I cannot get it to upgrade or downgrade and the schematic checks out OK?!

Is it something I am doing wrong or...?

Nigel
G4ZAL
G4ZAL
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:14 pm

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by G4ZAL »

Thanks for your reply, it makes sense now.
I may have an stlink programmer and if not a friend will.
It probably won't be neccessary to upgrade it, but I would like it to be easy to do so, it's all part of the fun for me.

The ebay advert described it as "The firmware is pre-loaded and is easily upgraded via software."
I will contact the seller and see what their response is to it being locked ;-)
Maybe I can get something out of them ?!
I'm not too concerned as it was only 15GBP delivered from the UK within a few days (including OLED).

I bought it to try out digital radio without too much cost and I also bought a Radioddity GD-77 which should arrive today so hope to be able to have a play... maybe hack the GD-77 with opengd77...

I checked the jumbospot's output against an SDR and it is nearly 2kHz low in frequency - now there's a surprise!

Regards,

Nigel
G4ZAL
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:14 pm

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by G4ZAL »

Well my ebay seller responded with a confirmation that the jumbospot is locked but "it is easy to unlock by software" (pic attached) !!
Yeah, right....

It does work fine but I'm haggling with them now, just for the hell of it ;-)

locked1.jpg
locked1.jpg (111.59 KiB) Viewed 8776 times
G4ZAL
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:14 pm

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by G4ZAL »

OK, just to complete this story, the chip on my jumbospot was indeed 'locked'.
I purchased an ST-LINK v2 programmer from Amazon at 4.99 GBP (delivered within 2 days).

Downloaded STM32 ST-LINK Utility (some small hoops to jump through, but I already had done this some time in the past), also available from here...
https://www.f5uii.net/en/compilation-in ... stm32f4xx/ (part way down the page - USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK).

Install ST-LINK utils.

Remove the jumbospot from the R-Pi and connect the 4 wires from the ST-LINK v2 to 4 header pins - either solder them to the jumbospot or do as I did and put them in and simply hold them with a little sideways pressure to make good contact.

Open the ST-LINK utility and use:
Target >> Option Bytes >> Disable Read Out Protection (combo box) and apply.

Disconnect everything and plug the jumbospot back on the R-Pi.

It seems that disabling the read protection may have wiped the chip, but fear not!
Fire up the R-Pi and when Pi-Star is running, connect to it via your browser and then SSH access it and update as normal.
Mine then loaded the latest firmware and wrote it no problems.
I also tested downgrading and upgrading and it works fine.

Now to hassle the seller... !!

Nigel
Last edited by G4ZAL on Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
va7kkw
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2018 6:29 am

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by va7kkw »

G4ZAL wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:16 am OK, just to complete this story, the chip on my jumbospot was indeed 'locked'.
I purchased an ST-LINK v2 programmer from Amazon at 4.99 GBP (delivered within 2 days).

Downloaded STM32 ST-LINK Utility (some small hoops to jump through, but I already had done this some time in the past), also available from here...
https://www.f5uii.net/en/compilation-in ... stm32f4xx/ (part way down the page - USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK).

Install ST-LINK utils.

Remove the jumbospot from the R-Pi and connect the 4 wires from the ST-LINK v2 to 4 header pins - either solder them to the jumbospot or do as I did and put them in and simply hold them with a little sideways pressure to make good contact.

Open the ST-LINK utility and use:
Target >> Option Bytes >> Disable Read Out Protection (combo box) and apply.

Disconnect everything and plug the jumbospot back on the R-Pi.

It seems that disabling the read protection may have wiped the chip, but fear not!
Fire up the R-Pi and when Pi-Star is running, connect to it via your browser and then SSH access it and update as normal.
Mine then loaded the latest firmware and wrote it no problems.
I also tested downgrading and upgrading and it works fine.

Now to hassle the seller... !!

Nigel
Thanks for this post I must of got the same ebay seller exact message the seller sent to me with the same screen shot
G4ZAL
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:14 pm

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by G4ZAL »

@ VA7KKW

Ha, was their technical support person called 'Jennifer' ? Writing in their very best Chinglish !

Well, all you have to do is get a cheap ST-Link programmer and do as my post above if you want it unlocked, otherwise it does work fine, as delivered.
The programmer I purchsed...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07QBLNDPM

They have offered me a small refund as 'compensation'.

Nigel
G4ZAL
PA3FAT
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:40 pm

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by PA3FAT »

Any information on the pins to connect?

Can't find that information. And probably also have a locked hat.

The ST-Link device is this same a TTL serial interface? That i have.
PA3FAT
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:40 pm

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by PA3FAT »

found a header with 3.3V/GND/CLK and not sure something with IO on it? That's it?
G4ZAL
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:14 pm

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by G4ZAL »

Yes, that sounds correct.
I made it as in the pic below and simply held the connector pins at a slight angle whilst unlocking (they are not solderd in the PCB).
The STLink programmer is not a serial adapter - get the correct thing, cheap enough on ebay or amazon.

DSCN1481s.jpg
DSCN1481s.jpg (73.83 KiB) Viewed 7257 times

Hope that helps

Nigel
G4ZAL
PA3FAT
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:40 pm

Re: Jumbospot - can't update/downgrade firmware

Post by PA3FAT »

Nigel,

Ordered ST-Link V2 via Bangood UK stock. Should be here in a day or 2-5.
Have similar print it seems.

Was thinking about the same regarding the angled/pressure mount.

Thanks !

Ron
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