Issues when updating the RRC's Firmware using USB

[Jan (Microbit)]

Some of you have reported problems updating the RRC's firmware using USB. It seems what happens is that you get "Write failed" somewhere in the process of transferring the firmware file to the RRC. This issue is something we are unable to reproduce ourselves, so we would very much like you helping us pinpointing and tracking down what could be the cause of this and hopefully find a way of getting rid of it.

I have created a small program which shows what USB hardware the PC has. If you who have this problem could run it and report your results here we would have more hints as what to do.

It can be found here: http://www.remoterig.com/downloads/MicrobitEnumerator.zip

Just run it and Notepad should launch with a content looking like this:

Microbit USB info v1.0:
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CB]
USB:[USB Composite Device]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 27CC]
Failed getting info(1), error 13!
USB:[USB Serial Converter]
USB:[USB Serial Converter]
USB:[Generic USB Hub]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C8]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C9]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CA]
USB:[USB Root Hub]

Add a post to this thread containing that info.

Also, if possible it would be great if you could try putting a High-Speed USB Hub between the PC and the RRC and see if the update works then.

[BA7NQ]

Jan,

I got the "write failed" too when try update the 2.33 firmware...

My microbit setup manager is 1.8, and the firmware of my 1258mk2 is 000.000.002.025
My system is Win7 32bits home version.

Here is my USB information...

Microbit USB info v1.0:
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Composite Device]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935]
USB:[Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936]
USB:[Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2937]
USB:[Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938]
USB:[USB Composite Device]
USB:[Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2939]
Failed getting info(1), error 13!
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A]
USB:[USB Root Hub]

73! de BA7NQ Terry

[Jan (Microbit)]

There is a theory that this problem is speed related. That some types of PC USB hardware/software in combination with those in the RRC could cause "write failed". But as we are unable to reproduce it ourselves it would be very nice if someone getting "write failed" could try these steps:

1/
Upgrade the firmware of the RRC via its built in web server using this file: http://www.remoterig.com/firmwares/RRC-1258-CRC_v2.34_2011-02-14.zip (The difference to 2.33 is besides a USB "slowdown" support for a new radio IC-2725)

2/
Upgrade once again using the same file, but this time via USB.

3/
Report here which results you get.

Thanks in advance!  

[Jan (Microbit)]

It would be very nice if more people could use the "USB dump" program and post their results here, regardless of having issues with updating firmware via USB or not, as we need more information in order to understand this better 

[HB9AZT]

Sometimes I also have troubles configuring a remote-rig-box via USB. Usually it helps when I activate the eternet port by simply plugging the box into an ethernet switch. When the control led of the port is on, the usb-port works fine.

73 de Mark, HB9AZT

[KA4JXT]

I ran into the same problem when using the USB cable.  I used the network connect method and the update was successful.

Here is the information returned when I ran the program you supplied. Hope this helps.  Thanks for the great support and continued improvement of this great product.

73's  Bob KA4JXT

Microbit USB info v1.0:
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C8]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C9]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CA]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CB]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 27CC]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Composite Device]

[krausman]

Can't update firmware via USB.  Connection seems fine but Write Failed.  Switched from USB2 to USB3 port, but still failed.

I tried connecting the Ethernet cable per earlier post, but USB update still failed.

I then went into setup and net info and had to change the default IP address to 192.168.10.50 to match my network.  Then I was able to connect via Ethernet to the "built in web interface" and from there I was able to update the firmware.  I had to figure a lot out because I hadn't found any real instructions other than the comment that the firmware could be updated via the web interface.  I did like the http interface on RemoteRig. 

For the USB attempts, here is the results of the infA12#.tmp program:

Microbit USB info v1.0:
USB:[Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller - 3B34]
USB:[USB Composite Device]
USB:[Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller - 3B3C]
USB:[NEC Electronics USB 3.0 Host Controller]
USB:[Generic USB Hub]
USB:[Generic USB Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Composite Device]
USB:[USB Composite Device]
USB:[NEC Electronics USB 3.0 Root Hub]

[krausman]

Well,  I finally got to the user manual and see that the instructions are quite detailed.  Thanks.  I should have started there.  Hope you can fix the USB connection for firmware update.

[k7cf]

I enjoyed this remote rig set up for about 2 months.
However, I could not operate CW and there was a "two second lockup" every 25 seconds. I figured the problem was caused by a device conflict at the radio location.
So, decided to upgrade the firmware.

Big mistake, now the unit is dead.

Ever since I received the units, I had problems trying to upgrade the firmware using Microbit USB set up.
Right out of the box:
Down loaded recent firmware and the firmware in this post.
RRC connected
Update the file I downloaded.
Clicked update
Transferring firmware
Progress meter moves about half an inch (sometimes moves 3 inches)
Failed programming new firmware
Write failed
RRC disconnected
RRC connected

Firmware not upgraded

I then tried to bring up Ctl unit using browser typing in 192.68.0.227

Browser could not find the CRL rrc.

So, I went back to the Set up manager,
It appears the firmware is corrupted.
I can display the firmware -
000.000.002.030 Bootloader is N/A Hardware version is 6

I tried another computer, still the same failure.

Since day one of trying to learn the remote rigs,
I have the upgrade firmware problem via USB , I got lucky I guess and got
some of the firmware downloaded to get it working
but today, since trying to upgrade the firmware, the CTL unit is dead.

Cannot see the Ctl unit via browser
Cannot upgrade firmware via USB
Tried the suggestions in this post

Update:

Finally got tired of trying to get firmware loaded via USB.

Read in post"upgraded Firmware via the Web"

No reference on how to do that in book,

So I hooked up the two black boxes and accessed each via the net.
I connected each box directly to the LAN.

First the Control black box .227 connected to the LAN

Browser found the .227 box Microbit Program in the .227 box

So, like most point and click, just started clicking on the Setup manager and came across the
words "Application Upgrade"

Clicked on the link and looked up the downloaded firmware I tried to use via USB and upgraded successfully.

Then the Radio black box .228 connected to the LAN

Browser found the .228 box Microbit program in the .228 box

Clicked on "Application upgrade" and the firmware I loaded on the.227 box loaded successfully on the .228 box

Both boxes now have the latest same level firmware.

So, my experience is that the USB firmware upgrade is broken, if it fails, do the firmware upgrade via Web.

I changed the radio setting menu in the .227 box, SIP contact to the .228 IP from the remote IP address
because I am in the radio's location hooked up locally via the house network two feet apart from each other.

When I go to the motel, I will change the SIP contact back to the IP address of where the remote radio unit from .228 to
the IP address of the radio's LAN network.
I should be able to connect from the motel to the body of the TS480s again.

Hope this helps someone. Sure wasted a lot of time trying to get the Firmware upgrade via USB to work, waste of time.
Thank goodness for the Internet way of upgrading the firmware. Hope this fixes my 2 second delay every 25 seconds.

[roland]

Jan (the developer) is away now, but will be back next week.

[dj0qn]

Maybe I can help:

Do you see the RRC when you connect via USB? If so, I can
talk you through the next step. We can do that by phone or
Skype, if you prefer.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[k7cf]

I got it working via the Web.
See the UPdate info in the original post.
I just could not get the firmware to upgrade via the method in the manual.

I could not see the black box, with LAN cable plugged in Computer and
bringing up IP address .228 via browser.
Failed consistently, tried another computer, same thing, write failed.

The firmware upgrade does not work via USB.

The firmware upgrade via the Internet does work and I managed to
get it going again.

I tried to list everything in the post.

I hope my "every 25 second lock up" for 2 seconds is fixed with new firmware.

I have other streaming devices at the radio location that may be interfering
causing the lock up, dead air, twice a minute for 2 seconds but when I hook
up both units "in house" there is no lock up.
Will see if the new firmware fixes the twice, for 2 seconds, each minute lock up.

Thanks for the offer to help. Just wasted a lot of time trying to get the
firmware USB upgrade to work. It does not work with write fail and the
progress meter hangs up at one inch to 3 inches, and then fails regardless
of what I do.

73's

[dj0qn]

I am completely puzzled by your statements, sorry. It is really difficult
to follow you, which is why I suggested a call instead.

I suggest you concentrate on either an update over USB or browser,
but it seems that you are jumping back and forth. If you can call-up
the RRC over a browser, then I suggest you use that method. It takes
about a minute or so to load the firmware, then you need to click on the
info menu to see if the firmware has been updated, although I have never
experienced a problem using that method. The menu will NOT load
automatically, you will need to manually click on a menu or reload the page.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN / K7DX

[Jan (Microbit)]

I ran into the same problem when using the USB cable.  I used the network connect method and the update was successful.

Here is the information returned when I ran the program you supplied. Hope this helps.  Thanks for the great support and continued improvement of this great product.

73's  Bob KA4JXT

Microbit USB info v1.0:
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C8]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C9]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CA]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CB]
USB:[Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 27CC]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Root Hub]
USB:[USB Composite Device]

Hmm..! You seem to have the same USB Host Controller as I have! For me it works and for you it does not work... So it seems there is something else which causes this problem...

[Jan (Microbit)]

I got it working via the Web.
See the UPdate info in the original post.
I just could not get the firmware to upgrade via the method in the manual.

I could not see the black box, with LAN cable plugged in Computer and
bringing up IP address .228 via browser.
Failed consistently, tried another computer, same thing, write failed.

The firmware upgrade does not work via USB.

The firmware upgrade via the Internet does work and I managed to
get it going again.

I tried to list everything in the post.

I hope my "every 25 second lock up" for 2 seconds is fixed with new firmware.

I have other streaming devices at the radio location that may be interfering
causing the lock up, dead air, twice a minute for 2 seconds but when I hook
up both units "in house" there is no lock up.
Will see if the new firmware fixes the twice, for 2 seconds, each minute lock up.

Thanks for the offer to help. Just wasted a lot of time trying to get the
firmware USB upgrade to work. It does not work with write fail and the
progress meter hangs up at one inch to 3 inches, and then fails regardless
of what I do.

73's

Just a few comments:

1/
If it is possible to use USB in *any* way, then the firmware in the RRC is working. By that I mean for ex. retrieving the software and hardware versions using the Setup Manager PC program.

2/
Updating via USB is not generally faulty for everyone. It seems to work most of the time on many PCs, but on some PCs it fails. If we at Microbit had had a PC with that behaviour then we would have been able to debug it much much easier. So far we haven't, but that might change as we have bought a hardware similar to one of you having this problem, and so we hope we finally will see it for ourselves.

3/
Partial updating of the firmware should not be possible since the whole file has to be transmitted to the RRC, which after that checks a number of things in order to make sure the file is valid. Most important is the CRC(checksum) check. If it, or something else fails the check, then no update is done.