ESPTool Firmware Update Guide
If you have the LightTracker Plus and need a software update, you can perform the update using one of the following methods.
NOTE: If the methods below seem difficult and you have a computer with Wi-Fi capability at home, you can update more easily using the method described in this link.
You can download the latest software by clicking on the zip file of the latest version as shown below from https://github.com/lightaprs/LightLoRaAPRS/releases. While this page was prepared, the most current version was v1.0.4, but if there is a newer version available at the time you read this, you can download it.
After downloading the zip file in the format lightracker_plus_aprs_firmware_vX_X_X.zip to your computer, you can proceed to the next step by extracting it.
Before loading software onto the device, you need to connect it to your computer via a USB cable and then put the device into programming mode while it is powered on. To enter programming mode, first hold down the "BOOT" button, then press the "RESET" button, and finally release both buttons.
After this process, the screen will freeze, meaning the existing software on the device will not run, and the device will become ready for programming. If you are using a Windows operating system and have successfully entered programming mode for the device, you will hear a sound similar to unplugging and re-plugging the USB cable from the computer.
The easiest way to upload firmware to ESP32-based devices is through Chrome using the following address. This way, you won't need to install any programs on your computer.
https://espressif.github.io/esptool-js/
When you open the above link with Chrome on your computer, you will see a page like the one below.
On the opened page, first, click the "Connect" button, and you will see a popup window like the one below.
In the popup window above, select the line that says "USB JTAG/serial debug unit" and then click the "Connect" button.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do not see a line that says "USB JTAG/serial debug unit," either you may not have put your device into programming mode as described in the first step, or the Device Manager in the Windows operating system has not granted access permission to the USB connection.
After clicking "Connect," if you see the messages highlighted within the red frame in the black console screen on the main page, it means your device is ready to receive firmware (software) upload.
Before selecting the firmware file, you should first change the Flash Address value to 0x10000. (IMPORTANT: When the page is loaded, it comes with the default value of 0x1000, but you need to change it to 0x10000. In other words, you need to add one more zero at the end.)
Flash Address: 0x10000
File : firmware_vX_X_X.bin
After that, use the "Choose File" option to select the firmware_vX_X_X.bin file that you downloaded.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When you unzip the file, you will notice two different firmware files. One is named "firmware_low_power.bin," which is compiled with a lower processor speed and thus consumes less power. However, it can only be used in Tracker and Digipeater modes. In iGate mode, a Wi-Fi connection is required, and lower processor speeds can cause issues. If you are specifically using the Tracker mode and battery consumption is important, you can upload this file.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Firmware updates do not erase or reset the configuration settings on the device (such as your call sign, Wi-Fi passwords, etc.). To reset them, another file (spiffs.bin) needs to be uploaded to a different flash address. You can find information about this at the end of the text.
After updating the Flash Address to 0x10000 and selecting the firmware file, click the "Program" button as shown in the screenshot below.
Then, the firmware uploading process to the device begins. After about 7-8 seconds, you should see a log at the bottom of the console screen like the one below.
Now you can check whether the new software is in operation by turning your device off and on. When the device first starts up, it briefly displays the "Version" information on the screen. If the version displayed on the screen matches the one you installed, the update process has been successful.
If you want to reset all settings on your device or if no configuration file has ever been uploaded to the device (or if the device's flash has been erased), you also need to update the "spiffs.bin" file as shown below, selecting the flash address as "0x670000"
Flash Address: 0x670000
File : spiffs.bin
Remember, if you perform this process, your existing settings will be reset, and you will need to enter them again.
If you couldn't update with the method above, using Chrome, then you can perform firmware upload with the program you will install on your Windows computer from the link below.
https://www.espressif.com/en/support/download/other-tools
When you open the page from the link above, you can start the download process by clicking on the link shown in the screenshot below.
After downloading the program, when you first open it, you will make the following selections.
Then, on the opened screen, you will again select the firmware file you downloaded and update the Flash Address to "0x10000" After selecting the COM port to which the USB is connected, you will start the update process.
