Solved Bad firmware update on ER6 receiver

[toryander]

I bought the Radiomaster ER6 receiver. I flashed it to the 4.0 firmware. The message said update successful. When I cycled power on it no lights would come on. I have no way to communication with it. Can anyone give me any enlightenment on this situation? I could buy another, but I'm afraid it will just happen again. I must have done something wrong (although I've flashed my ER4 with no problems.)

 

[LitterBug]

Check to see if the RX is still going into WiFi mode. I had this happen on one of my XR1 serial modules, and I could still get into the Wi-Fi configuration page to update the firmware.

 

[Merv]

I agree with LB, try WIFI first, if that fails try this.

Solved - Unbrick an ELRS Rx

I updated my ELRS Rx & disconnected it too soon, before the light began blinking after an update. As a result, the Rx was bricked, when you powered it on, the light would immediately go solid, like it was connected to the Tx, except is was not connected. No matter how long you left it, it would...

forum.flitetest.com

 

[toryander]

I checked again and it isn't secretly in wifi mode. There are no lights on at all. It looks totally dead. I want to try what the video that #Merv attached shows, but I need to figure out how to open the thing up. It's encased in a solid plastic shell. I'll have to drill or cut it or something.

 

[LitterBug]

You should be able to use the boot button and the serial port to flash it. Should not be any need to open it up.

 

[toryander]

You should be able to use the boot button and the serial port to flash it. Should not be any need to open it up.

I had my chainsaw fired up and was lowering it toward my ER6 when your response came in and saved the day. What a great video. I just finished ordering the Uart flash tool from Radiomaster. Thank you for the timely information.

 

[toryander]

An interesting (and slightly depressing) note. I was so excited to get my ER6 in. I opened the box and grabbed my scissors and cut open the electrostatic plastic immediately slicing off the two antennas. Feeling like a fool but undeterred, I sat down and flashed my ER6 (wifi) and immediately bricked it. Not a good evening. I believe I can solder the antennas back on, and if this uart flasher tool works, maybe redemption is in the future.

 

[jymz]

I tried that today. No joy. The LED doesn't turn on the RX side. I tried the servo plug and using a bind plug on the channel 1 and it just does not go into boot mode.

 

[toryander]

I tried that today. No joy. The LED doesn't turn on the RX side. I tried the servo plug and using a bind plug on the channel 1 and it just does not go into boot mode.

Dang. Mine sounds just like yours--no lights like it's not getting power. I'm waiting for my flash tool to come in from Hong Kong to try it. I'll see if I get any different result. I keep reading that you can't truly brick one of these receivers. Maybe you and I are the first.

 

[LitterBug]

There are local sources too if you don't want to wait on shipping....

RadioMaster ExpressLRS USB UART Flasher V2

RadioMaster ExpressLRS USB UART Flasher V2 Upgrade your ELRS firmware with ease using our simple and effective tool. The new V2 version features a USB-C interface, enabling you to connect the tool to your PC via cable. The new power button allows effortless power cycling with a single press...

www.buddyrc.com

RadioMaster ExpressLRS USB UART Flasher V2 - RMRC

Upgrade your ELRS receivers with the RadioMaster ExpressLRS USB UART Flasher V2. Features USB-C interface, power button, and versatile connectivity. Buy Now!

www.readymaderc.com

(Well local to Central Ohio...)

 

[jymz]

View attachment IMG_6214.jpeg

 

[LitterBug]

View attachment 257906

Have you tried powering them with an ESC or 5v BEC on anything other than the battery monitoring pin?

FYI, I have put the wrong firmware on some Radiomaster RXes and the lights quit working and they would not work normally, but I still was able to reflash the correct firmware even without the lights. One (XR1) would even still operate WiFi mode without lights (had XR2 firmware) and was able to flash that way. Bootloader mode "should" always be possible unless it was nuked with reverse polarity or some other defect.

 

[jymz]

You are correct litterbug, it does eventually connect via wifi. Thanks

 

[jymz]

Ok, A friend of mine sent me a firmware update for the ER6 and its working now. Thanks for the help!

 

[toryander]

My Radiomaster USB UART Flasher V.2 finally came today. My ER6 RX is working again. Here is the story:
1. When I first got my ER6 I did a Wifi flash to 4.0 (the LED on the RX was working as expected)
2. After I cycled power on the RX there were no LEDs. The ER6 appeared dead. I could no longer see it as a wifi option on my laptop
3. I purchased the Radiomaster USB UART Flasher V.2
4. I followed the instructions on the YouTube video posted above by LitterBug using the 4 pin serial cable (ER6 has that option). It didn't seem to work. No LED showed on the ER6. ER6 appeared to be dead. (In the video it shows the light on the rx coming on, so I thought that is what had to happen when I used the UART Flash tool. I didn't realize that my rx had booted even though no rx light came on.)
5. I tried holding down BOOT button while powering on flash tool a few more times (desperation). Nothing changed.
5.5 I was feeling defeated at this point, but being stubborn I went on to step 6 just because.
6. While my RX and Flash tool were connected to my computer I brought up the ExpressLRS Configurator, put in the proper settings and chose "UART (serial)" flashing method. To my surprise green and blue lights flashed in the UART Flash tool and the Configurator told me the update was successful. The ER6 still looked dead, but the lights in the flash tool and the message on the screen suggested that I had just successfully communicated with the ER6.
7. After scratching my head and wondering why it still seemed it wasn't wirelessly receiving I once again checked wifi connections on my phone and there it was -- "elrs receiver" (don't forget to wait a full minute). There were still no lights on the rx (still looks dead), but now I could log into it an do whatever I needed to do. My TX is bound to it and it's ready to go.

Note: I'm not sure if this is relevant, but the very first firmware up done wifi I had selected the wrong ER6 version. The box didn't tell me I had the ER6-G version. Perhaps that is what caused the initial bricking? I selected the wrong version when using the UART Flash tool, but it just told me Flash had failed. On a whim I correctly selected the G version the next try, and to my surprise, it was "successful."

 

[LitterBug]

Nice! Yeah, you need to be careful to check what firmware was originally on them as well as what sub type the receiver is. The good thing is, with the serial flasher or equivelent, they are "almost" unbrickable. The -G version is for Gliders and has a barometer built in for altitude telemetry. These came out after I had already gone down the PWM/baro/GPS path that Matek offered with proprietary firmware. I have the telemetry set up in my radio, and have the momentary switch set up to speak the altitude when pressed. I also have the vario set up on another switch for an audio indicator of climb/sink. I use this on my Phoenix 2400 glider.