Skip to main content

Firmware Updates

There are two firmware components on each device. The firmware for the GNSS receiver and the firmware for the device.

RTK EVK Web Config - Firmware Update

The RTK EVK Web Config page - firmware update

SparkPNT will release new firmware to add and improve functionality for users. The firmware can be upgraded through an internet connection using the OTA method. However, this does require that a WiFi connection be configured on the device.

The Firmware Update menu allows users to check for and install updates. Turning on Automatic firmware updates will cause the device to periodically check and install updates when they become available. This can be helpful for remote stations that cannot have manual interventions.

Updating ESP32 Firmware​

The ESP32 firmware is the main firmware in all RTK devices. The firmware version number is displayed in a variety of places:

WiFi Config page showing device firmware v2.7

WiFi Config page showing device firmware v2.7 and ZED-F9P firmware HPG 1.32

The firmware is shown at the top of the WiFi config page.

From time to time SparkFun will release new firmware for the RTK product line to add and improve functionality. For most users, firmware can be upgraded over WiFi using the OTA method.

  • OTA Method: Connect over WiFi to SparkFun to download the latest firmware over-the-air. This can be done using the WiFi AP Config Mode, but also requires a local WiFi network.
  • WiFi Method: Load the firmware over WiFi when the device is in WiFi AP Config Mode.

Updating Firmware Over-The-Air​

Updating Firmware from WiFi config page

Updating the firmware via WiFi config page

Firmware can be updated in the System Configuration section of the WiFi Config page. Automatic firmware updates is supported over WiFi, which makes checking and upgrading a unit simple. The polling period is specified in minutes and defaults to once a day. The automatic firmware update only checks for and installs the current SparkFun released firmware versions over top of any:

  • Older released versions (continual upgrade)
  • Locally built versions (newer or older, restore to released version)

Updating Firmware From WiFi​

Advanced system settings

Firmware may be manually uploaded to the unit by clicking on Upload BIN, selecting the binary such as RTK_Surveyor_Firmware_v3_x.bin and pressing upload. The unit will automatically reset once the firmware upload is complete.

Updating LG290P Firmware​

The LG290P is the GNSS receiver used in the TX2. The following describes how to update the firmware on the LG290P.

  1. Download the latest LG290P firmware. As of writing, the LG290P firmware is v2.01. See the RTK Postcard repo for the latest firmware.

  2. Download and install QGNSS v2.x. QGNSS is the software created by Quectel to configure and view output from Quectel GNSS modules.

  3. Open QGNSS and connect to your device by, selecting LG290P(03) from the drop-down menu for Model. Then, select COM port A of the CH342, set the baud rate to 230400, and press OK to connect to the TC+X2.

    Select the COM port and baud rate

    Select the model, COM port, and baud rate

    tip

    If the baud rate doesn't work, users may need to factory reset the RTK everywhere firmware to reconfigure the baud rate of the LG290P to the default settings.

  4. To upload firmware to the LG290P, navigate from the Tools drop-down menu and select the Firmware Update option (Tools > Firmware Update).

    Open the Firmware Download window

    Open the Firmware Update tool

  5. Select the firmware file to upload, by clicking on the button. (This should be the *.bin file, located is inside the *.zip file that was downloaded in Step 1.)

    Select the firmware file

    Select the firmware file

  6. Before the firmware can be uploaded, the LG290P must be reset to synchronize the module with the firmware upload process. Click on the reboot button in the toolbar.

    Resetting LG290P

    Reboot the LG290P

    tip

    For the TX2, we recommend users relocate the Firmware Update window as close to the reboot button as possible. In our experience, the start button must be pressed immediately after pressing the reboot button; otherwise the process fails.

  7. Press the start arrow in the Firmware Update window immediately after clicking the reboot button.

    Starting the Firmware Update Process

    Start the Firmware Update Process

  8. The update process takes a little over a minute. Once completed, close QGNSS and power cycle the RTK Postcard.

    Firmware version shown in System Menu

    Firmware version shown in System Menu

  9. Upon power-up, the firmware will be updated. Open the System Menu to confirm the firmware version.