Firmware update seems to fail

[torkelmj]

Howdy.

My AMS reader presently runs FW v2.2.21. "New version v2.2.23" is announced in the web page header.

When I click the update link in the header, I get the "Device is updating, please wait" dialog on-screen. After a little while, the device reboots. BUT it remains at FW v2.2.21.

I've also attempted downloading the new firmware file, storing it locally - and then applying the update thru the "Select firmware file for upgrade" option in the web UI. Same thing happens.

Relevant config/environment:

• Unit is a Pow-U+ on esp32s2
• Connected to external USB power source
• One-click update / data collection enabled

What am I missing?

[ArnieO]

Hi Torkel,

Strange situation, but we have seen the same maybe two times earlier (out of the the around 2000 devices currently in use).
To be frank: We do not know what the reason is, maybe something in your Wifi network (some kind of timeout?)- but that's just a hypothesis.

Anyway: There is a third option for upgrading - through cable.
It is a bit more elaborate - but it works.
The process is explained in chapter 3.2 of the Firmware User Manual: https://amsleser.no/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=53

[torkelmj]

Thanks, I'll try that. Provided I understand the procedure correctly, all settings in the AMS reader will be lost and reconfiguration will be required. I'll have to allocate some more time for that project.

FWIW, I attempted a slightly different approach - with no success:

• reconfigured AMS reader to connect to a (temporary) WiFi-zone provided by an iPad (4G/5G)
• hooked up the PC to the same (temporary) WiFi-zone
• found the IP address of the AMS reader and connected to it via HTTP
• attempted the FW update procedures (link in header and download to/upload from PC)

As before, no error messages whatsoever - just a short wait, reboot and then back to normal operation, still on v2.2.21.

I'll attempt the USB procedure later this week.

Cheers,

[ArnieO]

Yes, reflashing by cable will overwrite most of the settings and data stored in the device.
But you can easily export all stored data to a file, and restore it back to the device after the upgrade:
-> Info-page / Backup & restore

[torkelmj]

Updated via USB, all OK.

FWIW, the FW manual should be slightly updated:
9.2 item 7 reads "esptool –port COM4 erase_flash" whereas it should read "esptool -–port COM4 erase_flash".

Also, it seems that when a previously backed-up configuration file is restored, the "Enable price fetch from remote server" setting is ignored and has to be manually re-applied.

Thanks for great support.

[ArnieO]

FWIW, the FW manual should be slightly updated:
9.2 item 7 reads "esptool –port COM4 erase_flash" whereas it should read "esptool -–port COM4 erase_flash".

Thank you, greatly appreciated! Word-file is edited, so that this will be corrected in next issue.

Also, it seems that when a previously backed-up configuration file is restored, the "Enable price fetch from remote server" setting is
ignored and has to be manually re-applied.

@gskjold Can you look into this?

[tux-]

For those that have access to a linux machine:

I had the same issue with mine, and I downloaded both the esptool, and the new release, then ran: ./esptool --chip esp32s2 --port /dev/ttyACM0 --baud 460800 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash -z --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 40m --flash_size detect 0x10000 firmware.bin and device got upgraded to latest version with wifi configuration preserved. The command may vary depending on your device, etc, but correct one can be found in the flash.sh file.

[ksdale]

I just recently had an issue with update repeatedly failing. I discovered that the reason was that the power bank I used failed to register the low current that is drawn from the Pow-U device, and timed out. In some cases however, the USB C output may work even on low current devices, which was the case with my sons power bank. To be safe use a USB charger adapter.

[ArnieO]

Good point, thank you for sharing!
Our recommendation is to not try to power the Pow-U from USB-C devices with PD (Power delivery). There is no reverse diode in the current design, so the PD device will see that there is a voltage present, coming from the internal supercapacitor. The consequence is that they refuse to deliver.

A reverse diode is added in next design update (in sale from early December), so we assume this problem will then be eliminated.