MMDVM HS_HAT Modem Firmware Release Notes

 I haven't found any release notes yet for v1.6.0 or 1.6.1, but here are the recent previous releases

CA6JAU Release notes for version 1.5.2 :

• Support for BridgeCom SkyBridge HS
• Fix pictures transmission in YSF (Manuel EA7EE)
• Add "." to CWId (Andy MW0MWZ)
• Support for OrangePi firmware installation using generic_duplex_gpio_fw.bin (Sergei)
• Support for ZUMspot Dualband RPi and ZUMspot Duplex RPi (Abad Vera)
• Old ZUMspot Duplex USB is now Generic Duplex USB
• Serial Repeater RX optimization (Shawn Chain)
• UDID support (Shawn Chain)
• UDIO optional
• Beta fw support for installer scripts

This is a beta release 1.5.1b, for beta testing:

• Support for new boards: ZUMspot Dualband RPi and ZUMspot Duplex RPi (Abad Vera)
• Old ZUMspot Duplex USB is now Generic Duplex USB
• Serial Repeater RX optimization (Shawn Chain)
• UDID support (Shawn Chain)
• UDIO optional
• Beta fw support for installer scripts
• Fix bugs

Release notes for version 1.4.17 :

• Additional "sleep" for flashing (Florian DF2ET)
• Update NanoDV (Tom BG4TGO)
• Enabling Serial Repeater RX (Garry WD0DUD)
• Add D2RG MMDVM_HS support

Release notes for version 1.4.16 :

• Add support for POCSAG calibration mode by Florian DF2ET (latest MMDVMCal)
• Add I2C host communication support (custom firmware compilation)

for the rest of the release notes go to here :

Releases · juribeparada/MMDVM_HS · GitHub

Upgrading MMDVM board firmware from Pi-Star

 I just recently completed the exercise of upgrading my Pi-Star units with the Dashboard upgrade to 20240309 (9th March, 2024), and the Pi-Star firmware to 1.4.8

I noticed my MMDVM modems were still on 1.4.17, I looked at CA6JAU's GitHub and could see latest version he has was 1.5.2    GitHub - juribeparada/MMDVM_HS: MMDVM HotSpot: firmware for ZUMspot or MMDVM_HS based boards (D-Star, DMR, YSF, P25, NXDN and POCSAG)

but when I actually used the  Pi-Star > Configuration > Expert  > FW function to upgrade firmware, I discovered it was deploying version 1.6.1 for MMDVM_HS_HAT and same version for MMDVM_HS_DUAL_HAT

for my MMDVM HS_HAT modems (JumboSpot and the S56AL clone (Red)) were all same firmware that I upgraded manually a few years back. Below are  extracts from Pi-Star Livelogs, before and after upgrade :

MMDVM protocol version: 1, description: MMDVM_HS_Hat-v1.4.17 20190529 14.7456MHz ADF7021 FW by CA6JAU GitID #cc451c4

MMDVM protocol version: 1, description: MMDVM_HS_Hat-v1.6.1 20230526 14.7456MHz ADF7021 FW by CA6JAU GitID #7ff74ed

for my MMDVM Dual HAT modem, extracts from the Pi-Star Livelogs, before and after upgrade :

MMDVM protocol version: 1, description: MMDVM_HS_Dual_Hat-v1.4.17 20190529 14.7456MHz dual ADF7021 FW by CA6JAU GitID #cc451c4

MMDVM protocol version: 1, description: MMDVM_HS_Dual_Hat-v1.6.1 20230526 14.7456MHz dual ADF7021 FW by CA6JAU GitID #7ff74ed.

I ran into issue when doing the MMDVM_HS_DUAL_HAT modem board, the firmware upgrade stopped with an error, 

So I did a google search to see what to do about it, a few forums mentioned, but explanations were not easily understood, but eventually found the error details I needed, which was basically solder a JP1 solder pad  and solder a wire link into a header position, then I was able to complete the modem firmware task from Pi-Star menus, Configuration > Expert > FW.

From another forum, I learnt some more commandline  commands from Configuration > Expert > SSH Terminal, not so much to resolve, but to interrogate the MMDVM modem, which confirmed a few things.

For the type of MMDVM modems I am referring to above, then here they are:

JumboSpot :

S56AL clone (red coloured) :

MMDVM HS_DUAL_HAT modem :

same modem with OLED display fitted :

and below is the information to unlock the DUAL_HAT modem for upgrading

once the upgrade is complete, you can cut the link and remove solder blob from JP1 pads.

Here are Various Links to Upgrade firmware error discussions :
SOLVED - mmdvm single and duplex firmware update problem - forum.pistar.uk
Zumspot Libre Not upgrading - forum.pistar.uk

Updating MMDVM 1.52 to 1.61 : r/HamRadio (reddit.com)

PiStar MMDVM Upgrade Fix (m7spi.co.uk)    M7SPI covers the SSH commands you can use.

Make sure you upgrade the Dashboard version and Pi-Star software to get the latest Admin functionality.

TYT TH-9800 Quad band bios settings

 

TH-9800 Quad Band FM - Firmware Options

• Turn off radio via normal power button
• Press left LOW button AND power button, to enter firmware mode
• Radio will boot in firmware mode: “F1 – SETMOD RESET” on display
  • Press A = MAIN UPDATE
  • Press B = PANEL UPDATE
  • Press F = RF Test mode
  • Press Set = Reset radio settings (keep channels memory)
• Left/Right Dial scroll, switch between mode =
  • F1 = SETMOD RESET
  • F2 = HYPER RESET
  • F3 = MEMORY RESET
  • F4 = ALL RESET
  • F5 = M_ONLY MODE

MAIN UPDATE mode is used to upload new firmware to the body.  

PANEL UPDATE mode is to upload new firmware to the remote head.

JumboSpot MMVDM board firmware upgrade

Upgraded the HS_HAT firmware  from version 1.3.3 to 1.4.17  on my JumboSpot MMDVM board,  by following the instructions on this Youtube video, it shows how to do the automated firmware flashing from GitHub, very easy.  This is separate to the Pi-Star software image and Pi_Star Dashboard updates.

JumboSpot MMDVM firmware Upgrade

Radiodity GD-77 DMR handheld firmware and CPS

following on from my experiences with almost bricking my handheld,  I thought I better add the versions of firmware (with respect to the hardware level of my handheld) to avoid costly mistakes.

First, there are now multiple versions of the hardware for the GD-77, mine looks to be the original hardware, so it can only works with specific firmware and CPS (Codeplug Programmer) versions and the combinations are critical, in other words, you need to be using the correct version of CPS that matches your firmware.

What my handheld was using up until recently was firmware 3.00.06,  DSP HRC6000 v1.2 and CPS 3.1.1, my serial no of my handheld is 1805A00096  which means built 2018-May.
I was using wrong CPS version with respect to my installed firmware.

Release Dates:
2017xxxx   20180619    20180623    20190125   20190425    20191108    20191204

Firmware versions:
3.0.6         3.1.6          3.1.8           3.2.1           3.2.2             4.2.6            4.2.8

Firmware Dates:
2017xxxx   20180330   20180623   20190125   20190425    20191108    20191204

CPS versions :
2.0.5         3.1.1          3.1.1           3.1.1           3.1.1             3.1.9           3.1.9

F/W Updater :     v103_170830  same for all these versions above.

Radiodity downloads

One thing I noticed was from CPS 3.1.1 it is meant to provide 31 channels instead of 16, but I am using f/w 4.28 and CPS 3.1.9  and still limited to 16 channels,  Contacts  has increased and Scan list increased.

And thanks to Roger Clarke VK3KYY, from his blog it gave me the clues to fix my GD-77.
Roger is also involved in a Community created alternative firmware for these handhelds. Worth having a look at, if you don't like the provided firmware functionality.