Guys,
Just wanted to share with the Spektrum users the experience and solution I have experienced when updating the firmware on the DX line of radios. So if you follow these guidelines you
WILL have success every time but you have to follow the sequence. Disclaimer - This is assuming you have a working transmitter at the time of the upgrade and you have already made a backup copy of the original firmware and models. DO NOT SKIP THIS PROCEDURE. If you have a brick, a white screen of death, or a flashing Spektrum icon there are other things you can try but certainly not a guarantee.
With a working TX with a SD card slot:
1, Buy a new SD card (1 GB is about average). Do not mess around with a used one! i'm trying to save you any headaches
2. Make sure the SD card is UNLOCKED! there will be a tab on the side of the card that you slide back and forth to lock / unlock
3. Insert the SD card in your computer card reader slot and wait for the disk to be recognized.
4. Format the SD card. This will erase everything on the disk just in case.
5. EJECT the SD card. DO NOT JUST REMOVE IT!!!! Use the right mouse function and do it properly
6. With the TX off, insert the SD card in the slot the CORRECT way. YOU can force it but will damage the card if installed upside down. NOTE: Different versions of DX radio have opposite orientations so make sure it is slides in smoothly. If not flip is over and try. Once pushed all the way in it will click into place that stay until you want to remove it. Then you just press in a little more and it will eject out.
7. Hold down the scroll button and Turn on the transmitter and you will be at the "System Setup" page
8. Scroll down to "System Settings" and click the scroll button
9. Scroll through to the NEXT is highlighted and click the scroll button
10. Scroll through that page as well to the NEXT button is highlighted and click the scroll button
11. This page should say "Serial Number" and look at the number under the word "
EXPORT". This is your current version of firmware
12. Scroll down and highlight EXPORT and click the scroll button. This will save your Serial Number on the SD card for later use
13. Tap the "BACK" button 3 times which will bring you to your loaded current model
14. Turn off the radio and remove the SD card
15. Insert the SD card in the computer
16. GO to
www.spektrumrc.com/MyAccounts and log in. IF you have
not registered your TX and/or you do not have an account with Spektrum Community then all that will have to be done before you proceed any further. It will ask for your Serial number which you have placed on the SD card. Link the path to the file and download it to the appropriate box when asked for. This is where all updates will be hosted for your TX and the newer RX. It will show all firmware version and information on hold to download. NOTE: This help guide is not about how transfer files or use a computer. IF you need that training as well I can do another post later.
17, NOTE: Once your TX is registered it will stay there until you "Deregister Product" it and should be done any time you are going to sell the TX. IT will allow the next owner to place it on his account. The Serial number, model number and date you registered and a icon of the unit it will show up on the "MY SPEKTRUM" page
18. Go to "Download Updates" and click on the link and a new page will generate showing all available updates for that particular TX. Each firmware update will give you the release date and a orange box that says "DOWNLOAD". Also, right below that will be light grey wording that usually has a PDF for instructions on how to install. Click on what ever files you need and save them on your computer in what ever filing system you use.
THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOLLOW THE NEXT STEPS EXACTLY AND UNDERSTAND - READ IT SEVERAL TIMES IF NEEDED
19. There are 3 kinds of extension files you are going to be dealing with:
.XML - this is a readable file of your Registration number
.SAX - this is your firmware file
.SVX - this is your voice file
Transfer a copy of the firmware update to the SD card by doing a "save as" file. DO NOT just save the file as this will make a "spmtx.sax" file. This is NOT what you want to do because it will try to boot from the SD card when you turn the TX on. It will erase the software on the TX and this is where SO many people run into trouble. The screen will flash and go into a loop and may end flashing the processor and you end up with a brick TX. (I'll show you how you can fix that later if it happens to you) Remember this is a new SD card that
only has your exported Serial Number on it and nothing else. Do not get this confused!!!! When saving, remember to use the option "save as" and give it a name like "spmtx201.sax" ( I use a number to associate the version of firmware I downloaded like v2.01). Place some additional letters or number it so it doesn't erase or boot from this card.
20. EJECT the SD card from the computer. Again make sure you always! use the eject option and never just pull the SD card out of the computer. You can corrupt the file if you do!
21. Install the SD card in the TX and turn on the TX holding down the scroll button to get to the system setup menu
22. Notice that the orange bars will not be illuminated as the TX is not in RF signal mode. Scroll down to "Transfer SD Card" and tap scroll button
23. You will have 3 rows Options:
Status:
Folder: /
24. Highlight "options" and push the scroll button to make the box beside Options flash on and off
25. Scroll down to "Update Firmware" and click the scroll button
26. You will be at the "Select File" page and scroll down to find the correct and click scroll button to initiate, These are files stored on your SD card. Once selected click the scroll button
27. This will flash the new firmware onto the TX. It may turn off and on several times and can take up to 5 minutes to complete. Do nothing!!!! The TX will finish and then reboot to home page.
28. You are done!
The Sounds file (.SVX) are done primarily the same way. Just follow the sequence. Only difference with sounds files is they are mush larger and you will see a progress bar at the bottom of the screen. When complete, it will auto lauch back to the home screen
SO..... you messed up somehow and it didn't work and now you have a dead TX. Here is a fixed to get you back to the original firmware. Hopefully you followed my steps and noted to make a backup copy before you began. All you have to do is to take a new SD card do a full format disk and load the original "spmtx.sax"
only on the SD card, install and turn on TX. The radio will boot from the SD card and should reload the original firmware.
Ok, just in case you failed to read instructions and follow procedures above and/or you really have a dud on your hands. You have two options if it's not under warranty:
1. Send it to Spektrum to see if they can flash the processors and get it working again- will cost you some cash and no guarantee
2. Search the web for the correct .sax file for your TX model. I have had success in finding a few of these for people on rcuniverse and spektrum forums
GOOD LUCK and hope this helps