Unable to update GPy modem firmware

ktleh

Hello,
I'm having trouble updating the GPy modem firmware for the first time.

Short version:
I get error: "Received ERROR from AT+SMSWBOOT=0,1! Aborting!"

Long version:
I bought a Pysense and GPy (+antenna).
I successfully updated the Pysense firmware to version 0.0.8 with dfu-util.
I successfully updated the GPy module firmware to version v1.18.1.r1 and v1.18.1.r4 with the firmware upgrade tool.
I've tried to update the GPy modem firmware with Atom/Pymakr.
I have tried on a Ubuntu 18.04 and a windows 10 machine.
I tried both 'Via SD card' and 'Via UART Serial Interface' instructions, same result.

With v1.18.1.r1, bootrom is updated fine but after "Attempting AT auto-negotiation...", there is a long wait (several minutes) until the process apparently times-out. Repeated attempts after a hard reset give the exact same result.

>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/NB1-38729.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater >>>
Attempting AT wakeup...
Starting STP (DO NOT DISCONNECT POWER!!!)
Session opened: version 1, max transfer 8192 bytes
Sending 54854 bytes: [########################################] 100%
Bootrom updated successfully, switching to upgrade mode
Attempting AT auto-negotiation...
ERROR sending AT command... no response? b''
AT auto-negotiation failed! Exiting.
Unable to load updater from /sd/updater.elf
>>>

Now, with the new v1.18.1.r4, the update fails already at the bootrom phase with error: "Received ERROR from AT+SMSWBOOT=0,1! Aborting!".

>>> from machine import SD
>>> sd = SD()
>>> os.mount(sd, '/sd')
>>> os.listdir('/sd')
['CATM1-38638.dup', 'updater.elf']
>>> import sqnsupgrade
>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/CATM1-38638.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.0] >>>
>>> GPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r4
Attempting AT wakeup...
Session opened: version 1, max transfer 8192 bytes
Sending 55498 bytes: [########################################] 100%
Received ERROR from AT+SMSWBOOT=0,1! Aborting!
Unable to upgrade bootrom.
Unable to load updater from /sd/updater.elf
>>>

I am able to send AT commands to the current CAT-M1 firmware the module shipped with, and it seems to be responding normally to them:

>>> os.uname()
(sysname='GPy', nodename='GPy', release='1.18.1.r4', version='v1.8.6-849-dfa1176 on 2018-11-12', machine='GPy with ESP32')

>>> lte.send_at_cmd('ATI')
SEQUANS Communications
VZM20Q
UEUnknown
OK

>>> lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="setDbgPerm full"')
AT!="setDbgPerm full"
OK

>>> lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="showCaps"')
AT!="showCaps"
== CAPS config =============================
  .Lock UE on SRV band    : false
  .MFBI support           : true
  .TM8 TDD support        : false
============================================
== CAPS ====================================
  . Access Stratum: R13
  . catM          : 1
-- EUTRA bands --
  . supported     : 28/20/13/12/4/3
  . board         : 3/4/12/13/20/28
  . admin         :
  . pending admin :
-- EUTRA carriers --
  . admin         :
  . pending admin :
============================================
OK

Any help would be appreciated.

wtrocel

@ktleh said in Unable to update GPy modem firmware:

lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="showCaps"')

Hi there..

I am having exactly the same problem, did you managed to fix this issue?

bqpd

I got the same problems on the FiPy as well,

I tried it using an older firmware on my FiPy (1.18.1.r1), giving me an error after a few minutes

AT auto-negotiation failed! Exiting.

and with the newest firmware version on the FiPy (v1.18.1.r4) i got the results as cited down below.
I also tried, as recommended in another post to downgrade my firmware again. Sadly without any results.
(https://forum.pycom.io/topic/3995/fipy-firmware-upgrade-failed-cat-m1/26)

Going back to the newest firmware, I tried updating the firmware of the Sequans LTE modem using "upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup" as well as "NB1-40343.dup" for the NB-IoT upgrade using the "updater.elf" file from the NB-IoT folder.
I then tried to update the module, using "CATM1-39529.dup" and "upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup" using the "updater.elf" file from the CATM1 folder.

Neither of them worked, what lead me to the conclusion, that the problem is probably situated within the "updater.elf" file or the fact, that i use the recovery mode for updating.

sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup', '/sd/updater.elf', debug=True)

<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.0] >>>
>>> FiPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r4
ile /sd/updater.elf has size 372163
File /sd/upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup has size 2280296
Modem state: 2
Checking bootrom & application
Checking line
Checking line SYSTEM VERSION
Checking line ==============
Checking line   FIRMWARE VERSION
Checking line     Bootloader0* : 5.1.1.0 [33080]
old_br: True
Checking line     Bootloader1  : NA
Checking line     Bootloader2  : NA
Checking line     NV Info      : 1.1,0,0
Checking line     Software     : 5.1.1.0 [33080] by robot-soft at 2017-10-27 07:49:11
old_sw: True
Checking line     UE           : Unknown
Checking line   COMPONENTS
Checking line     ZSP0         : 1.0.98-12323
Checking line     ZSP1         : 1.0.98-12295
Checking line
Checking line OK
Checking line
Returning: True
mirror? False  recover? False  resume? False  direct? False  atneg_only? False bootrom? True load_fff? False
Initial prepartion complete...
Loading built-in recovery bootrom...
Attempting AT wakeup...
b'\r\nOK\r\n'
Entering upgrade mode...
AT+SMOD? returned 2
AT+SMSWBOOT=3,1 returned: b'\r\nOK\r\n'
Response after reset: b'\r\nERROR\r\n'
Starting STP
<<<=== DO NOT DISCONNECT POWER ===>>>
Sending AT+SMSTPU="ON_THE_FLY"
Starting STP code upload
magic=0x74736166, op=0x80, sid=0x0, plen=0x0, tid=0x0, hcrc=0x0, pcrc=0x0
Correct SRSP signature: 0x74736166
Session opened: version 1, max transfer 8192 bytes
Sending 55498 bytes: [########################################] 100%Sending 55498 bytes: [######################                  ]  55%
Bootrom updated successfully, switching to recovery mode
AT+SMSWBOOT=0,1 returned b'\r\nERROR\r\n'
Received ERROR from AT+SMSWBOOT=0,1! Aborting!
Success1? False
Unable to upgrade bootrom.
Success2? False
Unable to load updater from /sd/updater.elf

I am now unsure, whether or not i should try the upgrade process without using the recovery process.

sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/CATM1-38638.dup')

Does anybody know, what the worst case scenario would be? The documentation (https://docs.pycom.io/tutorials/lte/firmware.html) tells me the following:

Important: When upgrading your modem for the first time, even if you have updated it in the past with the old firmware update method, you MUST use the "recovery" upgrade method described below. Otherwise you will risk breaking your module.

But seeing the recovery mode failing for me, i don't quite see what other choice i have.
Thanks in advance for any hints.

rskoniec

@ktleh, @wtrocel, @bqpd Can you try this procedure (worked on FiPy 1.18.1.r1 with similar problem, so maybe it would be helpful to downgrade your GPy from r4 -> r1 before you'll take next steps):

Check settings with these REPL commands:

import pycom
pycom.lte_modem_en_on_boot() # to check, should be False
pycom.lte_modem_en_on_boot(0) #set to False if above command is True
pycom.lte_modem_en_on_boot() # to check again if change was made

Fresh "cable" power on - replug (not button/software reset).
Use these REPL commands:

from network import LTE
lte = LTE()
lte.send_at_cmd('AT') # few AT commands to check if modem is alive and responsive
lte.send_at_cmd('ATI')
lte.send_at_cmd('ATZ')
lte.deinit() # I suspect that this is/was the clue to resolve the upgrade issue

Normal modem REPL upgrade procedure:

from machine import SD
sd = SD()
os.mount(sd, '/sd')
os.listdir('/sd')
['CATM1-38638.dup', 'updater.elf']
import sqnsupgrade
sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/CATM1-38638.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')

Paul Thornton

Hi,

We are currently looking into this and trying to reproduce it internally. One thing I should point out that the docs dont make clear yet (a rewrite is coming that should make things much clearer).

Is that if there's a diff upgrade available from your current firmware to the latest you should use that and not the full firmware update.

rskoniec

@paul-thornton Btw, could you comment my observation about updater.elf file size in thread https://forum.pycom.io/topic/3995/fipy-firmware-upgrade-failed-cat-m1/26

What I've noticed is that updater.elf file in the previous CAT-M1/NB1 releases is the same and with a size of aprox. 300KB, but for the latest they are different for CAT-M1 (420KB) and NB1 (364KB).

Paul Thornton

@rskoniec

Hey sure, The difference in scripts is intended and not the cause of the issues. :)

bqpd

@rskoniec, @Paul-Thornton

First of all thanks a lot for your reply and help!

I tried to follow the steps @rskoniec suggested, sadly without any results. I try to share my output, maybe it helps @Paul-Thornton recreating the Error

First of all i set pycom.lte_modem_en_on_boot(0) because it was initially set to true

After a replug i tried your steps on 3 different versions of the fipy Firmware (FiPy 1.18.1.r1, FiPy 1.18.1.r4 and the new stable release FiPy 1.18.1.r7)
All giving me similar results:

When i create an LTE Object first, send some test commands and then lte.deinit() this object before attempting to upgrade the Sequans Firmware (using the differential upgrade sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')), the upgrade process doesn't even reach the AT Wakeup stage

FiPy 1.18.1.r1

>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/CATM1-39529.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater >>>
Attempting AT wakeup...
Unable to upgrade bootrom.
Unable to load updater from /sd/updater.elf

FiPy 1.18.1.r4

>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.0] >>>
>>> FiPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r4
Could not detect your modem!
Please try to power off your device and restart in safeboot mode.

FiPy 1.18.1.r7

>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.1] >>>
>>> FiPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r7
Could not detect your modem!
Please try to power off your device and restart in safeboot mode.

If i replug the device and start the upgrade process without creating an lte = LTE() Object first OR if i create an LTE Object but dont lte.deinit() it, then i get the following results:

FiPy 1.18.1.r1

>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater >>>
Attempting AT wakeup...
Starting STP (DO NOT DISCONNECT POWER!!!)
Session opened: version 1, max transfer 8192 bytes
Sending 54854 bytes: [########################################] 100%Sending 54854 bytes: [###########################             ]  67%
Bootrom updated successfully, switching to upgrade mode
Attempting AT auto-negotiation...

the device is then getting stuck in AT auto-negotiation, failing after a few minutes

ERROR sending AT command... no response? b''

FiPy 1.18.1.r4

>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.0] >>>
>>> FiPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r4
Attempting AT wakeup...
Session opened: version 1, max transfer 8192 bytes
Sending 55498 bytes: [########################################] 100%
Received ERROR from AT+SMSWBOOT=0,1! Aborting!
Unable to upgrade bootrom.
Unable to load updater from /sd/updater.elf

FiPy 1.18.1.r7

>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.1] >>>
>>> FiPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r7
Attempting AT wakeup...
Session opened: version 1, max transfer 8192 bytes
Sending 54854 bytes: [########################################] 100%
Received ERROR from AT+SMSWBOOT=0,0! Aborting!
Unable to upgrade bootrom.
Unable to load updater from /sd/updater.elf

So basically Version FiPy 1.18.1.r7 and FiPy 1.18.1.r4 are giving me two different ERROR logs:
Received ERROR from AT+SMSWBOOT=0,0! Aborting! and Received ERROR from AT+SMSWBOOT=0,1! Aborting!

However the LTE Modem is still working and responding:

>>> from network import LTE
>>> lte = LTE()
>>> lte.send_at_cmd('AT') # few AT commands to check if modem is alive and responsive
'\r\nOK\r\n'
>>> lte.send_at_cmd('ATI')
'\r\nSEQUANS Communications\r\nVZM20Q\r\nUEUnknown\r\n\r\nOK\r\n'
>>> lte.send_at_cmd('ATZ')
'\r\nOK\r\n'

During the whole process, i got an antenna attached and a SIM card inserted.

Paul Thornton

@bqpd I've pointed the relevant engineer at this thread and can confirm they are looking into it. One thing they did mention I should clear up.

If your doing a "diff upgrade" and using the diff files. You do NOT need to provide the path to a relevant updater.elf as a second param to the sqnsupgrade.run() call.

bqpd

@paul-thornton

thanks for the quick response and info!

The related code example in the documentation at https://docs.pycom.io/tutorials/lte/firmware.html is a bit misleading then, as you already stated.
It says right on top in the red warning box:

Important: When upgrading your modem for the first time, even if you have updated it in the past with the old firmware update method, you MUST use the "recovery" upgrade method described below. Otherwise you will risk breaking your module.
Please also use the file upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup (1.2M) from the archive.

import sqnsupgrade
sqnsupgrade.run('upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup', 'updater.elf')

Sadly for me, the update still wont work, even if i leave out the 'updater.elf' file parameter.
I get the following output after about 10 minutes of processing:

>>> os.listdir('/sd')
['NB1-40343.dup', 'updater.elf', 'upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup', 'upgdiff_38729-to-40343.dup']
>>> import sqnsupgrade
>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.1] >>>
>>> FiPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r7
Attempting AT wakeup...
Session opened: version 1, max transfer 8192 bytes
Sending 2280296 bytes: [                                        ]   0%SRSP header too small: 0
Code download failed, aborting!
>>> sqnsupgrade.info(True)
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.1] >>>
>>> FiPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r7
Trying to detect modem state [1/5]
Your modem is in application mode. Here is the current version:
SYSTEM VERSION
==============
  FIRMWARE VERSION
    Bootloader0* : 5.1.1.0 [33080]
    Bootloader1  : NA
    Bootloader2  : NA
    NV Info      : 1.1,0,0
    Software     : 5.1.1.0 [33080] by robot-soft at 2017-10-27 07:49:11
    UE           : Unknown
  COMPONENTS
    ZSP0         : 1.0.98-12323
    ZSP1         : 1.0.98-12295
LTE autostart disabled.

I am seeing that this seems to be a known issue (https://github.com/pycom/pycom-libraries/issues/81)

Maybe a little info about my system may help: i use Windows 7 using VisualStudio Code (alternatively i could try Linux Mint using Atom, but so far i had no reason to believe, that this is an OS related problem)
The FiPy is powered over a PySense Board with updated Firmware and the FiPy is connected to my local WLAN network and i use this connection to interface and programm the board.
I use a small 2GB Fat32 SD card from SanDisk. Seeing that the os.listdir('/sd') command worked well, i don't think that the SD card is an issue either. I also tested writing to and reading from the SD card, which was working absolutely fine.

Thanks for any help so far!

Paul Thornton

@bqpd Hi yes.

I Agree the docs around modem firmware updates are indeed misleading. a rewrite of them is high on my todo list.
thanks for trying it without the updater.elf.

combaindeft

@bqpd @Paul-Thornton

Hi guys,

We bought a bunch of FiPy's ... and one one of them, had the same issue.

lte.reset()
lte.disconnect()
lte.dettach()

Do the PyCom-thingie (detach Lipo batter, unplugg usb ... ergo HARD Reset, not soft or button ...)

pycom.lte_modem_en_on_boot(0)

Last but not least, comes the little-bit-unsure ... as I trued 1st

sqnsupgrade.run('upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup', 'updater.elf', debug=True)

as it's a new board we are updating all the firmware on

but that didn't work, so I just ran

sqnsupgrade.run('NB1-40343.dup', debug=True)

I'm going out on a limb, and guessing, that maybe in the factory when they test all the boards before shipping ... somehow ... maybe it happened that they forgot to "reset", "discennect" and "dettach" it from the LTE Base station ... and the modem thinks it's still in use ... ergo, the updater won't work ... as it modem is "enabled" ...

Paul Thornton

@combaindeft

sqnsupgrade.run('upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup', 'updater.elf', debug=True)

Diff's dont need the updater.elf param so its just

sqnsupgrade.run('upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup', debug=True)

The full upgrade does how ever need it:

sqnsupgrade.run('NB1-40343.dup', 'updater.elf', debug=True)

Ill ask someone more qualified than me to look into this as the process @ktleh took should have worked.

>>> from machine import SD
>>> sd = SD()
>>> os.mount(sd, '/sd')
>>> os.listdir('/sd')
['CATM1-38638.dup', 'updater.elf']
>>> import sqnsupgrade
>>> sqnsupgrade.run('/sd/CATM1-38638.dup', '/sd/updater.elf')

should have run just fine.

combaindeft

@paul-thornton

Hmmm, says the opposite on your docu - https://docs.pycom.io/tutorials/lte/firmware.html ...

Important: When upgrading your modem for the first time, even if you have updated it in the past with the old firmware update method, you MUST use the "recovery" upgrade method described below. Otherwise you will risk breaking your module.

Please also use the file upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup (1.2M) from the archive.

import sqnsupgrade
sqnsupgrade.run('upgdiff_33080-to-39529.dup', 'updater.elf')

and then it says, you must run it a 2nd time ...

sqnsupgrade.run('NB1-40343.dup', debug=True)

... and this is the the 1st time you ever update the modem firmware ...

Paul Thornton

@combaindeft Yup. Documentation is wrong. Ill get it updated to clarify.

florianrdt

Hi guys,
I tried to update the modem firmware of my GPy, but failed.

First I updated the firmware of the GPy with the Pycom Firmware Update Tool to version 1.18.1.r7.

Then I followed the instructions in the documentation for the update via UART Serial Interface. I downloaded the file CATM1-39529.zip and uploaded the file updater.elf via FileZilla into the Flash of the GPy. I got an error message that the connection was interrupted by a timeout, but it seemed as if the file was successfully transferred. The file sizes matched.

Then I started the update process on the Gpy

>>> import sqnsupgrade
>>> sqnsupgrade.uart(True,'/flash/updater.elf')

After the message

Going into MIRROR mode... please close this terminal to resume the upgrade via UART

I started the update process on my computer:

 >>> import sqnsupgrade
 >>> sqnsupgrade.run('COM9', 'CATM1-39529.dup')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater >>>
Attempting AT wakeup...

I got a timeout error after about 5 minutes.

After a hardreset of the GPy I restarted the update process on the GPy and got the following message:

>>> import sqnsupgrade
>>> sqnsupgrade.uart(True, '/flash/updater.elf')
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.1] >>>
>>> GPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r7
Could not detect your modem!
Please try to power off your device and restart in safeboot mode.

Currently, the LTE module can no longer be reached.

>>> from network import LTE
>>> lte = LTE()

The command hangs. SIM card is inserted.

In the forum I read already that the command

pycom.lte_modem_en_on_boot(0)

could help, but still the modem cannot be addressed.

Can you help me?

bqpd

@florianrdt What does

import sqnsupgrade
sqnsupgrade.info()

return to you?

florianrdt

@bqpd On the GPy it does

>>> import sqnsupgrade
>>> sqnsupgrade.info()
<<< Welcome to the SQN3330 firmware updater [1.2.1] >>>
>>> GPy with firmware version 1.18.1.r7
Cannot determine modem state!

The command took some while.

bqpd

@florianrdt Hmm, I think the sqnupgrade.info() method also tries to create an instance of "LTE" and is also failing.
Sorry I can't really help you. I hope your Sequans modem isn't bricked.
Maybe the developer team has some better insights and can help you. As @Paul-Thornton said, they are looking into the whole modem firmware upgrade process in the near future.

florianrdt

@bqpd ok, thanks anyway for your support!

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