Topic: WIttboy aka W90 firmware update with dfu-util (Linux)

[BaseLine]

Hello
I have no wish to brick my WS90  ...
Have any of you managed to update Ecowitt Witboy (or similar devices) with dfu-util or do you know, how to do it?
My W90 firmware seems to be ancient (1.0.95) and I decided to update it to the latest available one.
 
I do not have MS Windows nor do I plan to install it (virtual or separate partition) so please, save your time recommending it. Thank you. I also do not have the bandwidth do download it.

I have installed dfu-util , and got the WS90_V1.2.5.dfu file.

dfu-util 0.11 finds the device without any problems.

Code: [Select]

./dfu-util -lv

Found DFU: [0483:df11] ver=0200, devnum=7, cfg=1, intf=0, path="1-2",
alt=0, name="@Internal Flash   /0x08000000/192*256ba,320*256bg", serial="00000000001A"


[olicat]

Hi!

So far, no one has dared to try it out. At least I can't remember any such reports.
So you could be the first to gather experience. Or even the first to brick the sensor...

I think the risk is actually manageable if the device is displayed. But of course I can't give any guarantee and I'm not sure I would have the courage to try it out.

There is also an Android app that could possibly be used to upgrade the WS90. But as far as I know, no one has tried that yet either.
I would find that much more interesting than always having to climb to the sensor with the notebook.

How brave are you?


Oliver

[BaseLine]

I used

Code: [Select]

./dfu-util -vv -a 0 -D /tmp/WS90_V1.2.5.dfu

I think the firmware versions app is reporting is actually the gateway or the phone app.
I have no idea did it work or not. S

BTW, how can I find out what's the firmware version is?

[Gyvate]

BTW, how can I find out what's the firmware version is?

by reading the firmware section of our MUST READ thread
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=40730.0 

When your GW1100 or GW2000 is on FW >= 2.1.6, you can hover with the mouse pointer over the WS90 icon in the sensorsID page of the WebUI - and the WS90 FW should be shown
e.g.
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[Gyvate]

I do not have MS Windows nor do I plan to install it (virtual or separate partition) so please, save your time recommending it. Thank you. I also do not have the bandwidth do download it.

an imho practical alternative could be to borrow a Windows laptop from an acquaintance and do the upgrade 
(if the acquaintance agrees  ) - would save a lot of time, no risk ...

[BaseLine]

an imho practical alternative could be to borrow a Windows laptop from an acquaintance and do the upgrade 
(if the acquaintance agrees  ) - would save a lot of time, no risk ...

NO  

[olicat]

Hi BaseLine,

BTW, how can I find out what's the firmware version is?

in the meantime, can you confirm that you were able to update the WS90 with Linux? Have you checked the current version number?
That would be nice for all of us to know. Thank you very much!

Oliver

[BaseLine]

I have no idea did it update or not but it was sending data to GW2000 just fine.
I seems I had forgotten the gateway password so I did a "reset", logged in and now the WS90 is not showing up any more. The blue light indicating connection between the gateway and WS blinks like it's receiving data but nothing shows up on admin page or in my phone app. 

[olicat]

Hi!

You should try to reregister the WS90 in the WSView Plus app or the admin interface on the GW2000.
More/Sensors ID - Disable, enable, re-register. Something like that.
Beware!
Do not use the WSView app but the WSView Plus app (or the http page).

Oliver

[Gyvate]

I have no idea did it update or not but it was sending data to GW2000 just fine.
I seems I had forgotten the gateway password so I did a "reset", logged in and now the WS90 is not showing up any more. The blue light indicating connection between the gateway and WS blinks like it's receiving data but nothing shows up on admin page or in my phone app.

did you do another WS90 sensor reset after the upgrade ?
you have to press the reset button again for 5-10 seconds after the upgrade completed - once the blue LED of the WS90 is blinking again every 9 seconds, the GW2000 should recognize it.
If you have (had ?) noted down the sensor ID of the WS90 before (something I recommend for all sensors !), you could manually register it again.

[BaseLine]

did you do another WS90 sensor reset after the upgrade ?
you have to press the reset button again for 5-10 seconds after the upgrade completed - once the blue LED of the WS90 is blinking again every 9 seconds, the GW2000 should recognize it.
If you have (had ?) noted down the sensor ID of the WS90 before (something I recommend for all sensors !), you could manually register it again.

What I did with WS90:

I plugged in the USB. It did not show up on my list of USB devices.

I held the Reset button down for about 5 sec and the blue light starts to blink

Code: [Select]

lsusb
Bus 001 Device 022: ID 0483:df11 STMicroelectronics STM Device in DFU Mode

I ran dfu-util and it seems to upload what ever it uploads but it never exist cleanly. Just hangs there showing:

Code: [Select]

Erasing page size 256 at address 0x08017200, page starting at 0x08017200
   Poll timeout 50 ms
   Poll timeout 0 ms
 Download from image offset 00000000 to memory 0800c000-0800c3ff, size 1024
  Setting address pointer to 0x0800c000
   Poll timeout 50 ms
   Poll timeout 0 ms

SO, after a while I stopped it, unplugged the WS90 from USB and held the Reset for 5 sec.... nothing.
10 sec.... still nothing

I guess I have a nice 300+ EUR doorstop
 

[Gyvate]

What I did with WS90:

I plugged in the USB. It did not show up on my list of USB devices.

I held the Reset button down for about 5 sec and the blue light starts to blink

After plugging in the mini-USB, you have to press the reset button for 5-10 seconds until the blue LED which was blinking before shows a constant blue light.
Only then the WS90 can be recognized as a USB device.
Then do the upload (your log seems to show that nothing happened - only timeout).
Make sure you don't confuse the CAL button with the RESET button.
Maybe try again ....

[Gyvate]

I guess I have a nice 300+ EUR doorstop

if you really need a new WS90, it will be rather 200 EUR than 300 EUR (see shop.ecowitt.com) - your GW2000 should still work 

[olicat]

Hi!

Where did you read about the 5 or 10 seconds? The instructions I have for the update only say "Press Reset".
I only ever press it briefly once.

Oliver

[Gyvate]

Hi!
Where did you read about the 5 or 10 seconds? The instructions I have for the update only say "Press Reset".
I only ever press it briefly once.
Oliver

From Henry (Ecowitt) in the Facebook Wittboy Betatest Group ...
And that's how I did it so far several times successfully 
It may be redundant to press the button that long - but it worked (or didn't keep it from working).
And confusing the buttons can easily happen ...

[BaseLine]

After plugging in the mini-USB, you have to press the reset button for 5-10 seconds until the blue LED which was blinking before shows a constant blue light.

Makes no difference if I hold it for 5 10 or 15 seconds, it ends up blinking and shows up as STMicroelectronics STM Device in DFU Mode.

[Rover1822]

After plugging in the mini-USB, you have to press the reset button for 5-10 seconds until the blue LED which was blinking before shows a constant blue light.

Makes no difference if I hold it for 5 10 or 15 seconds, it ends up blinking and shows up as STMicroelectronics STM Device in DFU Mode.

I believe you want to be disconnected at that final reset

[DelChard]

A shot in the dark.
The instructions for dfuse require you to explicitly leave dfu mode.
In dfu-util this would be :leave
Example from dfu-util
$ dfu-util -a 0 -s 0x08004000:leave -D /path/to/image.bin

[BaseLine]

The instructions for dfuse require you to explicitly leave dfu mode.

No such requirement. Looks like it's only used when dealing with bin files.

[DelChard]

I only have a WS80, so maybe the instruction is different. See item 5
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[olicat]

Hi!

The identical picture and procedure applies to the description of the WS90 update, which is included as a pdf "WS90 Firmware upgrade Help File.pdf" in every firmware update ZIP package (also in v1.2.5).

I wrote a small batch script to help me to remember all the things to do in the right order.
Here're the echos from the script file:

mini howto updating the WS90 sensor
1. plug in USB cable
2. reset WS90 device (left button on WS90)
3. start DfuSeDemo.exe
4. choose upload file (middle button in the lower area)
5. mark "Verify after download"
6. start Upgrade (button)
7. leave DFU mode (button)
8. unplug USB cable
9. reset WS90 device (left button on WS90)

This way I already updated my WS90 several times.

Oliver

[olicat]

Hi BaseLine,

WS90 firmware 1.2.5 is a joke. Do not update. I get rain in early mornings while the sky is clear.
I think it's water form melting frost.

so you're back in the game? How did you achieve that?
Please share your findings here! This can help others a lot.
Thanks!

Regards, Oliver

[chineplate]

v1.2.5 doesn’t appear fit for purpose.
Updated to v1.2.5 yesterday and this morning receiving several indications of light rain, in total 1mm. Problem is, it’s been a dry day with clear sky.
Reverting back to 1.2.3

[nobelium]

I'm also desperate to get my hands on dfu-util since it works on macOS and I don't have any Windows machine laying around. Has anyone had any progress so far emulating DfuSe?

[MonsterDog6]

Phantom rain issue mostly fixed with ver.126

https://osswww.ecowitt.net/uploads/20220921/WS90_V1.2.6%20Firmware%20&%20Toolkit.zip