WS-2000 / WS-5000 Firmware TipsIMPORTANT: The WS-2000 (same exact console as WS-5000) has two different firmware types that need to be maintained. Updating one does not update the other. Each one has its own method to perform the update. These are:
- Revision Firmware
- WiFi Firmware
WS-2000 Revision FirmwareThis is the firmware that changes how the display looks. It updates the display for new features and layout changes. These firmware updates are available from Ambient Weather from the WS-2000 Software Download section. Normally they only link to the latest version. But you can look at the link for the latest version and see the file download path and then edit the link in your browser to see the previous versions. Read the release notes here:
https://www.ambientweather.com/amwewsfidoce.htmlDownload specific versions here:
https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@site.ambientweatherstore.com/ssl/ws2000/There could be different reasons for not running the latest version. It could be that the latest version has a not yet resolved bug that was recently discovered. Or you may prefer a previous version if a feature was changed or removed. You can go back and forward version numbers. It sometimes is recommended to do a factory reset if going backwards version. This is not documented anywhere but is a normal good practice with firmware flashing. If you only go up in version number then it is not necessary to factory reset. Sometime a factory reset is a good way to solve problems that seem strange.
There are two types of files you may find in the download directory of all versions of the firmware. There are factory.bin files and there are user.bin files. There is not really a technical difference between them. You can in fact rename a factory.bin to be a user.bin or the other way around. The reason for the two different names is that at the end of the firmware upgrade the factory.bin file prompts you to press any key to reboot. But doing so causes the display tablet to reboot with the SD card still in it (as the instructions are to leave it in there and power it off). So if you reboot then as it boots up again you enter a firmware flashing again! So the same version overwrites the version you just flashed. Which means that probably the factory.bin flashing instructions that have not been published probably have a step where when it says to press any key to reboot, before pressing the key you probably should remove the SD card. Then you press any key and it reboots. After flashing with a factory.bin file the file remains on the SD card. It seems that the current versions and flashing instructions are to instead use the file named as user.bin instead of factory.bin. When using this new user.bin naming the firmware updating looks the same till it finishes and then it doesn’t prompt for a key to be pressed. Instead you see a 3 second count down and it restarts automatically. Since you’ve left the SD card inserted you would think that it would begin updating again upon reboot….but it doesn’t. Upon inspection of the SD card after a firmware flash you’ll notice that the user.bin file has been deleted. It doesn’t format the SD card…it just deletes that one user.bin file. It seems that using the user.bin file name is simpler. You can always download the file again if you are changing or testing versions and you can keep a record of all of them on your computer for possible future use. So it doesn’t matter that the file gets deleted. I’ve tested the factory.bin files and renamed them to be user.bin and it works as I’ve stated, and it also works as expected the other way around when you rename a user.bin to factory.bin.
The important thing to know when flashing an older version of the firmware is that the file must be named user.bin (or factory.bin). You’ll need to rename it as you copy it to the SD card from your computer.
The reason the older firmware files have numbers in the file name is only to identify the older versions. Today if you download user.bin it will be 1.3.7. But if a newer version comes out then Ambient renames the file in their download repository to user-1-3-7.bin or something like that. Then they place the newest version as user.bin. This allows you to always download user.bin and you don’t need to rename. But if you inadvertently click on the download link twice you may end up with more than one copy of the file on your computer. The first one will be user.bin and the second click will get renamed by your computer browser to user(1).bin or something like that. If you previously downloaded a prior version (like days, weeks before) and you didn’t delete it from your download folder then even though you think you just clicked once you are in fact downloading a second file name user.bin and it will get renamed. In this case if you go looking for user.bin that is the prior version that you never deleted in your downloads. So pay close attention to the file name that gets saved by your browser and clean out your download folder to avoid this problem.
Steps to flash Revision Firmware- Power down display tablet
- Insert SD card with user.bin file
- Power up WS-2000 display tablet
- Wait for firmware update to complete successfully and restart
- Remove SD card and insert your other optional SD card for data storage (optional step)
- Sometimes a power cycle may be needed…do one anyway for good measure.
When flashing the firmware it is rather interesting how there currently is a typo during the update process. Instead of using the word Update or Upgrade they have made up a new word Upgrate and it shows up that way a couple times.
Upgrate! (firmware flashing - do not power off)
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user.bin automatic reboot after flashing
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factory.bin prompt for any key after flashing
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Ambient's Firmware Download Repository Has MistakesThe next point I’d like to make is that it seems that the old versions that you can download have not been maintained and renamed to the appropriate version numbers. I’ve tested all these and there are a few mistakes.
download link for all versions:
https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@site.ambientweatherstore.com/ssl/ws2000/Firmware version number corrections:factory-1_0_7.bin > is really
1.0.8factory-1_1_0.bin > is really
1.0.9factory.bin > is really
1.2.0The rest of them are named correctly. (user.bin is always the current version). When a new version comes out, the prior user.bin becomes userXXX.bin where XXX represents the actual version of that file, and the newest one is put there as just user.bin. You can't flash a userXXX.bin unless you rename it first back to user.bin.
WiFi FirmwareThe other type of firmware that the WS-2000 uses is what is called the WiFi firmware. The purpose of this other firmware is to connect to your WiFi and is also responsible for uploading your data to Weather Underground and ambientweather.net …etc. When you look at your station info details in WU you’ll see this version number reported as the name of the software that you are running. For now it seems to be matching the same name and number as the WS-2902A display console. So not surprisingly the method used to update the WiFi firmware is to use the awnet app on your Android or iOS device. You can download and install the awnet app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store on your device. Once you have the awnet app and your mobile device is connected to the same network as your WS-2000 display tablet you will see it listed in the awnet app and you can then use the app to upgrade the WiFi firmware. This firmware at this point can only be upgraded to the latest version. There currently is no method of going back a version. I recommend only upgrading to the latest version after is has been published for at least a week maybe more depending on your level of comfort. A new firmware can come with unknown bugs. If you want to be the guinea pig then go ahead and let the others know if there are any issues.
You can also use the WS View app instead of the awnet app. The WS View app is maintained by Fine Offset/Ecowitt. The WS View app is used by all other Fine Offset clones, but it works for Ambient stations too.
To see what version you are running:- Gear Icon button
- Gear Icon button again 3 times (it’s in a different place now though)
- Arrow Up to About Display section
- Press + or – button to reveal info
- When done…Back arrow 2 times to go back to main display tablet view. (or wait a minute or two and it goes back automatically)
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