Changelog

original source¹⁾

download folder of the firmware for RED and BLUE

Changes in Firmware for Blitzortung.org RED/BLUE controller. Not all changes/fixes are listed here.

Firmware_9.2_BLUE.bin Firmware_9.2_BLUE_9.2-0-ga99a486_20181231_1125_0c6ff3041150841c53f6b3d62611aa6c.dfu.zip Firmware_9.2_RED.bin Firmware_9.2_RED_9.2-0-ga99a486_20181231_1124_a184d3826b85691490bb67a4855d6423.dfu.zip

• new: added HTTP proxy option for remote control
• new: rebooting via HTTP works now even when there's no memory left (..&action=do_reboot)
• new: prepared for sending noise signals to server
• new: debugging option for 1PPS counter
• fix: lowered memory usage for remote control requests
• due to space limitations, jquery and jqplot isn't included in firmware anymore and will be loaded from the web (RED)

Firmware_9.1_BLUE.bin Firmware_BLUE_9.1-0-gc42b5cd_20180808_2112_3f46ad5ffce2d1839c1a2b2237522dc4.dfu Firmware_9.1_RED.bin Firmware_RED_9.1-0-gc42b5cd_20180808_2110_3c78df78fc1fb08614dcf3a245526fd6.dfu.zip

• send some more status information about each signal to server
• fix: sending control requests too often
• fix: out of memory when sending too much channels to signal plot
• fix: showed too high PCB version
• switched to GCC ARM Embedded 7 2018 q2 toolchain

Firmware_9.0_BLUE.bin Firmware_BLUE_9.0-0-g950d115_20180609_1946_060acc5eb5ff5b6bee8d018b7a32ee4f.dfu.zip Firmware_9.0_RED.bin Firmware_RED_9.0-0-g950d115_20180609_1940_b2bb4f9b6b4496957f1869440c8ffbea.dfu.zip

• new: support of PCB 19.5
• new: basic support of UBX message format for u-blox MAX-M8W GNSS module
• fix: messages on status page disappeared after one second
• fix: limit frequencies for hardware filter to ~300kHz
• fix: init tracker settings after switching modes

BETA release! Firmware_9.0b1_BLUE.bin Firmware_BLUE_9.0b1-0-g9d05184_20180513_1108_b7146be9891208a6e85d0675ef1da8e6.dfu Firmware_9.0b1_RED.bin Firmware_RED_9.0b1-0-g9d05184_20180513_1103_a6cef75ceff0e5f04221b23eaa1c7fdc.dfu

• new: DSP for checking/filtering signals (not functional yet)
• new: added option to correct the offset in the graph
• new: option to send debug log to a syslog server IP address (UDP)
• new: support of u-blox module MAX-M8W (GNSS/SBAS-settings and reset-commands not working yet)
• improved(?) GNSS init process
• removed debug code and improved data structures to reduce memory usage (RAM and firmware size)
• lowered amount of data to reload status page
• reduced stack size
• fix: workaround for USB-VCOM not working on PCB 19.4 in case VBUS solder bridge is not closed (BLUE)
• fix: don't update existing server IP with empty IP address “0.0.0.0”
• fix: remote setting of sample rate not working
• fix: sending UDP packets to multiple servers
• fix: no automatic gain changes for RED amplifiers in certain situation
• fix: timer in debug log twice as fast than normal

Firmware_8.4_BLUE.bin Firmware_BLUE_8.4-0-g3d5be78_20180117_1215_8605fea30a25e8068d7f8cbb93c48366.dfu Firmware_8.4_RED.bin Firmware_RED_8.4-0-g3d5be78_20180117_1220_53ef817e095c943e8ee956beea289ecc.dfu

• new: mouseover for satellites
• fix: try to initialize amplifier more often after reboot (RED)

BETA release! Firmware_8.4b5_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.4b5_RED.bin

• new: added cpu info in status json file
• fix: also read GNSS data from GNGSA message

BETA release! Firmware_8.4b4_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.4b4_RED.bin

• new: ability to send noise data to servers
• new: logo animation (click to disable)
• change: “00:00” isn't a valid reboot time any more (leave it disabled or use another random time)
• improve: faster startup time
• improve: amplitude filters with higher resolution (64 slots instead of 32)
• fix: watchdog will be disabled in rare cases → enable watchdog periodically (again)
• fix: missing last byte in compressed UDP packets
• fix: buzzer ticks on every consecutive signals instead of every 20th
• fix: don't apply user gain level in auto-adaption (i.e. on startup), just use them as max. allowed gain
• fix: DHCP was not always assigned when “link up” condition was missing on startup due to race condition
• fix: DHCP was not assigned when same static IP was used as fallback
• fix: DHCP timeout due to disabled system timer for some seconds during startup
• fix: voltage/PPS sampling resulted in unexpected behavior and hard faults due to developers stupidity
• fix: don't display usless unknown GPS sentences
• fix: auto refresh of status page did stop when controller ran out of memory
• several minor fixes (debug messages etc.)
• switched to GCC ARM Embedded 7 2017 q4 toolchain

BETA release! Firmware_8.4b3_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.4b3_RED.bin

• fix: static IP settings not working in last firmware

BETA release! Firmware_8.4b2_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.4b2_RED.bin

• flash “Fault LED” when signal couldn't be sent due to network or GPS error
• improved and cleaned up DHCP and network stuff
• show GALILEO satellites with “G” in overview
• also show “Unsaved settings…” dialog on “Status” and “Signals” page
• enabled some DHCP debugging (BLUE only)

BETA release! Firmware_8.4b1_BLUE.bin Firmware_BLUE_8.4b1-0-gb80ae08_20171203_2232_90658fedb93d72a1e4654a06b482a760.dfu Firmware_8.4b1_RED.bin Firmware_RED_8.4b1-0-gb80ae08_20171203_2236_6a462296951d8410554ff4ecb0ae7bc1.dfu

• new: added GLONASS support (experimental!) [BLUE]
• changed to new logo
• fix: correct hiding of “save to flash and reboot message”
• improved: USB ↔ GPS module passthrough
• upgraded lwip to version 2.0.x (needs testing!)

Firmware_8.3_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.3_RED.bin

• new: support of PCB 19.4
• new: added experimental support for GALILEO (firmware update of GNSS-module needed) [BLUE]
• new: GNSS data pass-through via USB (no fw update possible)
• added some more checks for AD converters
• fix: integer overflow of “bytes sent” values
• fix: applied patch on lwip which fixes DHCP issues (untested)
• switched to GCC ARM Embedded 6 2017 q2 toolchain

BETA release! Firmware_8.3b2_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.3b2_RED.bin

• slightly raised some network buffers
• fix: crash when no crash occured before reset

BETA release! Firmware_8.3b1_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.3b1_RED.bin

• new: browse last signals in signal view
• new: button for entering DFU mode over web-interface
• new: option for silent reboot on hardfault
• new: send call stack on errors [BLUE]
• change: automatic reboot just before firmware flashing
• fix: added correct text to button description in “guide” [BLUE]
• fix: removed memory leak in signal view javascript
• fix: repaired anti-ADC-watchdog-lock-watchdog from FW 8.2
• fix: HTTP-client sometimes used wrong port number to connect
• fix: wrong MD5 checksum of firmware when flashed external
• switched to GCC ARM Embedded 5.4 2016q3 toolchain

Firmware_8.2_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.2_RED.bin

• fix: reset ADC watchdog interrupt when watchdog-flag is set for two seconds
• fix: out of memory when sending to more than one region
• fix: memory allocation errors related to network stack

Firmware_8.1_BLUE.bin Firmware_BLUE_8.1.dfu Firmware_8.1_RED.bin

• fix: improvements for hard fault crashes and some more debug information
• fix: workaround/test for possible crashes on some specific stations

BETA release! Firmware_8.1b1_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.1b1_RED.bin

• fix: restart ADC-watchdog after offset refresh

Firmware_8.0_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.0_RED.bin

• support for PCB 19.3
• additional remote debug information in specific hard fault situations
• refresh offset error more often
• fix: ignoring GPS messages from QZSS satellite
• fix: port number was ignored for http-requests
• fix: firmware upload under linux failed due to timeouts
• fix: use helvetia as fallback for arial on web-interface
• fix: hide analogue user input when not available [BLUE]
• fix: sometimes no restart or crash after firmware update

BETA release! Firmware_8.0b5_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.0b5_RED.bin

• filter settings visible when solder bridge J0 closed [BLUE]
• description for input selection instead of input numbers [BLUE]
• sending information about inputs and filters to computing server [BLUE]
• minor changes in server urls for remote config
• lowered max opened and listening tcp connection
• factory settings/debug mode with BOOT1 button: press and hold for 2s/10s just after reset [BLUE]
• fix: raised stack memory size and added collision check
• fix: network LED stayed off after blinking, even when status is good [BLUE]
• fix (maybe): threshold/signal detection stopped after some when time in manual mode w/o noise adaption
• fix: minor issue that click on Firmware Update button had no effect
• switched to GCC ARM Embedded 5.3 2016q1 toolchain

BETA release! Firmware_8.0b4_BLUE.bin

• re-added debug output via USB connector [BLUE]
• blue LED now blinks every second to show good GPS [BLUE]
• static gain information of onboard amps modified (not the final value) [BLUE]
• fix: no sampling after startup in case all thresholds are default values (120mV) [BLUE]

BETA release! Firmware_8.0b3_BLUE.bin Firmware_8.0b3_RED.bin

• final changes regarding PCB 19.1 [BLUE]
• try to test whether on-board amplifier is “connected” by raising gains to maximum [BLUE/dev]
• less CPU usage when playing signals through buzzer
• not so much beeping on GPS error
• fix: disabling LEDs by LCD sleep resulted in broken LCD and amplifier1 communication [RED] or other disabled pins [BLUE/dev]
• fix: after firmware flash update procedure, the reset was broken
• fix: infinitife loop in rare cases due to non-initialized debug UART DMA
• fix: button has to be released after reset to factory settings to prevent too much writes to flash on boards without button
• fix: display stays dark with factory settings [RED]
• fix: network performance problems with on board MAC due to DMA buffer underflow handling [dev]

Not fixed yet: Loosing amplifiers (RED only so far) and sudden reboots.

BETA release! Firmware_8.0b2_RED.bin

• added basic signal wave generator for testing amplifier [BLUE]
• improved sampling of external voltages/1pps and added more channel(s)
• show only usable channels on amplifier to buzzer output
• no more automatic reboot at 00:00 by default
• added possibility to completely disable amplifier channel
• changed behaviour of LEDs [BLUE]
• enabled button [BLUE/dev]
• added more channels colors to the LCD display [dev]
• manual change of link speed (not working yet) [dev]
• use interrupt instead of polling for Ethernet [dev]
• fix: don't show username to guests
• fix: sometimes corrupted data due to encoding
• fix: transmitted non-encoded data with wrong channel number
• fix: calculated sample rate had minor deviations
• fix: amplifier sometimes doesn't get recognized after reconnect
• fix: static IPs not working / sometimes crash when releasing DHCP
• fix: some memory allocation bugs
• fix: wrong ADC ↔ amplifier channel assignment / restart ADC in case of failure
• fix: handle ADC overrun condition
• switched to GCC ARM Embedded 5.2 2015q4 toolchain (→ smaller firmware size)

–> reached over 40000 lines of own code - aaargh…

BETA release! Firmware_8.0b1_RED.bin

• new: added support of BLUE final and development PCBs, which includes:

1. MEDIATEK MT3333 GPS chipset
2. gain and input changes of op amps through SPI
3. clock output for low pass filter ICs
4. more LEDs
5. STM32F42x CPU-Line [dev]
6. Ethernet through integrated MAC [dev]
7. ILI9341 TFT display [dev]
8. Reading touch screen values through STM32 ADCs [dev]

• new: direct adjusting sampling frequency through timer
• new: compression of UDP packets (lzfx)
• new: delta encoding of channel
• new: non-lossless encoding of channel data by cutting out noise
• new favicon depending on system
• fix: uploading firmware fails occacionally
• improvement: lots of general changes “under the hood”
• improvement: minor style changes in the signal graph
• lots of bugfixes

Firmware_7.4_RED.bin

• minified css/js files
• fix: IE gets confused by .gz file ending –> use normal file ending

Firmware_7.3_RED.bin

• added information about current mode and some color to the status page

BETA release! Firmware_7.3b1_RED.bin

• GPS: added availability value in web interface
• NET: added MTU config option
• change outgoing UDP port every 5 minutes
• changed Google Maps link to “.com”
• fix: prevent sending accidentaly triggered signals
• fix: small bug in action numbering
• fix: lower browser memory usage for status page

Firmware_7.2_RED.bin

• TOA-ALERTS: general improvements
• fix: problem with remote control of filter

Firmware_7.1_RED.bin

• TOA-ALERTS: general improvements
• fix: memory leak in action URL call

Firmware_7.0_RED.bin

• show hint when amp 12 is on input 2 or amp 13 is on input 1
• AS3935: minor fixes, automatic calibraton checks
• fix: filter and adaption disable option per channel couldn't be disabled
• fix: possible memory leak in actions
• fix: remote control messages

BETA release! Firmware_7.0b5_RED.bin

• fix: auto gain adjustment sometimes stalled
• AS3935: several minor changes in error handling

BETA release! Firmware_7.0b4_RED.bin

• AS3935: raised IRQ level
• improvments regarding remote control

BETA release! Firmware_7.0b3_RED.bin

• NEW: sampling of 5V power supply with rate of 8.5MSps
• raised thresholds for auto amplitude filters a lot to prevent loosing too much signals
• fix: no more mysterious gain changes (introduced in 7.0b1)
• fix: raised max. length of action URL again

BETA release! Firmware_7.0b2_RED.bin

• added filter debug checkbox
• show filters for each channel in signal view
• reset network hardware if remote config connection fails too often
• fix: urlencode strings in user URLs
• fix: load user gains/threshold on disabling auto adapt feature

BETA release! Firmware_7.0b1_RED.bin

• NEW: Filter by occurence of max. amplitudes in signals
• NEW: LEDs can be switched off when LCD dimmed
• improved support for new E-field amplifier
• improvements in some other filters
• noise adaption can be disabled for single channels
• some improvents in noise adaption
• force lower gain, if to high/low voltage (noise) affects ADC accuracy
• support manufacturer GNS as GPS device
• fix: GPS data sync bug
• fix: raised max. length of URL
• fix: noise adaption stuck in gain 2*2
• fix: minor LCD distortions
• switched to GCC ARM Embedded 4.8 2014q1 toolchain

Firmware_6.8_RED.bin

• AS3935: added URL parameters: strokes_all, disturbers_all, events
• minor changes in communication with amplifier
• fix: memory leak when too much HTTP ressources needed
• fix: enabling potentiometer through LCD working again

Firmware_6.7_RED.bin

• WEB: responsive design for smartphones (beta!)
• WEB: added station id in head - click to show it in the title
• removed antenna selection and information
• raised some network resources and lowered memory consumption
• fix: connection issues with HTTP control in combination with some routers/firewalls (thx to Don)
• fix: noise adaptation not working when threshold is zero (in automatic mode)
• fix: plot and satellite not showing just after firmware update
• fix: clarified the “Pending…” message after firmware upload and auto refresh of the page
• fix: no more log out after firmware upload when auth is enabled

Firmware_6.6_RED.bin

• WEB: show link to changelog when new FW available
• WEB: show NTP request count
• WEB: some style changes
• WEB: seconds converted to days/hours/minutes
• no-connection reboot/timeout set to 2 hours
• fix: web alert sounds
• fix: memory curruption on boot caused by alert settings
• fix: stack curruption due to AS3935 actions (!)
• fix: ADC hangs on re-init

Firmware_6.5_RED.bin

• NEW: StratumOne NTP time-server (not as accurate as similar products due to hardware restrictions)
• ALERTS: settings always visible, even when server is not capable for it
• AS3935: Tune capacitor value can be manually adjusted
• ACTIONS: more parameters added to the URL depending on calling peripheral
• ACTIONS: can be called by URL now
• ACTIONS: added status on main page
• WEB/ACTIONS: alert sounds through browser on action (toggle by clicking on name in status, saved in a cookie)
• WEB: changed method of loading javascripts (one big file instead of several small ones)
• WEB: menu instead of dropdown-box on settings page
• fix: no more gain changes by noise adaptation when amplifier potentiometer is enabled
• fix: hardened web-based firmware update, so that it retries on flash write error (and does not stop as it was before)

Firmware_6.4_RED.bin

• new map of GPS satellite constellation
• fix for fix for problems with negative smoothed GPS coordinates after boot (sorry again)
• other minor fixes

Firmware_6.3_RED.bin

• some changes on auto noise adaptation
• fix: web-interface firmware update repaired and implemented some function to warn developer when not working
• fix: problems with negative smoothed GPS coordinates after boot (sorry region 2+3)

Firmware_6.2_RED.bin

• improved auto adapt to noise level adjustment (shared channel support, remote configurable)
• I2C: frequency can be changed
• fix: don't display “STR” when no alerts are enabled and AS3935 is not present
• fix: auto-config stays in interference mode when noise level was too high
• fix: minor signal display issues

Firmware_6.1_RED.bin

• NEW: automatic gain/threshold ↔ noise level adjustment (very beta!)
• WEB: minor improvments on signal view
• WEB: message when firmware update check fails
• LOG: Enable USB-Virtual-COM-Port when pressing blue button before booting
• SYS: faster boot, but show boot screen for some seconds
• AS3935: don't create new event when no lightning has been detected
• fix: on multiple alert events, call action with highest priority only (for TOA and AS3935)
• fix: bug, which caused too high CPU usage
• fix: wait some time before reset GPS smoothing
• fix: memory leak in webserver

Firmware_6.0_RED.bin

• NEW: ACTIONS and lightning ALERTS - individual combinations of TOA-lightning, AS3935, I/Os and buzzer sounds
• WEB: open parts of webpages in a separate popup window
• WEB: live plot with received/sent signals on status page
• TRACKER: filter out spikes caused by digital signals the controller hardware (lower thresholds possible)
• TRACKER: record noise level of 10 times per second (can be displayed in signal view)
• TRACKER: prevent overlap of two consecutive signals (up to 50% overlapping before)
• ADC: Alternate channel mapping when two amps connected: use same threshold for whole amplifier instead of same channel of both amplifiers
• LOG: Option to use micro-USB-jack as virtual COM-port to see debug output (very beta!)
• AS3935: nicer display of events in web-interface

• WEB: signal rate in title
• WEB: using dynamic memory for webpage contents
• WEB: slightly darker fonts on the web-interface
• WEB: improved data transmission signal view: can now be used on more than one device at the same time
• WEB: thresholds in graph
• AMP: Option for a channel, so that it won't be transmitted to servers (for experiments)
• SYS: Option to reboot once per day at given time
• SYS: Option for CPU sleep mode, which saves up to 40mA@3V (CPU usage calculation doesn't work with it)
• SYS: Option for voltage check toggle, for those who have problems here
• SYS: Option for flash prefetch toggle, which eliminating some (very low) noise in ADCs
• SYS: Check whether uploaded FW is equal to running firmware
• LCD: Option to disable LCD page looping: page will stay on user selected one (and return there after an event)
• BUZZER: different way of playing sounds (unfortunately deep beep is not as loud as before)
• LOG: introduced console-commands: r=reboot, m=free dynamic mem, s=show memory content
• LOG: logging debug output via UDP (like good old tracker XT; enabled by server)
• GPS: smooth values stay after reset (using backup SRAM)
• GPS: faster availability of GPS after reboot
• AS3935: sending events to server via remote config
• AS3935: auto noise floor adjustemnt
• USER-I/O: added high-impedance output option
• NET: (maybe bugfix) reset network when no ingoing packet for some time
• fix: don't touch USER-I/O when not enabled (may solve issue with buzzer)
• fix: several bugs on AS3935 and USER-I/O functions
• switched to GCC ARM Embedded 4.8 2013q4 toolchain (→ smaller binary on the same optimization level)

Firmware_5.0_RED.bin

• NEW: 1PPS-sampling with 8.4MSps to check timings and 1PPS quality
• NEW: Live status display in web-interface
• NEW: Possibility to connect AS3935 lightning sensor via I2C (experts only)
• NEW: I/Os for own purposes (experts only !!!)
• minor changes in networking
• supports PCB-Id 2 (10.4)
• minor layout changes
• fix: reset ENC28J60 on error and no more ENC28J60 interrupt on error (fixes high CPU usage)
• fix: signal page timeout detection on refresh
• fix: some values on http remote config weren't updated

Firmware_4.5_RED.bin

• reboot when no http-connection or no valid information got over remote config
• improved GPS smoothing behavior and lowered tolerance
• LCD can be rotated by 180 degrees
• fix: memory not freed when control connection could not be established
• fix: some more memory leaks closed
• fix: no more init loops for non Mediatek GPS modules
• fix: DHCP renew works now
• fix: blue LED forgets blinking on some 1PPS pulses
• updated to GCC ARM Embedded 4.7 2013q3 toolchain

Firmware_4.4_RED.bin

• buzzer signal output settings can be saved to flash now
• GPS individual command text field
• GPS PA6H init enables AIC and disables EASY (see PA6H datasheet for more info)
• signal view: settings saved in cookies
• fix: don't show valid uploaded firmware when it's no more available in flash

Firmware_4.3_RED.bin

• volume changes for signal pass-through
• fix: controller-id scrambled on LCD on station setup
• fix: faster update of signal times in LCD

Firmware_4.2_RED.bin

• fix: firmware upload works now in Chrome
• fix: GPS improvements, EM406 should work now

Firmware_4.1_RED.bin

• Amplifier → Buzzer output improved! Hear stroke discharges during normal operation
• CPU-Load estimation
• Show save-button when unsaved settings exist
• LCD boot image
• added a small guide in under “About”
• several small improvements and bugfixes

Firmware_4.0_RED.bin

• NEW: Firmware-Update with browser
• NEW: LCD-Driver by Roland (some fine-tuning needed)
• NEW: filter signals on too high amplitudes (currently only via remote config)
• show info when settings are not saved
• show warning when javascript disabled
• check auth also for debug log and signal data requests
• fix: DHCP retry when failed
• fix: could not save settings on first start

Firmware_3.3_RED.bin

• reboot after 2 hours when not getting any connection
• fix: could not save LCD contrast/backlight
• fix: smoothing wrong GPS values when running >1day

Firmware_3.2_RED.bin

• averaging and beep on signal page
• fix: live signal stopped working after some seconds on non-Firefox browsers
• fix: DHCP and Network timeout beavior
• fix: Potentiometer setting not working
• fix: Wrong samplerate in graph
• fix: Antenna not shown to guest

Firmware_3.1_RED.bin

• fix: LCD not working with factory settings
• fix: Logout on maximize
• fix: wrong reset value was sent

Firmware_3.0_RED.bin

• NEW: more info and options on the signal page
• NEW: live message log window (see tools)
• added header for IE10 (press Alt+S if it's still not working)
• fixed backlight=0% could not be saved
• fixed (maybe) some hard fault conditions
• fixed sudden disconnect on changing network settings

Firmware_2.5_RED.bin

• sending program counter to server after hardfault reset
• LCD brightness 100% on reset
• fixed buffer overflow on parsing antenna string from server

Firmware_2.4_RED.bin

• check position accuracy on smoothing
• fixed wrong visibility of gain settings

Firmware_2.3_RED.bin

• added debug output on hardfault (serial+LCD)
• enable antenna status for PA6H with newer firmware
• signal page works now with resolution != 12bit
• disable LCD backlight PWM on 100% brightness
• Change amplifier LEDs remotely
• fixed crash in http client
• fixed crash on wrong pcb-id
• fixed threshold value display

Firmware_2.2_RED.bin

• added expire header for IE
• added warm start tool for GPS
• added trigger statistics for channels
• GPS startup timeout increased to 300s
• GPS firmware requests improved + support for SiRF (untested)
• possibility to add small help buttins on the web interface
• even more interference mode improvements
• fixed crash/reboot on high signal rate (network stall)
• fixed LED bootup sequence indicator (for debug purposes)
• fixed missing new line in remote request
• fixed LCD refresh
• fixed broken station control POST request

Firmware_2.1_RED.bin

• Better handling of interference mode: instead of switching on-off-on-off… it stays in interference mode for a while
• Adjust buzzer beep on interference mode delay
• Webserver port can be changed
• info about station-id/user-id on LCD
• GPS tools for your module
• GPS position smoothing
• fixed some remote-control bugs
• fixed signal view not updating in IE

Firmware_2.0_RED.bin

• Initial release for all participants