Check current gateware version

[Ken Kayser]

Hi all.  Brand new to hl2. Purchased a nib unit and want to check the gateware version. Is there a way to do this?  Also, I can’t seem to find where to get new gateware updates. Thanks in advance for your help. 

[Alan Hopper]

Hi,

most sdr software will display the gateware version somewhere, in SparkSDR it is in the radio settings ( the ... button above the frequency display).

73 Alan M0NNB

[radi...@mail.com]

Following on from Alan about SparkSDR, SDR Console also displays the Gateware version once the radio is started:

https://www.sdr-radio.com/

Latest Gateware (AFAIK) = 73p2. Read notes on the page for variants (like 10 RX for example):

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/tree/master/gateware/bitfiles/stable/20210730_73p2

The usual Gateware file download for transceive:

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/blob/master/gateware/bitfiles/stable/20210730_73p2/hl2b5up_main/hl2b5up_main.rbf

By far the easiest way to flash the Gateware is to use SparkSDR:

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/Updating-Gateware

As you are new to HL2. lots of information here:

http://www.hermeslite.com/

and more specifically, here:

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki

Best

Max

[Robert Benedict]

Max

  Thanks for the great summary info. I copied this into Evernote, my replacement for long term memory.

      Bob

[radi...@mail.com]

It's a pleasure Bob and welcome to the Hermes Lite clan. You will not regret your purchase I am sure.

73

Max

[Gregory Schippers]

In console, the Gateware is shown here:

[Bob Barnum]

Thanks Max. Looking forward to using and experimenting. Currently have flex 6600 & IC7610 running remote. Got started down the down the path in 2010 with a K3, external sound card & LP Pan and modified Power SDR.  From there it's been a great ride. Looking at implementing pure signal at some point when I get back home to Wisconsin. As am wintering in South Tx but will have time to learn and try different SDR software setups. Also have an Expert 1.3FA amp that with 5 watts will go around 600 or so. I would like to modify the KPA 500 I have for a lower input of 5 watts so have plenty of projects lined up for the spring. Looks like this will be an excellent group to use as a resource.

Bob KC9RF

[David Cappello]

Hello all,

Like Ken - I am also new to HL2 - I just finished my assembly and I think I have a working unit but I am unsure - I get a link light on the ethernet port and a blinking red RUN/CLX and TX/IP LED - https://youtu.be/vHbogCvJSVo  I have tried SDR-Console and SPARK-SDR under windows to "see" the radio on the ethernet - I see nothing.   I did some packet captures and I can see my DHCP server handing on an IP address but I am unable to ping it - So now I am thinking I have some sort of issue - anybody have some creative ideas of what/where I should go next ?   TIA 

73!! David (KG5EIU) 
 

[Thomas Beiderwieden]

Hi David,

if you know what IP address your dhcp server has handed out to the HL2, maybe you try to put this address into SparkSDR as a fixed address as a test. You can do this in the radio settings menu, see attached file.

vy 73 de Thomas, DL3EL

[David Cappello]

Thank you Thomas - After working for a few hours on this and reading etc. I unplugged everything - verbally threatened the box to be put it up on the shelf never to be seen again -   came back a few hours later plugged it all in one more time and BOOM - I was able to access the radio over my network with both SPARKSDR and SDRConsole - next I'd like to make sure I am running the most stable suggested good software (gateware) version looking at my board builds are:  main build9   filter board E5b9 and SDRConsole is reporting Ver: 72.8, RX:4  I welcome suggestions on code to load - as I understand I can use SparkSDR to load a single .rbf file to update ?  TIA    My build gallery here:  https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAvxmL  

[Thomas Beiderwieden]

Best guess is, the verbal threat has done the trick. I had the same here :-)

As a software, I am personally a big fan of SparkSDR. It is nearly perfect to operate the HL2 as a remote station. The lastest gateware, as of my knowledge, is 73.3 for the 4 RX version. It is abelled a a testversion, I have it running for over a year, without any issues. The 10 RX vesion is awesome, however, that is rx only.

vy 73 de Thomas, DL3EL