SARA-R510M8S bricked after Firmware update

Wireless & IoT Cellular
1

Firstly, I did search the community and found a few posts with similar issues, but I could find no replies that helped.

When I tried to connect my DEV-17272 Asset Tracker to the uBlox m-center software, I received an indication that the SARA-R510M8S firmware was out of date and required an update. I went to the uBlox SARA-R5 product page, downloaded EasyFlash (13.09.1.4) along with the latest FW and tried to update the firmware . [note: I’ve updated uBlox GNSS and SARA-R4 series parts multiple times-successfully).

The update hung with the first green bar on the status page and stayed there for over 12 hours. STOP was unsuccessful.

Now, the SARA-R510M8S won’t even acknowledge the attempt to update and loops with:
[2] Connection timeout. Trying again…
[2] Connecting to bootrom (reset it now)…

…eventually, I get a message that the Easyflash App is stopping due to a boot target failure.

What can I do to get good code back onto the SARA-R510M8S?

Thanks in advance for the help.

2

Have you tried flashing via the other methods? pg 26 here

3

Hi @APX6000 ,

I don’t know if this will help, but please try an emergency shutdown:

I hope this helps,
Paul

4

Thanks, Paul. I already tried that before, but I tried again today just to be thorough - no joy.
I cannot get the m-center software to acknowledge any AT commands. It seems to be very solidly
‘bricked’.

5

I would try other methods if the module was responding to any commands, but m-center always shows status as “Not responding”.

No AT- commands receive any response. (it does show ‘connected’ briefly, followed by the Not responding).

Is there an alternate way to try any of the other methods? (FOTA, etc)?

Thanks.
roman

6

Hi Roman ( @APX6000 ),

A customer in Vietnam is having problems connecting a SARA-R510M8S to a network. I recommended that they upgrade the firmware. Remembering that you had had issues, I upgraded one of my boards and documented as I went. Hopefully there is something in my notes that will help:

Things to check:
Try EasyFlash 13.06
Make sure the board is connected but off initially (white “On” LED is off), then Start, then turn the board on via the SARA On button

If you’re still having problems, let us know and we can ask u-blox for suggestions.

Best wishes,
Paul

7

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the reply. After the update, I can’t get any AT-Commands to respond.
I also cannot get the white “ON” LED to turn off. (I press and hold the SARA ON pushbutton).

Perhaps there is a technique to turning the board OFF? I’ve tried a tap on SARA ON, a brief press, holding it for 3-seconds, and holding it for 30 seconds (>23 seconds as per the data sheet).

Thanks, again.
Roman Robles

8

Hi Roman ( @APX6000 ),

We got some advice back from u-blox. Please try EasyFlash again. Double-check you are using the right firmware for your chip - 00B vs 01B. When EasyFlash says

[2] Connecting to bootrom (reset it now)

give the Reset button (not SARA On) a quick press.

I hope this helps,
Paul

1 Like
9

They also suggest trying a different port on your computer and/or a different USB cable.

If it still fails, please post the trace file from EasyFlash and we will pass it on to u-blox.

Thanks,
Paul