BATC Forum

Due the the apparently common mistake of trying to put current firmware on my new Pluto Plus (V2) I bricked it, but was fortunately able to bring it back to life by installing F5ONO firmware.

It seems to work but I've read horror stories that suggest that it basically only works for TX and the RX is so badly crippled that you need a second SDR to be able to handle the RX side.

I know that a lot has been stripped out of it but, bearing in mind that I intend to use it for QO-100 working on CW and voice as well as (eventually) DATV, can anyone tell me what the limitations of this firmware are for non DATV use?

Also, if anyone happens to know where I can find a reliable stock firmware image for my current (purchased July 2025) V2 Pluto Plus SDR, just in case the news is bad and I need it, it would really help me a lot. (I found out the hard way that firmware images on the net don't hint at their target version and getting it wrong makes bricks)

Any advice and/or insight for a complete novice welcomed.

Mark (G4DOT)

Hi Mark

See https://github.com/F5OEO/tezuka_fw/releases

There you will find F5OEO Plutoplus firmware.
I use his firmware on my Pluto and Libre SDR for both Narrow band and DATV without issue.
Good luck

73 Keith GU6EFB

I bought a Pluto plus recently but it looks different to the others people have. I have bricked it but all the recovery help seems to be with a different looking unit. This one looks more like the older Pluto, than the run of the mill units now. Can anyone help me identify ?

John G8IKP

I don't know why people keep buying these with all the problems, variants etc, but have you looked at https://forum.amsat-dl.org/index.php?th ... o-bricked/ which suggests using JTAG to reload the bootloader.

Yours does not look anything like the images I can find for the Pluto Plus which have Pluto+ on the silk screen and a DFU button and a screen over the RF chip. Perhaps those DIP switches do something? Can you post a better quality image?

Mike

Here you might find some help..

https://forum.amsat-dl.org/index.php?th ... fahrungen/

Also some detaild info on settings off the switches..


Benno

I also found a post on the facebook QO100 group about this clone and how to enable the external clock.

Here is a link to that group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/391111521731871

Miike

Hi Mike, in one of the Facebook QO100 forum posts you link to someone claims, at least for a Pluto + , that the external reference needs to produce square and NOT sine waves. Does that apply to the normal AD sourced Pluto too? I have never heard this cited before... Thanks.

Basil wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 27, 2025 7:29 am

Hi Mike, in one of the Facebook QO100 forum posts you link to someone claims, at least for a Pluto + , that the external reference needs to produce square and NOT sine waves. Does that apply to the normal AD sourced Pluto too? I have never heard this cited before... Thanks.

No idea. Never tried it.

Mike

Basil wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 27, 2025 7:29 am

Hi Mike, in one of the Facebook QO100 forum posts you link to someone claims, at least for a Pluto + , that the external reference needs to produce square and NOT sine waves. Does that apply to the normal AD sourced Pluto too? I have never heard this cited before... Thanks.

Yes

Ok, thanks.