Pluto Which firmware?

[G8KOE]

Hi,
I have a Pluto C/D
Which firmware should I have on the Pluto before loading 0303?
I have v0.32-dirty loaded should this be changed?

0303 is working for me with v0.32-dirty.

It's all so confusing.

73's
Martin
G8KOE

[Basil]

I was part of a WB chat conversation where it was stated the initial firmware is irrelevant as the "DATV" firmware overwrites or crreates fresh files for all that it uses. So the initial firmware apparently doesn't matter.

My starting this chat was to try and determine if all the F5OEO firmwares had the ability to be "patched" to enable the Pluto C / D external reference port. To that I got no definitive answer, but can say 0303 patched works fine with a "D" Pluto and an external reference.

[G8KOE]

Hi Basil,
Thanks for reply all very intresting.
I will continue using v0.32-dirty with 0303 as it is working.


73's
Martin
G8KOE

[g8lce]

I hope my post about the 2nd TX and RX on the Pluto rev C/D has not confused things.
viewtopic.php?f=103&t=8465
This was to show that putting the leads in was easy. The firmware is not there ( yet ) for the Portsdown but there is possibly firmware that could be used with Windows programs.
The 'dirty' recommended firmware is the one to use with Portsdown ( at the moment ) but it could change in the future as the experts play with the options!
The most useful thing to do that could be useful with a Portsdown setup would be to fit the external clock connection as that might help with low SR reception and Landstone. As the connectors arrive in bags of 5 it makes sense to put the extra TX and RX ones in at the same time.
You would need an external reference to feed in and add a line of code ( from looking at the online information ) One thing I have noticed looking at the circuit diagram is that the external reference input has a diode to earth to protect it from overload ( I assume ).

I hope this helps and having the rev C/D is an advantage possibly in the future.....

Martin G8LCE

[G8KOE]

Hi,
On the WiKIi page I see thr Portsdown uses F5OEO's "for the brave" Pluto firmware (FIRM2101RC of 5 February 2020).

73's
Martin
G8KOE

[g8lce]

Changing the firmware on a Pluto is very easy using a Windows computer so you can experiment. However if it all goes wrong you still have the option of DFU. Before this I found that sometimes formatting the Pluto ( like you would a SD card or hard disc ) can cure some things before reloading the pluto.frm and ejecting the Pluto.
I have one Pluto that is low output by about 25dB and have not found the reason but found the circuit diagrams are very good online. Using a cheap Chinese amp cures the problem and also cured interaction between the PA and Pluto to solve lockups!

Martin G8LCE

[g8lce]

OK, so I thought I would try checking the different firmwares out....
I ended up with a Pluto that would not work with Portsdown!
So I investigated some more....
It is a rev C/D that I have added the extra inputs and outputs to.
Here are the screens from the Portsdown:

portsdown-screenshot_2023-05-17T14꞉23꞉28.783Z.png (35.33 KiB) Viewed 6631 times

portsdown-screenshot_2023-05-17T14꞉22꞉36.950Z.png (48.04 KiB) Viewed 6631 times

portsdown-screenshot_2023-05-17T14꞉20꞉57.227Z.png (23.57 KiB) Viewed 6631 times

I tried different Portsdowns and got different answers.
Finally I rebooted the Portsdown and it all began to work again!

I had tried rebooting the Pluto ( M3 - Pluto Config - Reboot Pluto )
I had tried a Portsdown reboot ( M2 - Reboot )

but it took one more reboot for it all to work.

Other Plutos and Portsdowns did not give the problem.

I had cleared the Pluto firmware by Formatting the device and reinstalling the pluto.frm
I checked the firmware versions of the Portsdowns - all the same.
The only difference may be the starting point for the SD card as the Portsdowns are different ages.

Anyway the 'fault' has corrected itself. The point being if you are not transmitting or something is not right, try another reboot!
And yes if I redid the screen shots they would be normal now.

Martin G8LCE

[G8KOE]

Hi,
I don’t use a Portsdown just OBS Datv-Easy and then the Pluto.
All very interesting on peoples findings.
I will continue to use 0303 with v0.32-dirty as it is working.

73's
Martin
G8KOE

[Basil]

No, no mess about with it, a DATV set up that's not in a constant state of semi broken in the seach of perfection is no fun at all

[g8lce]

And then once you get the hardware and firmware/software to work - then there is the pushing the data throughput to the limits.....
(and the frequecies to upper and lower limits! )

Martin G8LCE