ATS-MINI Q&A INFORMATION

[G8PTN]

Please see attached, a summary covering most of the Q&A points that have been raised to date for the ATS-Mini firmware.

As requested, I will release the source code, and it will be packaged in the Zip archive for each release. There is a brief history summary in the code and supporting document.

Users can modify the code as they wish, but will need to resolve any tool setup issues themselves. The information I used is in the links that are provided but I am unable to provide any ongoing support for users creating their own versions.

I will try to fix bugs and add features where possible, but I do not plan to make major changes.

73, Dave (G8PTN)

Note: The first release ATS_MINI_v0_28.zip was compiled for the ESP32-S3 (N16R8) and will not work on receivers that have the ESP32-S3 (N8R2). All subsequent releases are compiled for 8MB Flash, which should be compatible with both ESP32-S3 module versions currently being fitted to the receivers.

The settings used for the Arduino IDE 1.8.19 are shown below.

ATS_MINI_QA_1.pdf

[oleksii-b-username]

Please make branches/version tags with source, to allow possible contributors make pull requests

[konstcranky]

Sorry for silly question, but maybe you can point me to the right direction :)

I've built a new firmware from provided sources, but got the infinite boot of the device:

ELF file SHA256: 49bd5b2bec8f8af0

Rebooting...
ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0xc (RTC_SW_CPU_RST),boot:0x8 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x42032d3e
SPIWP:0xee
mode:DIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
load:0x403c9700,len:0xbd8
load:0x403cc700,len:0x2a0c
entry 0x403c98d0
Guru Meditation Error: Core  1 panic'ed (StoreProhibited). Exception was unhandled.

Core  1 register dump:
PC      : 0x42006afb  PS      : 0x00060c30  A0      : 0x82006bd0  A1      : 0x3fcebba0  
A2      : 0x00000010  A3      : 0x00000000  A4      : 0x60004000  A5      : 0x0000000d  
A6      : 0x000000ff  A7      : 0x00000001  A8      : 0x08000000  A9      : 0x3fcebb70  
A10     : 0x3fc96620  A11     : 0x00000001  A12     : 0xffffffff  A13     : 0x00000004  
A14     : 0x00000000  A15     : 0x3fc92cac  SAR     : 0x00000010  EXCCAUSE: 0x0000001d  
EXCVADDR: 0x00000010  LBEG    : 0x4200dd18  LEND    : 0x4200dd7b  LCOUNT  : 0x00000000  


Backtrace: 0x42006af8:0x3fcebba0 0x42006bcd:0x3fcebbd0 0x42006bd8:0x3fcebbf0 0x420045a9:0x3fcebc10 0x4200ddde:0x3fcebc50

[G8PTN]

Hi,
I have had a similar issue occasionally.
Did you try holding the encoder button on boot to reset the EEPROM?
I am also investigating the root cause of this on my side. There may be some memory leak or similar.
I also found enabling the Core debug level to anything other than "None" appears to reduce or stop the issue.
Please keep me informed of any findings on your side.
73, Dave

[konstcranky]

EEPROM reset did not help

Enabled core debug and got the next info:

[ 114][D][esp32-hal-cpu.c:244] setCpuFrequencyMhz(): PLL: 480 / 6 = 80 Mhz, APB: 80000000 Hz
[ 137][I][esp32-hal-i2c.c:75] i2cInit(): Initialising I2C Master: sda=18 scl=17 freq=100000
Guru Meditation Error: Core 1 panic'ed (StoreProhibited). Exception was unhandled.

Continuing debugging ...

[konstcranky]

I think the reason may be in the incorrect esp32 package (I'm using version 2.0.17), or the version of one of the libraries

[G8PTN]

Hi,
I am using Arduino IDE 1.8.19
ESP32 board version 2.0.17
PU2CLR Si4735 library version 2.1.8
I followed the Lilygo instructions for the TFT_eSPI library
73, Dave

[Ramsin]

Hi All, I just wanted to point out that I have a repo with the original firmware that the Aliexpress radios come with. It's a modified version of Ralph Xavier's work. Just thought I'd share.

[G8PTN]

Hi,
A couple of users have now reported a problem with the display after loading the ATS_MINI firmware.
#24 (comment)

If the manufacturers/sellers of the receivers are going to use incompatible components (e.g. displays), it is difficult to determine if the firmware will work correctly.

It is recommended that a full Flash backup is performed before downloading new firmware.
I have created a brief document on how to do the backup (please see attached).

73, Dave

ESP32_FLASH_BACKUP_1.pdf

[nava2002-lab]

I had some difficulties using the Arduino library for the ESP32 board. Versions 2.XX and 3.XX are incompatible and use different C++ code structures.
And the problem of the program freezing was easily solved with the help of the control buttons located on the board.
I had to install them.

[G8PTN]

And the problem of the program freezing was easily solved with the help of the control buttons located on the board.
I had to install them

Hi,
Thanks for the note.
Yes, I am aware of how to use the RESET and BOOT buttons to recover.
However, the root cause of the rebooting is still unclear.
Generally the builds will be fine, but perhaps 1 in 50 will experience the continuous rebooting cycle. I suspect it is some sort of memory pointer issue.

Kind Regards,
Dave

[nava2002-lab]

Generally the builds will be fine, but perhaps 1 in 50 will experience the continuous rebooting cycle. I suspect it is some sort of memory pointer issue.

My controller was stuck when I tried to run "Example" from Arduino IDE. In experiments with firmware for the receiver, the situation never repeated.
In any case, it looks like the problem is in the algorithm of the program being launched.