Hello to all:

Old guy has some questions and needs some direction.

Enjoy my 6100 and it appears there is a software update available, my 6100 shows this software is installed:
APP: V1.1.6 20221011
Base: V1.16 20221111

Radioddity shows:
Firmware Upgrade 20230831 (fix CAT)
Firmware Upgrade 20230831 (with wFview Guide)
Xiegu X6100 Firmware Upgrade 20221124

My uncertainty which one to use (CAT or wFview) and which one is APP or Base in the above (is Firmware 20221124 the Base) ?

Being a MacOS user, may? Balena Etcher be uses to prepare the SD Card for App and Base install ?

Does it matter which is loaded first; App or Base ?

Thank you for any kind direction, input and assistance.

CRY42,

The latest version of the Xiegu X6100 software on Radioddity as of 11/29/2023 is the one titled "Firmware Upgrade 20230831 [fix CAT]". When you click on that link, you download the file titled, "Xiegu_X6100_Firmware_Upgrade_20230831.zip". If you get the file titled "Xiegu_X6100_Firmware_Upgrade_20230807.zip" you got the previous version of the file.

The Zip file includes all the firmware for the latest version of both the App and the Base of the X6100. There are no separate files for the App and the Base.

When you unzip the Zip File, there will be a folder called Documentation. In that folder, there is a file titled "Xiegu_X6100_Firmware_Upgrade_Tutorial_V1.2.pdf". This includes a two-step procedure to generate the SD card and then to install the firmware. If you follow the procedure, it will install first the App Firmware then the Base Firmware, in the proper order.

Note that the tutorial says that you need to have the X6100 attached to a 13.8 volt power supply to upgrade the firmware. It's not called out, but you should probably use a power supply with at least 5 amps capacity. I would also suggest you turn off the charging during the upgrade.

Note however that the procedure to generate the SD card only works with Windows 7/10 according to the tutorial, not a MacOS. I'm not sure if Balena Etcher would generate the SD card in the proper format, but I suspect it will. My suggestion would be to try Balena Etcher to create the SD card from the Firmware Upgrade file, then try the rest of the procedure to install the SD card.

After the SD card is created, Step I in the procedure will install all the Firmware into the internal memory of the X6100. This Step will install the updated App firmware from the SD card. It will not, however directly update the Base firmware. You need to update the Base firmware using the Step II procedure. This Step updates the Base firmware from the internal memory you installed, not from the SD card directly.

After both Steps have been completed, check the dates in the System Info screen. APP should have the date "V1.1.7 Aug 25 2023,15:09:46" and BASE should have the date "V1.1.6 Mar 7 2023,09:57:03".

Jerry

K6ANI

I am a MacBook user too. ?My MacBook Pro is coming up on 10 years old. ?The X6100 should come with a wall charger that has the ability to support software updates, at minimum. ?Otherwise, how does one perform software updates without the purchase of other equipment. ?Infuriating.

Thank you, Jerry.

Will forge ahead and getter done.

John:
As an Apple user, one gets accustom to buying "new" stuff all the time. Whether chargers, USB cable types, opps that software is no longer compatible, or what---where is the ear phone jack on the Iphone. Been using Mac since the 128 appeared. Between Apple and Ham Radio---going broke one new toy at a time !

Charles

When purchasing a product, I expect the package to be complete. ?The X6100 is almost complete enough for my purposes: highly portable and self contained transceiver. ?I write “almost”, because the charging cord might not supply enough power for updates, something I had not read until I read the manual: that is just ridiculous. ?Below is a photo of my X6100 as it came. ?The X6100 is a fine little transceiver, and priced very well for all the features and functionality. ?It fulfills my niche. ?Speaker wire, bamboo or fishing pole, and I can setup just about anywhere. ?With the right whip antenna, you have a HF HT.

Is this something you experienced? I have used the provided charger to power the radio during updates without any issue. In fact, the only real reason there is instruction to use external power for updates is to be double-sure that the update is not interrupted part way through, as that would brick the radio. The provided charger can provide enough power to supply the non-transmitting electronics indefinitely, which is all that is needed for an update.

>??I have used the provided charger to power the radio during updates without any issue.

This is my experience as well... When not transmitting the standby current demand is well within the supplied charger capacity (1A )...?

I have mistakenly tried to perform an upgrade on internal battery, and the process fails on the second fw stage, as has been widely reported. Once I repeated the full process on the supplied charger, it worked fine with no issues.

73 Wayde VA3NCA

Thank you for the information. ?I greatly appreciate your clarification.

I had not experienced it, because my unit came updated, and, more importantly, works—with the exception of the charging and discharging indicators. ?Upon reading about this, I contacted Radioddity about using an external power supply other than the supplied unit. ?Radioddity stated that external power needed to be applied, but did not state that the supplied unit would work for this. ?The email was less than specific. ?I had also read through another forum or article review that a different power source is needed to be used for updates, as the wall charger was insufficient. ?I did not want a brick; while useful as a canoe anchor, bricks do not serve their intended purpose.

I am good to go, should I decide to update, when another update becomes available.

Now to find a good ‘walking’ antenna.

开云体育

Hola. Yo no uso la batería del equipo. Está cargada siempre. Uso una LiFePo 18 A/h y antena KOMUNICA Pro-2 y EFHW en el campo. Sólo CW, no phone. Muy bien siempre.


--
TNX, Dido. EA1CN?

To date, I use the internal battery. ?5 watts and a 28.5 foot speaker wire antenna with counterpoise/ground went 1750 miles to Aruba. ?That’s good enough for me.

On Wed, Nov 29, 2023 at 09:33 AM, Jerry K6ANI wrote:

Just to follow up.

Successfully updated the X6100, thanks for the assist from the Group.
Using an Apple Mini, MacOS, the Balena Etcher program works very smoothly and easy.
Has to be "easy" for me when it comes to software and applications.
Now working to get the wFview up and working.

73

I just downloaded Firmware Upgrade 20230831 (fix CAT) When installed it shows APP : V.1.1.7 Aug 25 2023, 15:09:46

CAT is NOT working in WSJTX.

Is it working for you? Any suggestions?

Installed the new 1.1.7 Firmware Upgrade 20230831 (fix CAT) and CAT NO longer works.
Looks like they fixed someting and destroyed something else!

It works with R1CBU software though. Ufff. Xiegu.... What a way to loose customers!