How to backup, restore and upgrade uBlox SARA-N200 firmware

[Espoo]

Hi,

Could some one help to guide me how to upgrade ublox SARA N200 via SODAQ NB-IOT shield ?

Many thanks for the help in advance and have a nice day.

Regards,
Espoo

[Jan]

New SARA-N2 Series Firmware?

The firmware files are under NDA, thats why we made it password protected. We are in contact with u-blox about the files we can share with you. Send me an email, jan@sodaq.com , I will then contact you when I have files I can share with you.

[Espoo]

Hi,

We have u-blox local contact to support since they want to prompt new firmware, just guess it may due to compatibility and market competition concern for makers.
The local offered UEupdater & manual are with general description. Different PCB design/layout may have special tricks need to follow. ( just need clear and sufficient preparations before NBIOT shield firmware upgrade, to keep it alive, as it took thousands KM to reach here…)

It will need more info from NB-IOT shield ( with link below )
http://support.sodaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/nb-iot_shield_rev3b_sch-1.pdf

to tell which pin should connect to UART correctly, and specific steps, such as, if need MCU connect or not ? not so clear about “pass-thru” mode mentioned in manual.

Trying to check more from other discuss thread & found below picture. but picture is not clear with connected FTDI and NB-IOT shield for pins definition…

Is the picture talking that using FTDI UART to connect NB-IOT shield PINs without MCU onboard then upgrade it ?

Appreciate for detail steps with clear pin connection diagram whenever available.

[Espoo]

Hi,

Firmware upgrade ok by following below discuss thread.

How to upgrade NB-IoT Firmware?

Code loader V2.14.0.30687 / SARA-N2xx-01B-and-02B-B656SP2 I also recieved "SARA-N2xx-01B-and-02B-B656SP2" Firmware. I tried to use the before (with CodeLoaderV2.14.0.31779, that did not work) Now tried again with "Code loader V2.14.0.30687" SARA-N2xx-01B-and-02B-B656SP2 CodeLoadSARA-01B COM4 Reset Pin to GND wait.. wait.. wait (2 or 3 minute while all kind of code runs over the screen) OK !!!!! Finished @@@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ …

There was struggling time and probably key steps below.

1. Upgrade success base on MCU “pass-thru” mode as need MCU to power up pin 7. “enable SARA” mentioned from Chris.
   I am using Arduino Leonardo as MCU & follow Chris code. ( from above link, the complete one )

2. Before upgrade, need make hardware reset. just follow Gregory’s picture.

3. Tx/Rx pin in 1 & 2 may confuse ( connection between FTDI UART to NB-IOT shield ), if first time fail then swap Tx/Rx & try again.
   It looks strange but for my case, FTDI Tx pin connect to NB-IOT shield D1 ( Tx) & Rx to D0 (Dx) finally work…

Thanks for the useful info offered from above link.