QX7 won't power up after firmware load.

[jmd]

Thanks to the very knowledgeable and helpful members here I was able to download and setup the STC32 for the Opentx companion version and the libusb 32 drivers, and flash the 2.3.15 version to my QX7 but now radio wont turn on normally or with the bootloader startup. I went to the You tube guys and tried all of their suggestions but no help. I removed the batteries for a while and reinserted but still no power up. Companion successfully writes the firmware to the radio, ver 2.3.15. Checked the batt voltage and got 9.2v across all 8 of the new batts. I downloaded the sd card info for this version of Opentx but not sure how to get it on the sd card on the radio. I thinking there may be a compatibility issue with the old sd card and the new firmware. My radio had 2.2.0 previously so I tried to invoke the backup file that I loaded on companion but it didn't see my radio.
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I am once again at the brick wall and don't have the necessary knowledge to get over.
Thanks for listening and as always I am very appreciative of your time and help.
jmd

 

[MikeB]

1. Does the radio connect to the computer if you plug the USB cable in with the power off?
2. Did you have the QX7 selected in companion when you downloaded 2.3.15?

Mike

 

[jmd]

1. Does the radio connect to the computer if you plug the USB cable in with the power off?
2. Did you have the QX7 selected in companion when you downloaded 2.3.15?

Mike

Thanks for your reply, yes the pc does see an input when I plug in the usb cable and I did have QX7 selected in companion..

 

[MikeB]

When you flashed the QX7, did you use the bootloader (power on with horizontal trims inwards), or with the TX off?

Mike

 

[jmd]

Thanks for your reply, yes the pc does see an input when I plug in the usb cable and I did have QX7 selected in companion..

 

[jmd]

When you flashed the QX7, did you use the bootloader (power on with horizontal trims inwards), or with the TX off?

Mike

Tx will not come on with normal power up, or with trims inward. I get a slight click both ways but no response other than the click

 

[HENNY]

Sounds like you flashed the wrong version of QX7 firmware to your radio. Is your radio the older QX7 version?. There are a number of QX7 versions, the pre "ACCESS" version and the "ACCESS' version. Try again with the correct firmware version, this can be done with the radio power off. Using companion select the correct radio version before flashing.

Henny

 

[jmd]

Tx will not come on with normal power up, or with trims inward. I get a slight click both ways but no response other than the click

Sounds like you flashed the wrong version of QX7 firmware to your radio. Is your radio the older QX7 version?. There are a number of QX7 versions, the pre "ACCESS" version and the "ACCESS' version. Try again with the correct firmware version, this can be done with the radio power off. Using companion select the correct radio version before flashing.

Henny

Sounds like you flashed the wrong version of QX7 firmware to your radio. Is your radio the older QX7 version?. There are a number of QX7 versions, the pre "ACCESS" version and the "ACCESS' version. Try again with the correct firmware version, this can be done with the radio power off. Using companion select the correct radio version before flashing.

Henny

I'm sure it's an older version because it had Opentx 2.2.0 running on it when I got it, but I populated the radio type with Frsky Taranus QX7/QX7s , the only option other than QX7s/QX7s Access. I thought it best not to make such a big jump but Companion wouldn't download the 2.2.x versions, but when I tried ti update to 2.2.4, companion wouldn't download it. That's when I set about to load the latest firmware of Opentx which is 2.3.15. and then ran into the stc32 and libusb win32 requirements. I bought the QX7 used and the guy I got it from said he had been using it for sim and drone flight. It looks new and well taken care of, I did lots of research and the QX7 seem to be a good fit for me at a fairley reasonable price. I did remove all the batteries and re flashed the firmware but still no power up. I'm thinking that perhaps the radio is not compatible with this latest version of Opentx so maybe I will try to load earlier versions of 2.3, and if you have other ideas I will try anything, because at this point I am at an impasse. Thanks for your help.

 

[jmd]

I forgot to mention the QX7 is the accst version and not the Access version.

 

[Wayne]

Sounds like you just have the wrong firmware burned onto the radio. Start over and MAKE sure you have the correct file to burn onto the radio. Do this with the radio turned off if you can.

 

[jmd]

Sounds like you just have the wrong firmware burned onto the radio. Start over and MAKE sure you have the correct file to burn onto the radio. Do this with the radio turned off if you can.

OK, thanks, I'll give it a try

 

[jmd]

Sounds like you just have the wrong firmware burned onto the radio. Start over and MAKE sure you have the correct file to burn onto the radio. Do this with the radio turned off if you can.

Your solution was 100% correct, as were Mike's, Mikeb;s, and Henny;s. You all had ultimately the same advice which was to remove batts and reflash making sure that I was using the correct firmware...which I wasn't. I started out today determined to find the answer, and in the process of backing out all of the software that I had downloaded, I discovered that at some point I had downloaded the ACCESS version of the Companion firmware as well as the ACCST version so Companion was downloading the ACCESS firmware to my ACCST radio, and there lay the conflict. I know better than to make a mistake such as this, I provisioned Bellsouth ESS switch systems for 20 years, and they are unforgiving of errors. After downloading the correct ver of Companion, I flashed the 2.3.15 ver of opentx, put batts in and fired right up. Now I will attempt to stumble through setting up a model for sim use and will try to refrain from wasting time with stupid questions, but I have many more. I am very impressed with your expertise and your willingness to share your knowledge. Thanks again to all.
jmd

 

[Wayne]

Don't worry, I wont tell anyone, it is our little secret..

 

[marcnh33]

Your solution was 100% correct, as were Mike's, Mikeb;s, and Henny;s. You all had ultimately the same advice which was to remove batts and reflash making sure that I was using the correct firmware...which I wasn't. I started out today determined to find the answer, and in the process of backing out all of the software that I had downloaded, I discovered that at some point I had downloaded the ACCESS version of the Companion firmware as well as the ACCST version so Companion was downloading the ACCESS firmware to my ACCST radio, and there lay the conflict. I know better than to make a mistake such as this, I provisioned Bellsouth ESS switch systems for 20 years, and they are unforgiving of errors. After downloading the correct ver of Companion, I flashed the 2.3.15 ver of opentx, put batts in and fired right up. Now I will attempt to stumble through setting up a model for sim use and will try to refrain from wasting time with stupid questions, but I have many more. I am very impressed with your expertise and your willingness to share your knowledge. Thanks again to all.
jmd

I have exact the same case! And i cannot find the link for the ACCST version!! Please can you send it to me by mail? marcnh33@gmail.com thanks a lot!!!!

 

[Wayne]

OK - So you would like someone to email the firmware for OpenTX to you? is this correct? What radio are you running?

 

[mutantshark]

1. Does the radio connect to the computer if you plug the USB cable in with the power off?
2. Did you have the QX7 selected in companion when you downloaded 2.3.15?

Mike

i know this is an old thread, but having a similar issue...but my remote isnt being seen by my Mac after the failed firmware upload. I get a faint electronic click when i insert the USB or click the power button but nothing else...So because i cant get my remote to be seen by the computer, i cant fix the firmware?? im stuck, please help, new controller & its bricked...

 

[Wayne]

Did you try booting up in bootloader mode? As I recall hold the aileron and rudder trims towards one another and click the power button.

 

[alm_nl]

If you keep the radio off and connect it to your computer, it should show up as STM Bootloader (which is not a drive) in your devices somewhere. Then you can reflash the correct firmware using OpenTX Companion or EdgeTX Buddy website (depending on what you used; I would not change from one or the other or a different version than what you had at this point). AFAIK MacOS or Linux should recognize the STM32 chip without additional drivers, but for Windows you might need to install Zadig or ImpulseRC Driverfixer to have it recognized.

Checking if you can get into the OpenTX or EdgeTX bootloader (which differs from the STM Bootloader), like Wayne said, is also a good way to check if the radio works or not. If that bootloader is accessible, it's likely that it's just the Operating System part that is missing, corrupt or for the wrong type of radio. In that case, you can just reflash the firmware from the SD-Card or Companion while in OpenTX/EdgeTX bootloader mode.

If the OpenTX/EdgeTX bootloader doesn't work, you can only use the first method (keep the radio off and use OpenTX Companion or EdgeTX Buddy) to reflash the radio.