Update over the air (OTA)

Once a repeater is installed on a roof or a ridge, you can update it without a cable. Download the firmware files from the flasher (its "download firmware for OTA updates" link) or from the GitHub releases, then use either method below.

First, the OTAFIX bootloader

Updating over the air needs the OTAFIX bootloader on the board. If you have not installed it, do that once, over USB, by copying the bootloader file onto the board when it shows up as a drive.

Install a bootloader over USB only

Sending a bootloader through a Bluetooth DFU app has made a radio unresponsive (it needed a long reset hold and a reflash). Keep power and the USB cable connected until it finishes.

Bluetooth OTA

On the repeater's console run start ota, then send the firmware package (.zip) to the board with a Bluetooth DFU app, for example nRF Connect or Nordic's nRF Device Firmware Update.

LoRa OTA (over the radio)

A LoRa update is built on a computer from the new firmware image (.hex) and, for a delta, from the .hex of the version the repeater runs now, so keep the .hex of each version you install. The firmware project's LoRa OTA guide has the steps.

After an update

A repeater without a clock module or GPS falls back to its built-in date after an update. From firmware 1.17.1.5 it restores its saved time, but check it with clock and set it with time <epoch seconds> if it looks wrong. See The repeater's clock.