Flysky EL18: cannot boot after flashing starting from 2.11.0 (2.10.6 works)

[BlueskyFR]

Is there an existing issue for this problem?

• I have searched the existing issues

What part of EdgeTX is the focus of this bug?

Transmitter firmware

Current Behavior

2.10.6 is the last release that boots on my Flysky EL18.
The 2.11.X/2.12.X releases leave a black screen after flashing, impossible to boot.

Expected Behavior

Should boot

Steps To Reproduce

Flashed using EdgeTX buddy

Version

2.10.6

Transmitter

Flysky EL18

Operating System (OS)

Linux

OS Version

NixOS (Linux) with Vivaldi (chromium)

Anything else?

This is the first time I am trying to use EdgeTX, if I can do anything to help let me know!

Is this behavior known/expected? What's new in 2.11.0 that breaks on my EL18?

[BlueskyFR]

I tried using the latest nightly, still the same.
I also made sure BFB2 is not checked using ST's STM32Programmer software, although I wished it was the problem :(

[BlueskyFR]

Ok I spent way too much time on this, but here are additional findings:

1. From 2.11.0-rc1 onwards, it seems the automated build system uses the new PL18 build target in hope of supporting multiple systems at once instead of the previous NV14. Switching to PL18 makes the EL18 unbootable after flashing.
   Could someone understanding the PL18 tree answer here?

Also using tools/build-gh.sh somehow uses 25GB RAM on PL18?

2. The NV14 tree wasn't dropped until after v2.11.1 though, so by manually building on the NV14 target I can still build, flash and boot successfully on v2.11.1, even though the user interface isn't showing up anymore haha

So something is wrong with PL18, I don't know what. Everything in this project is still new to me so I hope someone with deeper knowledge can help, cheers!

[richardclli]

Yes, all Flysky F4 radios uses PL18 target to support, one and for all. NV14 target is removed on purpose. EL18 should work properly in 2.11 branch. Try newest release of 2.11.

BTW, I remembered that you may need to flash the bootloader as well for booting properly in 2.11, since the boot mechanism changes between 2.10 and 2.11

[BlueskyFR]

@richardclli I did try all versions after 2.11, even compiling manually. And flashing the bootloader doesn't help :(

Also I can't access the bootloader if I try to, it gets stuck on "USB Connected".

[alm-nl]

You are unable to flash EdgeTX 2.11.6 when the radio is off? According to https://manual.edgetx.org/edgetx-how-to/access-dfu-and-bootloader-mode you need to keep the radio off, press the DFU button, connect to the computer and then release the DFU button.

When flashing with the radio off it should flash both the firmware and the bootloader.

[BlueskyFR]

hey @alm-nl, I can enter DFU mode, this is the only way I am able to flash stuff.
But I don't have batteries inside my radio, which may explain the bootloader not being usable I guess.

[alm-nl]

Makes sense that you need batteries inside the radio, did you try with them?

[BlueskyFR]

@alm-nl does it though? I always used it without batteries until now. It's pretty convenient!
And I didn't get the chance to buy batteries yet ;) soon!

[alm-nl]

@BlueskyFR You said earlier: "But I don't have batteries inside my radio, which may explain the bootloader not being usable I guess."

That's why I said "Makes sense" and asked if you tried with them, just to find out if it would make a difference. My idea being that if something doesn't work, you try something else to exclude it as a cause. Just logical thinking, I don't have that radio. I never tried to flash my own radio without batteries.

[pfeerick]

@alm-nl does it though? I always used it without batteries until now. It's pretty convenient! And I didn't get the chance to buy batteries yet ;) soon!

Yes, it does... USB may not provide enough power to run the RF properly, especially with higher power modules. I don't know if the power circuitry is actually designed for USB to be the primary / only power path - running from batteries is the intended use case, after all. It might be convenient, but if it ends up killing the radio (and whatever you are flying at the time), you won't think so then! 🤪