CFXplained: Quickest way to update your Crystal focus 10 (CFX) firmware manually

[@ErvPlecter]

and cherry on top, config checker of yours is just awesomeness !!

[@CrystalFocus]

thank you very much!

[@FindingTheForce]

Awesome!! Thank you for making this!!

[@oldb-1kenobi]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@arctique_saberfonts]

Thanks man.

[@Zaphod_]

Wow I didn't know you could use the charger instead of removing the battery, this is so much easier

[@CrystalFocus]

Yes it is!

[@BK-Kizzle]

Excellent Video. But how does one cut the power of their saber if they don't have a a Recharge Port? The Bendu Armory sabers have you charge the saber the old way, by taking the battery out and putting it on a old school battery charger dock, it doesn't have a recharge port to cut the power with a kill key

[@CrystalFocus]

Tnx! You can replace the kill key step by taking out the battery and placing it back.

[@ahodangk5858]

Hello there ! When I release the auxiliary and the main switch, the led start to blink and nothing happen, what is wrong with my saber ? (I wait for 15 minutes and it’s still blinking, not boot sound or anything )

[@CrystalFocus]

Try pushing the aux button once

[@Lord_Viscerate]

I haven’t dared to update the firmware to date, because i was anxious to scree something up..

[@CrystalFocus]

you will not mess it up if you use this guide and the config checker. you can do it!

[@Lord_Viscerate]

@@CrystalFocus Thanks, i will try 😄

[@bobtimster62]

I have some one button sabers, with the SD card on the top. How would I use the method you describe to update the firmware on those?

[@CrystalFocus]

You can't. This method requires two buttons. If your saber is relatively new you can try placing the firmware update file (fw.dat) on your sd-card but rename it to 'auto_fw.dat' and reboot the saber. Recent CFX sabers will trigger a firmware update automatically when using that filename. If your CFX does not auto-update the firmware using the above steps then you will need to use serial commands over a USB connection to update the firmware. See the manual section "Board firmware update" at page 197 which can be downloaded here: www.plecterlabs.com/Media/Doc/Crystal_Focus_v10_rev1.14-GB.pdf

[@bobtimster62]

@@CrystalFocus That's what I figured. Unfortunately, mine have the SD card above the board, so the micro USB port is below the board. Here's what it says on p. 188 of the manual: >> "Have your board powered and USB cable inserted." Unfortunately, since, in my case, the SD card is above the board, the card "overhangs" the micro USB port. There is no is no way to have both the USB cable and the battery in at the same time. So I don't know what to do.

[@usyachannel]

Can my old CFX (2019: v10.002) board be updated to the latest v10.007F?

[@CrystalFocus]

yes, any cfx can run the latest firmware!

[@usyachannel]

@@CrystalFocus Thank you! I try update tonight!

[@usyachannel]

@@CrystalFocus I have successfully updated! i appreciate your support.

[@kdurt943]

Hey there, I followed the tutorial and the manual, yet, when I access bootloader, I get the fast blinking LED, then releasing the buttons gives the slow LED pulse... However, upon tapping the main button, the saber simply boots up. It will not install the latest fw.dat from the root SD. I'm a little lost.

[@CrystalFocus]

have you tried pressing the aux button instead of the main button?

[@kdurt943]

@@CrystalFocus yeah, I tried both methods. I've wiped my SD card and started with a fresh install of the software. That didn't help, when I use the main switch, just boots right up into my most recent font. If I press the aux switch... I get nothing. No changes. It sits there until I've pressed main and it goes right back to my font. I'm at a loss of what to do. I believe I'm unzipping the fw.dat and renaming it correctly, then following this boot procedure... Thanks for your help.

[@CrystalFocus]

@@kdurt943 can you connect to the saber through USB or Bluetooth? This way you could send the serial commands

[@kdurt943]

@@CrystalFocus I'd like to give that a try, but the programs used to connect, I don't know what they are. I figured that was my next move to try to get this to work. Do you know what program I should use? When I was reading the manual, I think I read something about COM ports or something. It's unfortunate that it feels like this is over my head.

[@CrystalFocus]

@@kdurt943 if you have a Windows PC then use Crystal FX for desktop from my website. Otherwise you should use RICE, which you can download from the plecterlabs.com website

[@dercio154]

Hello there I have a question! When i download latest package there are txt files that start with "rename-me..." What should I do with them??

[@CrystalFocus]

these are alternative config.txt files which have a variety of bladeprofile already pre-installed. If you rename one to config.txt and replace the original config.txt you will see the blade profiles on your saber. Imo the one from Stephen Powell has some very good bladestyle demos that give an excellent insight into the basic CFX options

[@dercio154]

@@CrystalFocus Oh okay thank you soo much!

[@gipsnadel6418]

thank you very much! just a quick question: how does it work with a kill key installed on the saber?

[@CrystalFocus]

The process is exactly the same but when I plug in the charger you should enable the kill switch ( so cut the power) and when I remove the charger cable you should disable the kill key (so enable power)

[@gipsnadel6418]

@@CrystalFocus thank you very much!! your videos and the crystalfocus website are so helpful

[@CrystalFocus]

@@gipsnadel6418 thanks!!

[@gipsnadel6418]

@@CrystalFocus I also have a very different question, because I am really new to cfx. My soundboard is installed with the usb plug up. Can I access the sd card via the usb on the board?

[@CrystalFocus]

@@gipsnadel6418 yes. If you use a data USB cable you can. You can use the Cfx voice menu, Crystal FX for desktop or RICE to place the same in 'mass storage' mode. Get the software here: crystalfocus.net/Configuration

[@sandsabers]

Is there a way to do this on a one button setup?

[@CrystalFocus]

To update the fw with a one button setup you'll need to use serial commands through the USB or Bluetooth connection

[@jacksonfright3098]

Thank you! Is it recommended to updated to a Beta version?

[@CrystalFocus]

No, most certainly not. But the current beta is very stable and holds a number of must have features so i would advice to update to this version

[@jacksonfright3098]

@@CrystalFocus Thank you!

[@wattosdeal]

Is there an updated version of steps that includes reorganizing all the files and folders and described in the Upgrade to 10.007B guidelines files?

[@CrystalFocus]

no, but it's actually quite simple. If you replace the entire 'extra' folder with the on from the latest default package then you're done. That's the only additional step

[@wattosdeal]

@@CrystalFocus I did the following but the saber would freeze up during the font selection in the menu. 1. replaced my extra folder with the the 7B default package extra folder. 2. Copied my leds.txt files into folders in the extra/ACCENTS folder into numbered folders and then use the parameter style_accents in my blade profiles. I also added these two parameters since the default profile had them--style_pixies=-1 style_grafx=-1.

[@CrystalFocus]

@@wattosdeal and you also upgraded the firmware itself right?

[@wattosdeal]

@@CrystalFocus yes by holding ACT + AUX then power on, hold buttons until stopped blinking, released buttons then pressed ACT. The oled displayed 7B as the firmware. Is doing the extra/ACCENTS linking to profiles not required?

[@CrystalFocus]

@@wattosdeal the old way with the leds is still supported. So you're not required to change it. The new setup does allow easier reuse of the leds setup though

[@galebird1615]

Will you have a version for Mac available?

[@CrystalFocus]

oh man, I'm hoping for it. If time allows then I will make one for sure. Bought a Mac for this purpose.