RS-918 mcHF Firmware Update Procedure Bootloader/Firmware

In this video I will show you how to update the bootloader and the firmware of the RS-918 clone of the mcHF. Thanks to Daniel B for helping me locate the right source of info, Now I will pass that along to you in video form. Links are below for all the resources. I am NOT held responsible for your rish of bricking this device for failure to follow procedure or invalid procedure process.
Support HRC www.paypal.me/hamradioconcepts
www.st.com/en/development-tool...
----Link to upload software----
df8oe.github.io/UHSDR/
----Firmware and bootloader files----
github.com/df8oe/UHSDR/blob/a...
----Manuals for process----
SUBSCRIBE to KZbin
LIKE and SHARE on hamradioconcepts

[@otisman1000]

Hi Eric, love your videos. I actually went for my Tech license on Saturday (9/10) and PASSED, hopefully I'll see you on the air soon. You do WONDERFUL videos. Rock on and keep hamming. 73. :)

[@philipchandler330]

Thanks Eric as always you are really big help very thorough your expertise and willing to share is admirable. Keep up the good work!! Just received my RS 918 SDR today

[@zenrascal]

FYI I just received my RS-918 and the front panel no longer says "mcHF-QRP" and the "2.8" TFT SDR Transceiver" above the screen is also blank. The buttons are cosmetically different but otherwise it behaves just like yours. My unit came from Risecom via Amazon. Excellent customer service. Thanks for the great videos!

[@jfyles]

Very glad you did a vid on he RS-918 lots of good information. Mine RS-918 will be here next week, so looking forward to it. Glad you are back with the Digital Modem I like it but haven't done much with it. But will now. make a very small package for camping. Thank you

[@jime.2326]

Going to QRZ.com this morning, looks like they removed your video post on the review of the RS-918. Glad to see free speech so well protected!

[@tamoroso]

They have the right to take that material down. No free speech rights were harmed; the first amendment only protects you from censorship by the *government*. That said - I think QRZ has their collective heads in a dark place; threats and intimidation are not pretty.

[@salat]

I'm still waiting for my device, but "Upload" in the DfuSe software actually seems to save the bootloader/firmware from the device to a file on your PC - that's why there's a "SAVE file" dialog and you're asked if you want to OVERWRITE the FILE and why you get the notice what will be in the FILE on your PC after "uploading".. - follow the wiki :)

[@wrmoore47]

Thanks!

[@percih70]

A note on the bootloader update methiod described in this video... In DfuSE you point to the bl-mchf.dfu file using the "choose" button on the RHS, (under Upgrade and Verify action), this will enable the Upgrade button. The method described here using the "upload function" will not work with the later bootloaders

[@RudixSA]

As far as the bootloader upgrade is concerned you MUST use upgrade and not upload! Upgrade will be available if you choose the file next to the upgrade button. If you use "upload" you actually read the bootloader from the radio and save it to the disk, as can be confirmed by the "Overwrite?" message. Yours only appeared to work because your radio was already on that version.

[@Capt_Duffy]

hello Eric i need ur help, can u tell me what settings should i do in this Radio to use it for digital modes, with usb connected it simply doesnt switch on, it just blinks with white screen ...would be grateful thanx

[@cartercombs]

Thanks for the info. My rs-918 is supposed to arrive on Tuesday. Thanks for posting info on the radio. This is all going to be a big help when I get my radio. Why did they threaten to ban you on QRZ?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Apparently I am promoting stolen and counterfeit products. "This kind of media, if continued, will restrict you from posting any future posts on the site, including classified ads".

[@Jimwill01]

Maybe I'm mistaken. I thought the mcHF was a K I T. and this radio is a completed unit. Am I wrong? If not, wouldn't that be two different things???

[@Tommyr]

Maybe they got threatened by the original maker? Or are trying to avoid problems with them? In any case the radio is pretty neat looking, I like the style a lot better than the X5105.

[@georgealbertacanadaeh1038]

hello, really great video thank you very much. I am having a problem with my radio. 1. The waterfall flows up instead of down, but I did notice yours does the same. Is there a way to change it to flow down? 2. Also my radio shuts off when transmitting and have no idea why? I have been in touch with the seeler in China and they are looking into. One item they mentioned was updating the firmware as you did here as the reason for the search and to watch your video, Thanks again. If you have come across any tips to fixing the shut down problem I would appreciate it. All the Best 73's Still have snow and ice here in northern Alberta but the sun is making every effort to make changes :) George Alberta, Canada

[@Sky1]

just one question, what if your unit will not power up when connected to USB?

[@VA7BC]

I understand the hardware board in the RS918 is an older version that the current one in the mcHF project. That being said, I would be interested to see your comments on how the new firmware works once you've had some time to operate. Thanks for your great video. 73

[@microwave-vh2uc]

There are infact two choices of bin file. One for the earlier versions and one for the later versions with more memory.

[@Munky332]

You should take a look at the mBITX. really wish there were more custom kit-based radios out there for ~100$, even if QRP. with Arduino and Raspberry Pi, it seems like it shouldn't really be that hard for someone to come up with a basic kit or plans, so that us lesser fortunate guys/girls who are here to learn more about electronics than ragchew on a 10,000$ contest machine could get more into the hobby. Personally I'm more interested in Data modes & medium range transmission with compromise antenna designs. also kind of want to do an automated radio relay/APRS style setup with a HF/6M QRP setup, as well as some sort of spectrum analyzer mounted on RC aircraft/balloons. I know a few guys who mounted WSPR transceivers to weather balloons.

[@wrmoore47]

The reason that the UPGRADE button didn't light up is that you picked the wrong CHOOSE. Use the CHOOSE in the lower right of the screen, next to the UPGRADE button! I still had some problems with this process (upgrading from 3.2.0 to 3.4.1 Bootloader, in a genuine mcHF, not the clone, if that matters). But the third time I tried it, it worked!

[@giuseppem3540]

Hi I tried to update my 218 clone, followed the instructions but now it does not turn on does anyone help me? maybe you need to reset and recharge the loader? thank you

[@gizmo1943]

Hello, I updated the firmware and the rig says it is necesary to update the bootloader but in DFU it doesn't show. In windows it comes up as serialusb com5 but Windows 10 does not allow the driver to be changed, Is there a solution on how to upgrade the bootloader?

[@andypilot.pictures7857]

Hello Eric great video !! Got the bootloader updated ok .Now downloading the latest version fw-mchf.bin it is coming as a zip file .My question now ...dont i have to unzip it before i load it on the USB Stick or does it do that as the upload is tone from the stick to the radio ....i very much have doubts about that ...73 de Andy

[@antiXa]

Nothing like a bit of threatening behaviour it usually highlights their mental state And as far as the radio goes are they available in Australia?

[@mrhighlander2003]

Hi. I own the rs-918 with fw:D2.9.8 and bl: m0nka 0.0.0.14. My problem is that the DfuSe does not recognize my device... same problem on windows 7 & 10. The radio work fine on digitals and the cat work ok so the usb cable and/or driver is notnthe problem. If I try to update the firmware only the rx/tx led beging to blink with no display. Any help will be very apreciated. 73

[@stigrasmussen1460]

On my new RS-918 I had to rename the firmware file from Fw-mchf.bin _to_ Fw-hfsdr.bin to get it into the radio. This is not described here in the video. It say NOT to rename anything. Is this in video not china copy? I thought so. LB5VA

[@siddharth4662]

I owe you a drink man! :-)

[@perrylusk7428]

I can't seem to find a concise manual. Any help?

[@stevesus3295]

There are two types of bootloaders. This looks like it works with the UHSDR bootloader, but it does not work with the M0NKA bootloader.

[@stigrasmussen1460]

I found your bootloader upgrade routine to be wrong. Yes it looks like it workes but it is not upgraded. (Tried to upgrade from 3.4.1 to 3.4.4, but under System Info it said 3.4.1 also after upgrade. Naturely: You have to use the "Choose.."-button under "Upgrade or Verify Action". Then the "Ugrade" button works, as in the wiki manual. All fine! :-)

[@salat]

Yep, he transfered the other way around: from the device to a file - I noticed the "save file" dialog :)

[@Sky1]

DfuSE Get software button missing.

[@hb9joi]

My new RS-918 is after 3 weeks not more working ...!!!!! Today I want switch on the RS-918 ... but nothing more happen :- The Display is only for a very short time flashing white . That`s all ... and it is white so long I press the power-button . If I stop and not more hold pressing the power-button the display is black like off switched transceiver . So I was thinking something in the firmware could be not more ok ... but I don`t know why . I started after visiting and study several websites and instruction videos (like this here) about firmware and bootloader update how it is to make :... full reset and a new installation or firmware update and/or renew the bootloader ... But already the first step of the procedure failed :the RS-918 will not shown or will not detected from the computer as DFU USB-Device :I can make what I want , the RS-918 is dead and I can not call him back alieve ... !!! Please : What is to do now ... anybody knows about to solve this problem , to get the RS-918 back alieve ???Jens Spiess / HB9JOI

[@GaryLevin]

Anhyone know how to do a boot loader update and a firmware update using MacOSX. Tried, but failed

[@ger1ddx817]

How do you convert html to dfu for the bootloader? Im using Windows 10.

[@wealthtechnology]

I switched from Edge to Chrome and it then downloaded fine,

[@sm7iprojects865]

Your BL process is wrong. You are showing how to back up (UPLOAD) the current BL from the radio to the computer, however useless to use afterwards, but that´s another story :) You should use the UPGRADE button which will transfer chosen BL to the radio.

[@la7dfa]

Yes you are right. You should get BL ready loaded in the software, before you power on the radio. I first made the mistake to overwrite the new BL on PC, with the old from the radio. The software and procedure is a bit weird IMO. Its too easy to make stupid mistakes.

[@kolyan.teslov]

welcome! Please help if you can!! I bought this baby off of one of Amateur radio, in General, were installed firmware version 2.2.3 and the bootloader was 3.0.4 After reading the forums, decided to flash and downloaded the latest firmware from this site df8oe.github.io/UHSDR/ installed loader latest version and the firmware too... I think I overreacted. why now with supernova firmware no modulation neither PRS nor in am or in FM!!! carrier transfer in FM there is power too? and when in SSB switch with any side at least upper at least the bottom - the PTT switch, and press edit. power external displays, and arrow 3 watt to 1 watt slowly falling and all. ranges have changed - now down is up and Vice versa and select buttons pitch adjustment, too. trying to restore to a lower version walee nor to no avail - by the way did the procedure like this: loader via cable pierced, and program for processors ST DFuse Demo 3.0.5, and the firmware itself was filled with flash - well, these procedures are more or less painted on the forums. Now how am I supposed to be already regretted a hundred times I ask or need it for lower version of the sewing... Can shoot video and fold or put on KZbin, if you want to understand what I have done!!! Hope you will help me because now I have one receiver instead of the transceiver is turned!!! With respect, Vladimir R7GP

[@BlackB00X]

one question, work tx and rx for 27mhz ? thx

[@jimthvac100]

Yes, just have to enable transmitting out of bands option in menu

[@gortnewton4765]

Is it really $350? That seems a lot for what it is. And will it do all frequencies transmit over the HF spectrum? Anyone?

[@Tommyr]

I think $350 is a GOOD price.

[@abrahamnorthhampton3327]

Please stop promoting stolen intellectual property.