Unlock your Spektrum Firma ESC! (Arrma, Axial, Horizon Hobby) firmware upgrade

Let's look at how to update your Arrma Spektrum Firma ESC. Here's how to firmware upgrade your ESC for more features, including adjustable BEC and motor timing. The best way to get free features for your RC car.
Programming card: bit.ly/2XNkmnK
Spektrum SmartLink app: www.horizonhobby.com/on/deman...
#Spektrum #Firma

[@boostedmedia]

Just wanted to say thanks for this video. I am new to RC and bought an Vorteks a few days ago which was triggering LVC constantly. This video lead me to the solution. For anyone reading this, there's a new firmware version out as of December 2023 which allows manual adjustment of the LVC between 3.2V and 3.7V. Make sure you extract the software with 7Zip or similar, as the standard windows extraction tool cuases the software to freeze when connecting to the ESC. you'll need to update the programmer BEFORE updating the ESC.

[@rcmedia9516]

hi sim racer welcome to the hobby now

[@Cereal_Killr]

Sim racing and RC trucks are like Peanut butter and jelly as hobbies ain't they?! Just grabbed a Outcast 4S myself! Loving it! Thanks for tip on this issue, now I know if I encounter it.

[@godlydestroyer8658]

Thank you for mentioning 7zip, I've been going mad trying to figure it out

[@kevinlucas36]

I downloaded the update but can’t figure out how to manually update the LVC. Help!

[@manski209]

Great video, thank you for sharing. I own a Typhon, Big Rock and Vorteks all 3S BLX, do all esc for these models come setup from stock with LVC and what is the stock LVC voltage on these esc's? Thank you.

[@thomasthetankengine7153]

Always appreciate your help with so many tips and tricks 👍 your a blessing to RC ✌️

[@patmarcus172]

Great vid. First time Ive seen anyone simply explain how to use the card. Its via a future firmware upgrade, downloaded and installed this way that the promised/fabled LVC setting will be added.

[@whistlinlipo]

Always appreciate a Razor vid!

[@vitodambra72]

Thanks brother, much appreciated 😉👍🏼💯 this is completely let the mamba monster programming card. They come with all the motor/esc combo’s

[@ParcoUpchurch]

Thank you for the info and motor info as well!

[@RCRoads]

Thanks for sharing this valuable information. I have 3 spectrum 100amp motor / esc combos and 2 spectrum 85amp combos and the programming card would be a great tool to have. I've just been installing them and running them without any adjustments and they all preform well but really I should set them up to preform better and being able to tether the programmer to a PC is totally awesome. I have had such good luck with the spectrum systems and just don't have enough knowledge or confidence to switch brands. 👍👍

[@Sackmatters]

Thank you for this. I’ll be updating and programming some of my firma cars. Once again razor you’re the best of the best.

[@rogueFactor]

oh my gosh, FINALLY! oh and thank you so much for the information.

[@oscarvelazquez2128]

I just want to say thanks your videos have help me out a lot thanks again

[@RazorRC]

awesome, great to hear

[@AdrenalineAshRC]

Awesome info bro 😎 👌

[@polynesianmovtgp7439]

My man got that ThinkPad. I use one as well.

[@islandrc-duke1972]

cool information and video

[@jdpasl]

Interesting!

[@toysforboysrc]

Do you have a solution for why the Spektrum 8s esc has no brakes when it’s used in the felony or any street car?

[@SilentSassin]

@Razor RC Awesome video, thank you, very informative. It's a good thing you mentioned the timing change with the update, could have been overlooked. I also have a Vortek (and 3s infraction), would there be any significant benefit to changing the BEC to 7.4v since the stock servos do support it?

[@TAZ-iw4bt]

Of course. If your servo supports it more power will give your servo slightly more torque and faster speed. You should be able to search the specs for your servo and see the torque and speed specs for 7.4v be 6v

[@general-e8628]

Can the spektrum 160A ESC run a delta motor with 2000+kv? I am looking to add a tp 40x80 with 2350kv 6s. I was curious if I got 2350kv motor, but the motor can only rev up 1500kv with the ESC.

[@Cereal_Killr]

Most of this can be all adjust in setup mode on the ESC except timing I believe I can't acces. Is timing the only real benefit with this program module?

[@patricknunamaker9349]

I’m having a problem…the orange power button lights up but the esc doesn’t come in at all no green or red lights or any sounds… we were playing in the snow esc and motor got a little wet and the receiver in the waterproof box wasn’t wet at all…. Any ideas??? Driving me crazy…

[@rwjisbamf]

So will this let me turn the voltage from 6.0 to 7.4v on Spektrum Firma™ 100A Smart ESC?

[@stanworth100]

Does this work on the old blx100a esc

[@phillipfrey6597]

What does changing the rotation on the motor do? Just learning as much as I can. Thank you for this and all of your videos

[@RazorRC]

It just makes it go backwards. Some cars have the motor on the other side and need it to turn the other direction.

[@andrataylor6070]

Will this work with the new black diamond spectrum 150 ESC??

[@horacewashington4690]

Great video! Thank you! Does the firmware upgrade improve the response? I've been having delay issues with my Outcast 6s EXB.

[@RazorRC]

No, it won't help with that. That's usually a capacitor or ESC problem.

[@carlosrubio7455]

Hola cómo puedo bajar el voltaje de corte de las baterías??? Se quedan en 50% ir a tarjeta no tiene la opción

[@Infidel67]

So I need the Spek. Prog. Card, no other way of doing it besides on the TX?, what a ripoff, Cable, Card, Lipo checker, all sells separate. I got the Hobbywing prog card connected to the Spek right now, I wonder if the settings are the same, Item 1 value is 2. only got 8 Items showing where the HW has like 11.

[@robbryan3044]

One one hand, it's fantastic to have an OEM/RTR ESC be truly programmable (are you listening, Traxxas?). On the other hand, it's a shame Spektrum/HH forces you into buying two separate accessories. With all others that I'm aware of (Hobbywing, Castle, Maclan, Tekin, etc), you only need to purchase the USB cable, OR the programming card, OR the Bluetooth module, as ANY ONE of them can be used (USB cable with a PC, or Bluetooth module with an app on a cell phone or tablet, or programming card directly). Why Spektrum requires BOTH a USB cable AND programming card makes me "wonder" what the developers & programmers were thinking (other than Spektrum wanting to take more of our money).

[@RazorRC]

Sorry it wasn’t clear, the USB cable comes with the programming card. No need to buy it separately.

[@robbryan3044]

@@RazorRC Ok then...not as bad as I had thought. But, still, having to use two different things (ie. using the programming box as a "passthrough", as opposed to a cable direct between ESC & PC) adds more complexity, and a greater number of 'connections' where problems could occur.

[@dustang5.O]

I think you’re referring to the USB cord that’s used to update Spektrum transmitters & receivers. It’s a $25 or so cable that has USB on one end and a 3 wire connector on the other. I have both the program card and the USB cord (purchased separately). I guess the question is, can the program box be used in this same way to update a transmitter or receiver?? P.S. I’m not even going to get into the third cord/item you need to update the Spektrum Smart Chargers. That has an AUX type connector on one end to plug into chargers. I really think Spektrum will revise the update cable mess on the next release cycle.

[@kirkleaman6863]

Can you make it go slower in reverse?

[@etjarhead]

Is it possible to change the low voltage cutoff with the smart link? My Vorteks runtimes on 3s are way lower than it should be, 2s has about double the runtime for me. Both Are Spektrum batteries.

[@jalee6587]

Yeah my vendetta I only get 3 full throttle pulls on 3s before lvc. 2s I get full runtimes. brand new 5200mah 80c 3s battery too. I want to know if the firmware update fixes this or allows you to adjust the lvc

[@Hankster360]

Thanks for the great video as always. Question, will this or is there a way to unlock the ESC so it goes over 90MPH?

[@kevinlucas36]

Can i update using a Mac?

[@cjboots1115]

I can't get the damn file to extract to update my big rock 6s

[@andrewap77]

I’m wondering will A Hobbywing program card work on a spectrum esc?

[@Infidel67]

Trying that now, If I blow anything up I'll let ya know

[@irreverentconcepts4089]

@razorrc so I’m having an issue with my Vorteks 3S BLX. It’s cutting out when I go full throttle. I’ve upgraded to the factory speed pinion and some pro line wheels. Other than that it’s stock, Firma 100a ESC and even a 100c 5200mah G2 Spektrum smart battery. Any ideas what I can do to fix this issue? (I’ve tried updating firmware and no fixes)…

[@bobjeffrey8320]

lvc too high

[@irreverentconcepts4089]

@@bobjeffrey8320 what’s IVC and how do I adjust it?

[@victorvai3077]

Does it work for Arrma Granite BLX V3 with Arrma BLX 100 (AR390069) ?

[@clintonkojro299]

Yes

[@rccarsandmusic2641]

I did all this with 2 of my 3 Blx100 esc and updated the firmware from 1.26 to 2.06 with new options. The problem is my recent purchase of a Vendetta August 2023, the Blx100 is at firmware 1.3 and shows no update to 2.06. I reached out to Horizon Hobby support and I get no responce. Do you know why no update from 1.30?

[@rccarsandmusic2641]

I spoke to Spektrum the blx100 that comes with the vendetta is lock and the firmware can not be upgraded from 1.30

[@Dragonewiz]

Do you have to have the esc connected to the battery when progamming the esc???🤔🤔

[@Infidel67]

Yes, or it will warn you if you want to use USB power, then disconnect the battery

[@synergyiii]

can the stock 3s vortek handle punch 5? what about with the speed pinion included?

[@Sarge45]

Yes. I’ve been running my Vorteks on punch setting 5 since I’ve had it

[@johnmacdonald6833]

That program box looks like a hobbywing with a different name on it would a hobbywing box work

[@jerryvolpini7987]

Very cool, more adjustability is always a good thing 👍 Will the Hobbywing program card work for this as well, they seem to be identical?

[@RazorRC]

No I don’t think so (or at least I wouldn’t try it!). I noticed my HW card doesn’t recognize the 6S ESC.

[@van-islediecast4191]

I wanna give it a try Definitely going too hahaha

[@Chrisjam86]

Okay someone please help. I have a spektrum 100 ESC that goes into lvc no matter what battery I run. Help

[@TAZ-iw4bt]

It’s probably set on nimh mode. (This will cause the issue you describe when using Lipo batteries) switch it to Lipo mode.

[@SaiyanPrince04]

So I tried this the other day with my 130a esc and the latest version was 1.67 I think. You talk of 2.06? I did not have selectable bec voltage after the update...dunno what the issue is I was not able to access anything higher than v1.67

[@RazorRC]

try updating your software, the new firmware is packaged with the Spektrum app.

[@ParcoUpchurch]

@@RazorRC I'm with that guy I only see 1.65 and no BEC option...not my question. Question on my Firma 130A if I want the correct wheel rotation with the trigger I need to be on CW. I can swap the Arrma color motor wires and it works CCW but I do not like that look mismatched wires. I do have a DX5C tx but I do not want to reverse it there seems to make sense first to change it in the ESC if there is an option and for me not CCW but CW. You mention BLX, 4x4 rigs "should" be set there but with today's brushless motors am I hurting anything being on CW all the forward rotation with max power forward is all correct?

[@RazorRC]

@@ParcoUpchurch CW is fine, do that and match your motor wires

[@rccarsandmusic2641]

some esc's are locked like my vendetta at 1.30

[@alogaalactic]

When I turn on the car to power on esc it’s not connecting to app it just stays there :/

[@alogaalactic]

I made sure box had the latest update before I went to try and update the esc. The second I turn on car it doesn’t allow me to do anything and the settings showed on your screen don’t pop up for me unfortunately

[@alscompleteoutdoor9091]

I don't think it's ccw on the rotation and If so why didn't you change it as it was set cw?,if your going to make these videos make sure your giving good info

[@RazorRC]

It's CCW for the 4x4 3S/4S line, CW for everything else. Depends on what car you have the ESC in.

[@scoobyrees]

Hi m8 great video does this work on the kraton 4s v2

[@ThiBor64]

Both the kraton and outcast V2 have been nerfed to 6V Bec only !!!! although it states on the spektrum website specs for the esc that it is 7.4v capable, more people need to complain to get this sorted out as its false advertising, shame as i have a 35kg servo @7.4v and its kinda wasted now in this truck :(

[@scoobyrees]

@@ThiBor64 I've swapped out my electrics for hobbywing max10 g2 140a esc and a 2400kv g3 sensored motor so much better the stock double my runtime too

[@ThiBor64]

@@scoobyrees yeh think I may go that route to

[@scoobyrees]

@Steve Foster do it m8 best thing I've done to the kraton

[@dirtrider88]

hold on, you have to have it connected TO YOUR COMPUTER to make any changes to the ESC????? WTF are the buttons on the box?

[@ragsixracing]

My firma esc 3s Typhon I bought a year ago has such a delayed throttle response, no matter what I set punch control at.

[@jerryvolpini7987]

That delay is programmed into the esc - it is designed to prevent damage to the driveline. Just give a quick 'blip' of the throttle and release (a split second), then grab full throttle and your Typhon will launch hard!

[@ragsixracing]

@@jerryvolpini7987 too late lol. Don't need that for any other ESC. Works great for carpet oval club racing tho. Keeps the ft tires on the ground running a 4600 castle in my slash late model sct. But that's all it's good for 😁

[@RazorRC]

Could be the capacitors went bad.

[@ragsixracing]

@@RazorRC I geared up 2nd day I had the Typhon to do some parking lot runs and noticed then that launches were mild. It ran like a bat out of hell after 10 mph tho. No cogging, but power ramped up late. Either it is programmed to ease into the power like the previous comment mentioned, or the ESC is defective. It happened with both the stock radio and my hobby porter 7ch that I installed on the 3rd run. The torque limiting makes sense, as no matter how I gear on 3s, the motor runs very cool. Impressive cool for a buggy hitting near 60. Never thought about those capacitors on the ESC though...I wish I knew how to test them.

[@ragsixracing]

@@RazorRC would it cog if the caps went bad? Power is smooth, just ramps up late...

[@petetell4689]

The best thing to do with a Spektrum ESC is sell it and buy a good ESC.