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Dogdipstick · 08-31-2015, 06:43 PM

I am trying to load a Sk720 from firmware ver. 2.04, (circa 2011?) to the most modern update, hoping to run ver4.05, 4.07, 4.08?

Many, many have had this problem. Some have found a fix. I have found that not being able to update the firmware to match your software just made me the proud ( secondhand, did I mention secondhand?) owner of a blinking paperweight.

I have found no answer in my googling and searching, and there are many ways people have found to " fix" the very same issue ( Firmware Update Failed: Contact Skookum and provide your units Serial #), but no reliable, concrete repeatable methods that I have found.
Yes, it is working mechanically, yes it iis powered, yes, I have tried (bootloading?) jumping the top pins to force a format, yes everything seems to work until the software asks for a firmware download ( that fails every time) and consequently greys out all the tabs. It is very frustrating, I cannot even play with the software,the tabs just dont work. I have software packages 3.43, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, and 4.08b. Which should I use? are there any experts out there who can help me figure out what I need to do? I will mail my unit out for diagnosis if that is the best way to go,if I cannot get any response from skookum, how is tht to work?I have read of long waits even just for comunications to and from Skookum, so in the mean while, Can anybody suggest anything else that I might try? I am not new to programmable electrics not flybarless systems, this is just the best i've ever had and cannot wait to fly it. Thankyou all in advance!

georgi UK · 09-01-2015, 08:50 AM

=] first, open the SK720 drive in "my comp" and delete any/all logs. then click on "properties" to validate the SD cards health, it should like the screenshot, although this is a from a 540, but you are looking for visually the same free space as the pic, and not the amount of size shown, ie the 720 has a larger memory..

you can get all of the ladder software rev's here, the higher you can get it the better in terms of updating, it may mean you have to fully delete all SK files and start at the appropriate SW?

http://www.skookumrobotics.com/updates/

usual stuff, use win 2.0 USB ports, only update from the "utilities" tab and not the pop-ups. software update followed by FW update etc.

I think once you get it communicating you will get it there, 4.07 should be your target for FW and 4.05 for the SW.... don't be too concerned on 4.08(b) for now!

Skookum · 09-01-2015, 01:30 PM

The trick is to clear any logs from the gyro's flash drive, as Georgi suggests, and then first updated to rev 3.43. You can find the 3.43 download on the updates page of our website, just click the + beside it.

cycled · 09-02-2015, 06:31 AM

This helped my update my SK540 recently:
http://www.skookumrobotics.com/wiki/..._connecting%3F

Dogdipstick · 09-03-2015, 11:07 AM

I have tried those methods. All listed above. No logs are shown, just a sk config file.

I have tried on multiple computers. The disk seems healthy. Soft Ware version 3.43. No. Connects and registers yaw, roll, ect.

I have tried jumping, formatting, removing and replacing the disk, ect.

I have tried FirmWare update on 3.43. FW Failed, contact Skookum. Sent an email. No response, through that channel, but have tried what they recommended above.

There is another thread on here by someone waiting weeks on a mailed in product repair response. Who do I send it to, How much do I pay, How long should I wait for response? I'll keep struggling with it because I'm the kind of person who never gives up. Id hate to be a kid who doesn't know what to do when their 720 is not working. So hopefully I can find the best way to fix this issue, even if it cost 398$USD. At least the kid can read what I went through.

No concrete results yet. Is there a phone number to call to set up a mail in diagnosis? I am willing to pay, Do I just send it, WR written on the label, with ins. and sig. on receipt to know that they got it? Might as well mail it round the world for fun. From what i gather i just randomly? I cannot believe that.

Gonna get to the bottom of this.

georgi UK · 09-03-2015, 01:39 PM

=] the first thing to do before anything is to mail SK with your gyro serial #. It could be as simple as a server issue?

rickn816 · 09-03-2015, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogdipstick

I have tried those methods. All listed above. No logs are shown, just a sk config file.

I have tried on multiple computers. The disk seems healthy. Soft Ware version 3.43. No. Connects and registers yaw, roll, ect.

I have tried jumping, formatting, removing and replacing the disk, ect.

I have tried FirmWare update on 3.43. FW Failed, contact Skookum. Sent an email. No response, through that channel, but have tried what they recommended above.

There is another thread on here by someone waiting weeks on a mailed in product repair response. Who do I send it to, How much do I pay, How long should I wait for response? I'll keep struggling with it because I'm the kind of person who never gives up. Id hate to be a kid who doesn't know what to do when their 720 is not working. So hopefully I can find the best way to fix this issue, even if it cost 398$USD. At least the kid can read what I went through.

No concrete results yet. Is there a phone number to call to set up a mail in diagnosis? I am willing to pay, Do I just send it, WR written on the label, with ins. and sig. on receipt to know that they got it? Might as well mail it round the world for fun. From what i gather i just randomly? I cannot believe that.

Gonna get to the bottom of this.

Apologies if I missed it in this thread, but did you reset the unit?

Sorry again if this is a stupid question.

Rick

c3s19 · 09-13-2015, 09:01 AM

Hello Dogdipstick,

had comparable trouble coming from 3.30.
That helped me:
As already said - delete log files from card
Use newer software close to your version - I used 3.43.
Plug to USB (no battery power) - wait until OS recognizes the device (fast blinking).
Start software - cancel update popup.
Update via menue

I own 2 SK720 and rarely have problems with 'not initializing ... contact ...' but I think most of this messages don't point to a hardware defect of the SK unit. At least mine could be fixed with 'playing around'.

Good luck,
c3s19

freeman53 · 09-21-2015, 07:08 PM

I had the same problem, here is what I did. 1 I coppied all data from SD card to a directory on my PC. 2 I formatted the sd card. 3 I downloaded Version 3.43 and walked it up to the present version 4.08. It worked 4 I went through the setup wizards again until I had the right config. I hope this helped it worked for me. Good Luck!!

08-31-2015, 06:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dogdipstick Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2015	Sk720 Trouble loading firmware: Contact Skookum Error:How can we fix it? I am trying to load a Sk720 from firmware ver. 2.04, (circa 2011?) to the most modern update, hoping to run ver4.05, 4.07, 4.08? Many, many have had this problem. Some have found a fix. I have found that not being able to update the firmware to match your software just made me the proud ( secondhand, did I mention secondhand?) owner of a blinking paperweight. I have found no answer in my googling and searching, and there are many ways people have found to " fix" the very same issue ( Firmware Update Failed: Contact Skookum and provide your units Serial #), but no reliable, concrete repeatable methods that I have found. Yes, it is working mechanically, yes it iis powered, yes, I have tried (bootloading?) jumping the top pins to force a format, yes everything seems to work until the software asks for a firmware download ( that fails every time) and consequently greys out all the tabs. It is very frustrating, I cannot even play with the software,the tabs just dont work. I have software packages 3.43, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, and 4.08b. Which should I use? are there any experts out there who can help me figure out what I need to do? I will mail my unit out for diagnosis if that is the best way to go,if I cannot get any response from skookum, how is tht to work?I have read of long waits even just for comunications to and from Skookum, so in the mean while, Can anybody suggest anything else that I might try? I am not new to programmable electrics not flybarless systems, this is just the best i've ever had and cannot wait to fly it. Thankyou all in advance!

09-01-2015, 08:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
georgi UK Join Date: Mar 2007	=] first, open the SK720 drive in "my comp" and delete any/all logs. then click on "properties" to validate the SD cards health, it should like the screenshot, although this is a from a 540, but you are looking for visually the same free space as the pic, and not the amount of size shown, ie the 720 has a larger memory.. you can get all of the ladder software rev's here, the higher you can get it the better in terms of updating, it may mean you have to fully delete all SK files and start at the appropriate SW? http://www.skookumrobotics.com/updates/ usual stuff, use win 2.0 USB ports, only update from the "utilities" tab and not the pop-ups. software update followed by FW update etc. I think once you get it communicating you will get it there, 4.07 should be your target for FW and 4.05 for the SW.... don't be too concerned on 4.08(b) for now! __________________

09-03-2015, 01:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
georgi UK Join Date: Mar 2007	=] the first thing to do before anything is to mail SK with your gyro serial #. It could be as simple as a server issue? __________________

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09-01-2015, 01:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Skookum Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2008	The trick is to clear any logs from the gyro's flash drive, as Georgi suggests, and then first updated to rev 3.43. You can find the 3.43 download on the updates page of our website, just click the + beside it.

09-02-2015, 06:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
cycled Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2015	This helped my update my SK540 recently: http://www.skookumrobotics.com/wiki/..._connecting%3F

09-03-2015, 11:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dogdipstick Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2015	I have tried those methods. All listed above. No logs are shown, just a sk config file. I have tried on multiple computers. The disk seems healthy. Soft Ware version 3.43. No. Connects and registers yaw, roll, ect. I have tried jumping, formatting, removing and replacing the disk, ect. I have tried FirmWare update on 3.43. FW Failed, contact Skookum. Sent an email. No response, through that channel, but have tried what they recommended above. There is another thread on here by someone waiting weeks on a mailed in product repair response. Who do I send it to, How much do I pay, How long should I wait for response? I'll keep struggling with it because I'm the kind of person who never gives up. Id hate to be a kid who doesn't know what to do when their 720 is not working. So hopefully I can find the best way to fix this issue, even if it cost 398$USD. At least the kid can read what I went through. No concrete results yet. Is there a phone number to call to set up a mail in diagnosis? I am willing to pay, Do I just send it, WR written on the label, with ins. and sig. on receipt to know that they got it? Might as well mail it round the world for fun. From what i gather i just randomly? I cannot believe that. Gonna get to the bottom of this.

09-13-2015, 09:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
c3s19 Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2011	Hello Dogdipstick, had comparable trouble coming from 3.30. That helped me: As already said - delete log files from card Use newer software close to your version - I used 3.43. Plug to USB (no battery power) - wait until OS recognizes the device (fast blinking). Start software - cancel update popup. Update via menue I own 2 SK720 and rarely have problems with 'not initializing ... contact ...' but I think most of this messages don't point to a hardware defect of the SK unit. At least mine could be fixed with 'playing around'. Good luck, c3s19

09-21-2015, 07:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
freeman53 Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2010	I had the same problem, here is what I did. 1 I coppied all data from SD card to a directory on my PC. 2 I formatted the sd card. 3 I downloaded Version 3.43 and walked it up to the present version 4.08. It worked 4 I went through the setup wizards again until I had the right config. I hope this helped it worked for me. Good Luck!!

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