1.3

New features

Two more of hardware platforms (SoCs) that the SoftRF technology is able to operate on:

• Espressif ESP32-S3  - dual-core Xtensa LX7 with 2.4 GHz radio
• Espressif ESP32-C3  - single RISC-V core with 2.4 GHz radio

Espressif ESP32-S3

• very first Release for SoftRF Prime Edition MkIII
• base component: LilyGO® T-Beam Supreme

• modes: Normal (default)
• hardware:
  • Espressif ESP32-S3 SoC
  • GNSS:
         built-in Ublox MAX-M10S or Quectel L76K
  • Sub-1Ghz radio:
         built-in Semtech SX1262
  • Output:
         default: Type-C USB CDC ACM
         optional: Wi-Fi UDP or TCP
         optional: Bluetooth LE
         optional: UART 38400, 8N1
  • Display:
         built-in: 1.3" I²C OLED
  • Sensors:
         IMU:                  QST Corp. QMI8658
         magnetometer: QST Corp. QMC6310
         air pressure:      Bosch BME280
  • Storage:
         optional: micro-SD card
  • Battery:
         optional: 18650 Li-Po 2500 mAh

Espressif ESP32-C3

• very first Release for ESP32-C3 upgrade of Standalone Edition
• base component: Ai-Thinker ESP-C3-12F(4M) module

Major improvements

Common

• minor adjustment for deviation of radio frequency used by P3I (PilotAware) protocol
• 3 dB increase in sensitivity of SX1262 radio at cost of extra 2 mA of Rx active current
• FANET 'Zone 2' (N/S America, AU, NZ, JP) regional RF band settings
• 'AUTO' and 'UK' RF bands are deprecated

ESP32

• build with most recent Arduino Core for ESP32 2.0.7 ( when necessary )
• suppress numerous GSA sentences output unless 'NMEA TCP' setting is selected ( SkyDemon use case )
• support for RISC-V ( ESP32-C3 SoC )

nRF52

• supply NMEA 'heartbeat' message to WebTop Serial or WebTop USB
• DEPG0150BN E-paper display self-detect procedure

CC13x2

• new 'G load' and 'Traffic' OLED pages for Uni Edition

RP2040

• transition on Arduino Core 3.1.1
• support for Raspberry Pico W (2.4 GHz wireless) target:
  • Wi-Fi AP
  • WebUI
  • Wi-Fi UDP data output
  • Bluetooth SPP data output
• VSYS voltage monitor for Raspberry Pico/Pico W targets

STM32

• build with recent Arduino Core for STM32 2.4.0 ( when necessary )
• activation of IGC encryption feature for Balkan Edition

Please, read commits history for more information.

Known issues

• same that previous Release 1.2 has

Binary downloads and flashing instructions

WARNING

1. This upgrade may reset your SoftRF settings down to factory default values. Please, follow these "backup and restore" procedures prior to executing the update
2. ESP32 only: you may try "Web update" method if your current firmware version is rc7-9 or 1.0-1.2, otherwise do:
   • follow First-time firmware installation procedure instructions instead, and
   • make full flash ERASE prior to firmware write operation, and
   • disconnect any of I2C devices from ESP32's GPIO2 pad. See this ticket for details.
3. S76G only: follow these instructions to update your Dongle Edition firmware. It is also recommended to reset your SoftRF Dongle settings back to factory default values by following this procedure.

Prime MkII, MkIII, Badge or Dongle owners! I will reject any claims if you, by any reason, will fail to upgrade or fail to recover after un-successful update!
If you are not sure that you can manage the update successfully - think about to stay on 1.2 or to buy a new board with pre-installed 1.3.

Source code build instructions