Sensortile.box initial firmware update through ST BLE Sensor App fails. Why?

[TJM]

On initial power up of the sensor box then running the sensor app there is a notice for updated firmware. The app then guides the user through the steps of selecting the update and uploading/installing that update, sensortile.box_v332.bin. The progress indicator show the file being uploaded but ends with 'Upload Error: Error sending the data'. The bluetooth LED flashes while the upload is taking place. The procedure is also described in the STSW-MKSBOX1-bl.pdf but I'm unable to get a good updated upload.

added: Also, can't get the thing to do anything even with the original firmware.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

TM

[TJM]

After numerous attempts at updating the firmware the last attempt (obviously) took and successfully completed the update to v3.3.2. I have no idea as to why it decided to complete successfully but I noticed a couple of things. I now can connect and make the demos work. My phone occasionally has issues with BLE and that may have been the problem all along. The TILEBOX won't operate on battery alone. New post with pics for this.

I was hoping for a more solid procedure for the update.

[Eleon BORLINI]

Hi @TJM​ , thank you for your reporting. Which smartphone / android system are you using? In case of (future) upgrading issue, I suggest you to check this thread about direct .bin file upgrade.

Regards

[TJM]

Thanks for the reply.

The phone is a Motorola G5 Plus running Android 8.1.0 .

I checked your recommended thread and video. I think what happened is I just stumbled upon a sequence of button pushes and connections that eventually turned out correct and the firmware update loaded successfully. Not sure I can repeat the procedure but I can eliminate what doesn't work now.

Please check my post on the battery charging system issues for this TILEBOX.

Thanks,

tjm

[Eleon BORLINI]

Android 8 could give some issues, especially during the FW upgrade phase.. about the other post, I'm checking today

Regards

[TJM]

Thanks, and to confirm, I have had occasional issues with BLE on this particular phone that apparently get resolved after making repeated attempts at uploads or connections. No reliable reason has ever been given by the Android community or by Motorola/Lenovo.

tjm

[SGold.6]

Me, too. Did you ever get the thing working again? I think a failed download just bricked mine.:(

Thx

Steve

[TJM]

Hello. I made a reply to this email with my phone but it doesn't appear that it actually went through. What version of the firmware does the app show? I have v3.4.9 and it appears this is the latest version. I'll try and find the link to this version as it was posted in another thread. If you use the latest binary and burn it with CubeProgrammer it should restore the unit.

[TJM]

I can't find the v3.4.9 update but run a search in st.com for FP-SNS-STBOX1 and you will find the sensortile.box function pack with several app and binaries that can be loaded. This function pack was part of a workshop for the sensortile.box and has some good info. Maybe one of the ST employees will see this and post the latest upgrade v3.4.9 or later if there is a later version.

[SGold.6]

Hi Tony. Progress to report - firmware is now at 3.4.10, and the Bluetooth connection so far has been stable and continuous. But I still have no entry level, and an expert level app I created only runs once, right after reflashing the firmware, then goes into an upload loop. I sent a note to Niccolo about that. Now it seems I'm up to the function pack, but how exactly to upload the apps and binaries is beyond my current knowledge. Because of all the attempts though, I'm getting familiar with the STM32Cube Programmer (!), and just need a little guidance, if you can help. It was really exciting to see the realtime accelerometer plot, so now I want it all to work...! Thx, Steve

[TJM]

Steve, I'm at a loss to figure out what's going on with your sensortile.box. The firmware is just that with the default programming. The phone app has the different demos that can be configured and uploaded one demo at a time. The function pack has some ready made .bin files to run the demos from there but I think some are without the bootloader, which is included in the function pack but needs to be handled separately. Need to read almost all of the function pack help files. Here is a link to the sensortile.box workshop. It still works for me, give it a try. You may need to be logged into community.st.com for this to work. If it doesnt' work post that here and maybe one of the ST guys can make it work.

https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/console/apollox/mainEvent?&eventid=3713419&sessionid=1&username=&partnerref=&format=fhaudio&mobile=&flashsupportedmobiledevice=&helpcenter=&key=95933042A3493E57A7AB3E5DEFC8C986&newConsole=true&nxChe=true&newTabCon=true&consoleEarEventConsole=false&text_language_id=en&playerwidth=748&playerheight=526&eventuserid=522522736&contenttype=A&mediametricsessionid=508733133&mediametricid=5223843&usercd=522522736&mode=launch

[niccolò]

Hi @TJM​ ,

this should be what you are looking for =)

Niccolò

[TJM]

Thanks, Niccolo. I'll pass this on to SGold.6

Tony

[SGold.6]

Hi all. OK, I downloaded and installed V349, using the"SensorTile.Box recover and firmware upgrade. A safe procedure" Everything worked by following the steps, and using STM32Cube Programmer, I could flash the new firmware <SensorTile.box_BL_V3p4p9b.bin>. And it worked (!)...sort of. Upon disconnecting from USB, reconnecting battery and USB cable, the device was instantly seen. But there were no example apps. ?? I could however run an app I had created, and stream a plot of realtime accelerometer data to the phone, which was great (!)...but when when I left the stream and went back to the STBLE Sensor app, to create another app, the Bluetooth connection broke, and the board was no longer recognized. I went through this process a couple of times with the same result, an unrecognized, non-working board, I hear there's a firmware 3.4.10 on the way, Do you know if the next step is installing <en.FP-SNS-STBOX1_firmware>, which extracts as file folder <STM32CubeFunctionPack_STBOX1_V1.4.0>, to regain the example apps and fix the Bluetooth drop? This gizmo is so exactly what I need for a current project, I got to get it working!! Thx, Steve