The first time you flashed your RAKwireless based MeshCore repeater you probably connected its USB-C port to your PC and used the web based MeshCore flasher. But now your repeater is 12m up in the air? No worries, you can use the OTA feature to upgrade the firmware over bluetooth whilst sitting in a comfortable chair!

Requirements

• Smart phone
• MeshCore companion node

Preparation

If you will be upgrading a repeater on a location without internet coverage, ensure you have the nRF Device Firmware Update app and repeater firmware on your phone in advance.

Install the nRF Device Firmware Update mobile app (by Nordic Semiconductor ASA) on your smartphone.

Download the ZIP file containing the MeshCore repeater firmware. You should find that file in the MeshCore releases on Github, under the Assets of the latest Repeater Firmware. For example: RAK_4631_repeater-v1.12.0-e738a74.zip

Backup

Upgrading your MeshCore repeater to a new firmware version should keep your repeater setting. But as always, it is a good idea to backup the repeater settings.

Upgrade Steps

Get yourself in Bluetooth range of your repeater.

Go to the MeshCore app, select your repeater on the Contacts screen and choose Manage.

Go to the Command Line screen and send the start ota command:

In the nRF Device Firmware Upgrade (DRU) app, go to settings, enable Packet Receipt notification and set Number of packets to 5:

Return to the Firmware Upgrade screen and press File > Select and find the ZIP file with the repeater firmware.

Select the Device, Grant permission for Bluetooth and select your RAK device from the list. It should have the same MAC-address as reported by the start ota command.

Press Start and after a few minutes, the upgrade should be complete.

Finally

After the upgrade, make sure to Sync Clock in your Repeater Admin page of the MeshCore App.

Your should now see that your repeater is running the updated firmware: