Inspire 1 Pro X5R and/vs XT Firmware

[shv2sail]

I recently picked up an Inspire 1 which I've manually upgraded to a Pro (motor/ESC/Prop swap out). I have an X5R and XT camera and about to get the firmware of all to the known working 1.8 version. However, how does doing an update/downgrade with the X5R firmware .bin file effect the XT (or vice versa)? Or, will the X5R firmware package work for the XT, or not effect it?

Thanks-

 

[Donnie Frank]

I recently picked up an Inspire 1 which I've manually upgraded to a Pro (motor/ESC/Prop swap out). I have an X5R and XT camera and about to get the firmware of all to the known working 1.8 version. However, how does doing an update/downgrade with the X5R firmware .bin file effect the XT (or vice versa)?

Are you downgrading (rolling back) the CAMERA firmware or the Inspire 1's firmware?

I have no experience with the X5R, but I do have experience with the X5. Here are some key points:

1) Rolling back the Inspire 1's firmware should be done via the X3 camera, not the X5 or X5R! (Bang used for emphasis).
2) The X3's firmware MUST match the Inspire 1's firmware.
3) The X5's firmware does NOT have to match the Inspire 1's firmware. I tested this with 3 X5 cameras with 3 different firmware versions. All 3 X5 cameras worked flawlessly. I imagine it's the same for the X5R.
4) I was told from another advanced user that having the latest X5 firmware is desirable, but not necessary. Ergo, DO NOT roll back the firmware on the X5 or, in your case, the X5R. Ergo, do NOT use your X5R camera to roll back your Inspire 1's firmware.

Or, will the X5R firmware package work for the XT, or not effect it?

Thanks-

I have zero experience with the XT camera. Intuitively, I'm going to GUESS that the XT's firmware does NOT have to match the Inspire 1's firmware. But this is an educated guess. I could be wrong.

D

 

[shv2sail]

Hi Donnie, many thanks for this. This is my first jump into drones with replaceable camera systems and the firmware issues (AC vs Cam) that comes with it. But I've been reading your posts and watching your videos to attempt to catch up (thanks for those!).

The I1 I have was sold as a fishing lure deployer (but never used as such by the previous owner), so I don't have an X3 for it, but sounds like I need one to roll back the AC's firmware to 1.8. Interesting that once I get it rolled back with an X3, using the X5R firmware update file will not also update the AC at the same time (possible same with an XT?)...I'm guessing the X3 firmware file is both a cam and aircraft updater vs X5 that's just the cam. All a bit confusing.

Many thanks again for the info!

 

[Donnie Frank]

Hi Donnie, many thanks for this. This is my first jump into drones with replaceable camera systems and the firmware issues (AC vs Cam) that comes with it. But I've been reading your posts and watching your videos to attempt to catch up (thanks for those!).

You are very welcome. Glad SOMEONE is reading them...<;^)

The I1 I have was sold as a fishing lure deployer (but never used as such by the previous owner), so I don't have an X3 for it, but sounds like I need one to roll back the AC's firmware to 1.8.

Correct.

Interesting that once I get it rolled back with an X3, using the X5R firmware update file will not also update the AC at the same time (possible same with an XT?)...

It's been my experience and the experience of others that rolling back firmware with the X5 nets mixed results, rarely good. In theory, one SHOULD be able to roll back the Inspire 1's firmware with an X5. But after a couple attempts nothing but failure. And one time I bricked an X5 that had to be sent back to the factory. I'm not 100% sure that it was the firmware roll back that bricked it. But after learning that it's best to allow the X5 to remain on the latest FW version, I decided to start recommending against using the X5 for FW rollbacks. The X5R is completely unchartered waters.

I'm guessing the X3 firmware file is both a cam and aircraft updater vs X5 that's just the cam. All a bit confusing.

It is. Because one can UPDATEE the bird's firmware using any camera. Rolling back the firmware is where I have run into trouble with the X5, as have others. If I were in your shoes I would simply purchase an X3 camera. It's a good camera to have anyway, as you don't always need RAW footage, and you will enjoy the extra flight time with the X3, which weighs about half of the X5 and even more less™ than the X5R.

Many thanks again for the info!

Hue Betchee.

D

 

[shv2sail]

Copy all, Donnie. I was going to grab an X3 anyhow (for those very reasons), so no big deal there.

I'll post here how it goes with the roll back, X5R and XT just to add to everyone's knowledge bank.

Much appreciated!

Steve

 

[Donnie Frank]

Copy all, Donnie. I was going to grab an X3 anyhow (for those very reasons), so no big deal there.

I'll post here how it goes with the roll back, X5R and XT just to add to everyone's knowledge bank.

Much appreciated!

Steve

You bet.

I made a couple videos that are probably longer than they need to be, but will walk you through the whole process. Just use your right arrow keys to FF through the chaff.

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Somewhere in these videos I cover rolling back the controller, which must be rolled back to v1.6.

D

P.S. I started reading through some of the video comments and it seems that some HAVE had success rolling back using the X5R camera. It seems like a real crap shoot to me. I think your plan to purchase an X3 is a good one because it is my understanding that the X5 and X5R work best when they have the latest firmware. Conversely, the X3 works best with the rolled back firmware.