v1.0.17 bootloops heltec v3 / v4

[kallisti5]

(used flash.py)

ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x10 (RTCWDT_RTC_RST),boot:0x8 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
ets_loader.c 78 
ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x8 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x400454d5
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
ets_loader.c 78 
ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x8 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x400454d5
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
ets_loader.c 78 
ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x10 (RTCWDT_RTC_RST),boot:0x8 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
ets_loader.c 78 
ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x8 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x400454d5
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
ets_loader.c 78 

(flash.py)

$ ./flash.py  --erase

Available serial ports:
  [1] /dev/ttyACM0
  [2] /dev/ttyS0
  [3] /dev/ttyS1
  [4] /dev/ttyS10
  [5] /dev/ttyS11
  [6] /dev/ttyS12
  [7] /dev/ttyS13
  [8] /dev/ttyS14
  [9] /dev/ttyS15
  [10] /dev/ttyS16
  [11] /dev/ttyS17
  [12] /dev/ttyS18
  [13] /dev/ttyS19
  [14] /dev/ttyS2
  [15] /dev/ttyS20
  [16] /dev/ttyS21
  [17] /dev/ttyS22
  [18] /dev/ttyS23
  [19] /dev/ttyS24
  [20] /dev/ttyS25
  [21] /dev/ttyS26
  [22] /dev/ttyS27
  [23] /dev/ttyS28
  [24] /dev/ttyS29
  [25] /dev/ttyS3
  [26] /dev/ttyS30
  [27] /dev/ttyS31
  [28] /dev/ttyS4
  [29] /dev/ttyS5
  [30] /dev/ttyS6
  [31] /dev/ttyS7
  [32] /dev/ttyS8
  [33] /dev/ttyS9
  [34] /dev/ttyUSB1

Select port [1-34]: 34
Detecting board on /dev/ttyUSB1...
  Chip:       ESP32-S3 (revision v0.2)
  Flash:      8MB
  Features:   WiFi, BLE
  MAC:        34:b7:da:65:90:90
  → Detected: Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3

╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║       RNodeTHV4 Flash Utility            ║
║           Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3           ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝

Using esptool: /usr/bin/python3 /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/./Release/esptool/esptool.py
Checking latest release from jrl290/RNodeTHV4...
  Cached firmware is up-to-date: v1.0.17

  Release: v1.0.17

Serial port: /dev/ttyUSB1
Firmware:    /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v3/rnodethv3_firmware.bin (1,300,320 bytes)

  Full flash: rnodethv3_firmware.bin → 0x0000
  Size: 1,300,320 bytes
  ⚠  This will overwrite all settings (NVS/EEPROM)

Reset device to download mode first? (try if device is stuck) [y/N] Y
Opening /dev/ttyUSB1 at 1200 baud to trigger bootloader...
Waiting for device to re-enumerate in download mode...
Done. The device should now be in download mode.
Re-scanning serial ports (port may have changed)...

Available serial ports:
  [1] /dev/ttyACM0
  [2] /dev/ttyS0
  [3] /dev/ttyS1
  [4] /dev/ttyS10
  [5] /dev/ttyS11
  [6] /dev/ttyS12
  [7] /dev/ttyS13
  [8] /dev/ttyS14
  [9] /dev/ttyS15
  [10] /dev/ttyS16
  [11] /dev/ttyS17
  [12] /dev/ttyS18
  [13] /dev/ttyS19
  [14] /dev/ttyS2
  [15] /dev/ttyS20
  [16] /dev/ttyS21
  [17] /dev/ttyS22
  [18] /dev/ttyS23
  [19] /dev/ttyS24
  [20] /dev/ttyS25
  [21] /dev/ttyS26
  [22] /dev/ttyS27
  [23] /dev/ttyS28
  [24] /dev/ttyS29
  [25] /dev/ttyS3
  [26] /dev/ttyS30
  [27] /dev/ttyS31
  [28] /dev/ttyS4
  [29] /dev/ttyS5
  [30] /dev/ttyS6
  [31] /dev/ttyS7
  [32] /dev/ttyS8
  [33] /dev/ttyS9
  [34] /dev/ttyUSB1

Select port [1-34]: 34
Using port: /dev/ttyUSB1

Flash firmware? [Y/n] Y

Erasing flash on /dev/ttyUSB1...
/home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/./Release/esptool/esptool.py:433: SyntaxWarning: 'return' in a 'finally' block
  return inst
esptool.py v3.3.3
Serial port /dev/ttyUSB1
Connecting....
Chip is ESP32-S3 (revision v0.2)
Features: WiFi, BLE
Crystal is 40MHz
MAC: 34:b7:da:65:90:90
Uploading stub...
Running stub...
Stub running...
Changing baud rate to 460800
Changed.
Erasing flash (this may take a while)...
Chip erase completed successfully in 6.9s
Hard resetting via RTS pin...
Flash erased. Waiting for device to re-enumerate...

Flashing /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v3/rnodethv3_firmware.bin to /dev/ttyUSB1...
  Chip: esp32s3  Baud: 460800  Flash: 8MB

  Detected: merged binary (partition table at 0x8000) -> flash at 0x0
Running: --flash_mode qio --flash_freq 80m --flash_size 8MB 0x0 /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v3/rnodethv3_firmware.bin
/home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/./Release/esptool/esptool.py:433: SyntaxWarning: 'return' in a 'finally' block
  return inst
esptool.py v3.3.3
Serial port /dev/ttyUSB1
Connecting....
Chip is ESP32-S3 (revision v0.2)
Features: WiFi, BLE
Crystal is 40MHz
MAC: 34:b7:da:65:90:90
Uploading stub...
Running stub...
Stub running...
Changing baud rate to 460800
Changed.
Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00000000 to 0x0013dfff...
Flash params set to 0x003f
Compressed 1300320 bytes to 777160...
Wrote 1300320 bytes (777160 compressed) at 0x00000000 in 17.4 seconds (effective 597.6 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.

Leaving...
Hard resetting via RTS pin...

╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║          Flash complete!                 ║
║  Device will reboot automatically.       ║
║                                          ║
║  On first boot, hold PRG > 5s to enter   ║
║  the configuration portal.               ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝

[kallisti5]

Same issue seen on a previously working Heltec v4 too (with flash wipe)

[kallisti5]

Same issue (bootloops) using flash.py from latest v1.0.17, but flashing v1.0.15.

However, I can flash with esptool.py directly and it starts working :-)

$ ~/.local/bin/esptool write-flash 0x0 ./.firmware_cache/v4/rnodethv4_firmware.bin 
esptool v5.2.0
Connected to ESP32-S3 on /dev/ttyACM1:
Chip type:          ESP32-S3 (QFN56) (revision v0.2)
Features:           Wi-Fi, BT 5 (LE), Dual Core + LP Core, 240MHz, Embedded PSRAM 2MB (AP_3v3)
Crystal frequency:  40MHz
USB mode:           USB-Serial/JTAG
MAC:                90:70:69:82:54:d4

Stub flasher running.

Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00000000 to 0x0013cfff...
Wrote 1296464 bytes (774562 compressed) at 0x00000000 in 9.4 seconds (1099.9 kbit/s).
Hash of data verified.

Hard resetting via RTS pin...

[jrl290]

I updated the flash.py tool. Want to give it a try?

[kallisti5]

Yup. Working on fixing another bug and can test :-)

[kallisti5]

Still bootlooping after running through flash.py. Flipped to the v4 which has the same issue.

Tested 8ce5ba2 flash.py

RNodeTHV4]$ ./flash.py 

Available serial ports:
  [1] /dev/ttyACM0
  [2] /dev/ttyACM1
  [3] /dev/ttyS0
  [4] /dev/ttyS1
  [5] /dev/ttyS10
  [6] /dev/ttyS11
  [7] /dev/ttyS12
  [8] /dev/ttyS13
  [9] /dev/ttyS14
  [10] /dev/ttyS15
  [11] /dev/ttyS16
  [12] /dev/ttyS17
  [13] /dev/ttyS18
  [14] /dev/ttyS19
  [15] /dev/ttyS2
  [16] /dev/ttyS20
  [17] /dev/ttyS21
  [18] /dev/ttyS22
  [19] /dev/ttyS23
  [20] /dev/ttyS24
  [21] /dev/ttyS25
  [22] /dev/ttyS26
  [23] /dev/ttyS27
  [24] /dev/ttyS28
  [25] /dev/ttyS29
  [26] /dev/ttyS3
  [27] /dev/ttyS30
  [28] /dev/ttyS31
  [29] /dev/ttyS4
  [30] /dev/ttyS5
  [31] /dev/ttyS6
  [32] /dev/ttyS7
  [33] /dev/ttyS8
  [34] /dev/ttyS9

Select port [1-34]: 2
Detecting board on /dev/ttyACM1...
  Chip:       ESP32-S3 (revision v0.2)
  Flash:      16MB
  Features:   WiFi, BLE
  MAC:        90:70:69:82:54:d4
  → Detected: Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4

╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║       RNodeTHV4 Flash Utility            ║
║           Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4           ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝

Using esptool: /usr/bin/python3 /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/./Release/esptool/esptool.py
  Flash mode: QIO (board default)
Checking latest release from jrl290/RNodeTHV4...
  Downloading v1.0.17 / rnodethv4_firmware.bin...
  Downloaded 1,296,464 bytes  SHA-256: 744a607504ce30ed...

  Release: v1.0.17

Serial port: /dev/ttyACM1
Firmware:    /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v4/rnodethv4_firmware.bin (1,296,464 bytes)

Checking device state...
Checking device partition table...
  Partition table OK ✓

Erase flash before writing? (wipes all settings) [y/N] y

  Full flash: rnodethv4_firmware.bin → 0x0000
  Size: 1,296,464 bytes
  ⚠  This will overwrite all settings (NVS/EEPROM)

Reset device to download mode first? (try if device is stuck) [y/N] y
Opening /dev/ttyACM1 at 1200 baud to trigger bootloader...
Waiting for device to re-enumerate in download mode...
Done. The device should now be in download mode.
Re-scanning serial ports (port may have changed)...

Available serial ports:
  [1] /dev/ttyACM0
  [2] /dev/ttyACM1
  [3] /dev/ttyS0
  [4] /dev/ttyS1
  [5] /dev/ttyS10
  [6] /dev/ttyS11
  [7] /dev/ttyS12
  [8] /dev/ttyS13
  [9] /dev/ttyS14
  [10] /dev/ttyS15
  [11] /dev/ttyS16
  [12] /dev/ttyS17
  [13] /dev/ttyS18
  [14] /dev/ttyS19
  [15] /dev/ttyS2
  [16] /dev/ttyS20
  [17] /dev/ttyS21
  [18] /dev/ttyS22
  [19] /dev/ttyS23
  [20] /dev/ttyS24
  [21] /dev/ttyS25
  [22] /dev/ttyS26
  [23] /dev/ttyS27
  [24] /dev/ttyS28
  [25] /dev/ttyS29
  [26] /dev/ttyS3
  [27] /dev/ttyS30
  [28] /dev/ttyS31
  [29] /dev/ttyS4
  [30] /dev/ttyS5
  [31] /dev/ttyS6
  [32] /dev/ttyS7
  [33] /dev/ttyS8
  [34] /dev/ttyS9

Select port [1-34]: 2
Using port: /dev/ttyACM1

Flash firmware? [Y/n] y

Flashing /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v4/rnodethv4_firmware.bin to /dev/ttyACM1...
  Chip: esp32s3  Baud: 921600  Flash: 16MB  Mode: QIO

  Detected: merged binary (partition table at 0x8000) -> flash at 0x0
Running: --flash_mode qio --flash_freq 80m --flash_size 16MB 0x0 /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v4/rnodethv4_firmware.bin
/home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/./Release/esptool/esptool.py:433: SyntaxWarning: 'return' in a 'finally' block
  return inst
esptool.py v3.3.3
Serial port /dev/ttyACM1
Connecting...
Chip is ESP32-S3 (revision v0.2)
Features: WiFi, BLE
Crystal is 40MHz
MAC: 90:70:69:82:54:d4
Uploading stub...
Running stub...
Stub running...
Changing baud rate to 921600
Changed.
Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00000000 to 0x0013cfff...
Flash params set to 0x004f
Compressed 1296464 bytes to 774562...
Wrote 1296464 bytes (774562 compressed) at 0x00000000 in 9.7 seconds (effective 1073.4 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.

Leaving...
Hard resetting via RTS pin...

╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║          Flash complete!                 ║
║  Device will reboot automatically.       ║
║                                          ║
║  On first boot, hold PRG > 5s to enter   ║
║  the configuration portal.               ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝

ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x28 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x400454d5
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
ets_loader.c 78 
ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x28 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x400454d5
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
ets_loader.c 78 
ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
Build:Mar 27 2021
rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x28 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x400454d5
SPIWP:0xee
mode:QIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fce3808,len:0x4bc
ets_loader.c 78 

[kallisti5]

The bundled esptool.py is really old (v3.3.3)
Maybe upgrade to v5?

I ran through and flashed the same image with my local esptool and it worked fine again.

$ ~/.local/bin/esptool write-flash 0x0 /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v4/rnodethv4_firmware.bin
esptool v5.2.0
Connected to ESP32-S3 on /dev/ttyACM1:
Chip type:          ESP32-S3 (QFN56) (revision v0.2)
Features:           Wi-Fi, BT 5 (LE), Dual Core + LP Core, 240MHz, Embedded PSRAM 2MB (AP_3v3)
Crystal frequency:  40MHz
USB mode:           USB-Serial/JTAG
MAC:                90:70:69:82:54:d4

Stub flasher running.

Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00000000 to 0x0013cfff...
Wrote 1296464 bytes (774562 compressed) at 0x00000000 in 9.4 seconds (1099.1 kbit/s).
Hash of data verified.

Hard resetting via RTS pin...

[jrl290]

What devices do you have?

[jrl290]

Another commit has been pushed. v5.2.0 can't be bundled because it is a much larger package

[kallisti5]

oh, on-path won't work...

Flashing /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v4/rnodethv4_firmware.bin to /dev/ttyACM1...
  Chip: esp32s3  Baud: 921600  Flash: 16MB  Mode: DIO

  Detected: merged binary (partition table at 0x8000) -> flash at 0x0
Running: dio --flash_freq 80m --flash_size 16MB --verify 0x0 /home/kallisti5/Code/RNodeTHV4/.firmware_cache/v4/rnodethv4_firmware.bin
Warning: Deprecated: Option '--flash_mode' is deprecated. Use '--flash-mode' instead.
Warning: Deprecated: Option '--flash_freq' is deprecated. Use '--flash-freq' instead.
Warning: Deprecated: Option '--flash_size' is deprecated. Use '--flash-size' instead.
Warning: Deprecated: Choice 'default_reset' for option '--before' is deprecated. Use 'default-reset' instead.
Warning: Deprecated: Choice 'hard_reset' for option '--after' is deprecated. Use 'hard-reset' instead.
Warning: Deprecated: Command 'write_flash' is deprecated. Use 'write-flash' instead.
esptool v5.2.0

all the flags got simpler. Let me remove the on-path esptool and see if the DIO fixes it.

[kallisti5]

Can confirm, changing to DIO alone fixes the issue with the older bundled esptool

[jrl290]

Excellent, thank you for helping diagnose