New Gateware is necessary to add the new audio signal paths and functions to the Hermes Lite 2 Plus. Using SparkSDR makes it easy. Below are links to HL2+ gateware download, gateware installation instructions, and using SparkSDR to check the version of gateware once uploaded loaded into your HL2+.
Please note: After gateware update, you must power cycle the HL2+ before verifying the new gateware has successfully been programmed.
Gateware Update Instructions:
Here is the link to the HL2 Wiki gateware update instructions: HL2 Wiki Gateware Update Instructions The SparkSDR gateware update instructions leave a lot to be desired (a lot of people have problems), so below is my version of instructions (please use these!):
- The HL2 "power" button must be grey, not green. If it is green, click it again to turn it grey.
- Right click the "power" button and select "Upload New Firmware"
In the new window that opens, select the file you want to upload (the file name line turns blue when selected) It is easiest if you put the file(s) for uploading in your "Documents" directory so they will be right there in SparkSDR, forget trying to navigate to it/them.
- Press "Program". Wait for SparkSDR to erase the current gateware and upload the new, finishing with a "Programming Complete" message. The SparkSDR message sequence is "Connecting", "Erasing", "Programming", "Programming Complete".
- When the programming is complete, power cycle the HL2+
- After programming new gateware with SparkSDR and power cycling the HL2+, re-find the HL2+ (hit the forward circle icon in SparkSDR, the HL2+ IP address should appear to the right of the "power" button). Press the SparkSDR "power" button for the HL2+ (the button turns green). If you immediately hear "motorboating" from whatever you have connected to the PHONES jack or a speaker connected to the SPKR (J5) two-pin header on the rear of the Companion Board, then your gateware upload was successful. If you do not get "motorboating" when you click the HL2+ "power" button in SparkSDR, you were not successful in uploading the HL2+ gateware. Try again, following the instructions provided above EXACTLY.
- If you do hear "motorboating", pass GO and collect $200! ;-). You can now run Thetis and you should have audio from the PHONES jack and a speaker connected to the SPKR (J5) two-pin header on the rear of the Companion Board. this will happen as soon as you click the "POWER" button in Thetis, no settings require (at least for this!).
Checking Gateware Version - Bring up the Radio Settings screen by clicking on the three dots in the upper right area of SparkSDR. GW version is shown in the lower left area of the Radio Settings screen General tab. The current gateware ID's as 74,2,5,4 in SparkSDR.
- Because the main and AK4951 variant GW version numbers are the same since version 74, positive verification of GW version with SparkSDR is now more difficult.
Additional, Optional Instructions
- After variant GW programming with SparkSDR, power cycle the HL2+ and check for audio on the HL2+ PHONES jack as the means to determine if the variant GW has been successfully programmed. Another method to check is to plug a CW paddle into the HL2+ KEY jack and check for CW keyer operation (Iambic selected in Thetis CW menu and Thetis in CW mode).
- If audio is not present and/or the CW keyer is not working, follow the GW update instructions again to program an earlier GW version such as 73p3_testing_release_ak4951v3_variant_hl2b5up.rbf, power cycle the HL2+ and check for 73p3 GW version (ID's as 74,0,5,4 in SparkSDR). Then, repeat the process for 74p2 AK4951 variant GW, power cycle the HL2+ and check for 74p2 GW version (ID's as 74,2,5,4 in SparkSDR). This method provides positive verification that the variant GW has been programmed.