FNIRSI GC-01: Can't flash firmware on "AIR01" device

[nefarium]

I am able to connect via USB after careful timing of holding and releasing both right arrow and power button. However, the counter only shows up as "AIR01" under windows 10, Devices and Printers (unspecified subgroup). Cannot access it's files and it's not showing up as a drive or anything useable. Any suggestions? Thank you.

[Gissio]

Strange.

Can you post a screenshot of the device in "Device Manager"? In the device properties, can you go to "Details" and post what you see under "Hardware Ids" and "Capabilities" (or "Capacities")?

Can you try on another Windows computer?

[nefarium]

Yeah, if I remember right it was just showing up as an unknown device with no helpful data under device manager details. I will get some screenshots taken later and forward them. I tried it on total of three computers. The other ones are an older Win7 laptop and also a Win Vista (cringe) laptop. My main rig is Win 10 which should not have any issues. One tidbit of information I noticed is that when inspecting the WCH microchip under magnifying lens, I could see that the final two digits of the chip number were "10" instead of "20" like shown in some online pictures. So, perhaps an earlier version of the chip. Thanks.

[nefarium]

OK I can see under device manager description/general tab the following text for the USB Mass Storage Device which appears on GC power up: "This device is working properly. There is a secondary device connected to this hardware that Windows cannot identify because it does not have a valid hardware identification number. For assistance, contact the hardware manufacturer." So.... I spent some time and combined several screenshots you requested into one MS paint image. You can see the "AIR01" which appears when the GC is powered up bottom left with big red arrow pointing to it. Smaller red arrow near center points to it in the Device Mananger. The two smaller boxes on right side of screenshot are the Hardware IDs and Capabilities shots. Let me know if you see anything helpful there or not.

[nefarium]

PS: I also took a screenshot of the details provided by an application called USBDeview, if this data helps you at all. Thanks.

[Gissio]

So what happens if you drag the Rad Pro firmware to the "AIR01" icon? Make sure you check what MCU your GC-01 has, and upload the corresponding firmware.

[nefarium]

Cannot really tell which version of the firmware because the power screen only shows the FNIRSI logo / website link and some chinese letters. No firmware version shown there. I made a video of it and paused it to make sure I didn't miss the version. It's just not there. The chip is the WCH chip and as noted the last two digits of it's number are 10 instead of 20 like I see online. I can take it apart again if you think it helps to provide the full long chip number. Mine came with the M4011 geiger tube which I don't see mentioned very much except as an option. The M4011 tube seems like a decent one used by GQ electronics, etc. Thanks.

[Gissio]

If you have a WCH MCU, you can recover with the original V1.5 firmware. If you have a Geehy MCU, you can recover with the original V1.6-2 firmware.

Did you try dragging the GC-01 Rad Pro firmware for WCH to the "AIR01" icon?

[nefarium]

OK Cool. I did not want to try that in fear of bricking the device. However, it's not a huge loss if it happens because I only paid about $45 delivered for it. I am heading off to work now but can try it this evening. I have a feeling it's not going to work because it does not show up as a valid storage device like a USB thumb drive does. Will give it a shot though. Thanks again.

[Gissio]

Some storage devices do not show up as regular drives (iPhones, for example). Let us know how it worked.

[Lion22332]

Same here: the chipnumber is CH32F104 R8T6 401546C10. And the tube a m4011. I bought it may 2023. Windows recognises the Fnirsi with a dongle sound when you push the middle button. If you let the button go then there is a the disconnect sound. Under device manager there is a mass storage device listed under USB and it is said to be working properly . The driver is ..system/drivers/usbccgp.sys. And also an AIR01 is listed in bluetooth and other devices in the settings. Somewhere in the settings there was aan option to create a storage space on it and is warned that the files (a text file) will be deleted when you do that. But the basic problem i think is that there is no or a wrong driver for it installed. I could not drag the Radpro firmware anywhere to this drive as it soes not show up in win explorer. :(

[Gissio]

To both of you, try this:

• Open "Disk Management".
• In the "View" menu, select "Volume" and "Disk List".
• Connect your FNIRSI GC-01 and keep the power button pressed.
• A disk should appear in the top view. Click on the disk (first column).
• Post a screenshot of what you see.

[Lion22332]

I looked there already but it seems nothing shows up. Maybe if you create a storage space on it as i have seen somewhere before and thus you loose all files you can copy the bootloader program together with the Radpro but i don't want to try that and brick my Fnirsi LOL.

[nefarium]

OK I tried it too and no new disk shows up. Also tried just dragging and dropping your bin file to the AIR01 icon and it does not allow it. Shows a little crossed out circle to indicate it's not possible when I try.

[nefarium]

I wonder if contacting FNIRSI support is worth a try to ask if the WCH version with M4011 geiger tube even has the ability to receive firmware updates like the other models seem to(?) Shot in the dark perhaps.

[Gissio]

Honestly I don't know what to do about this.

[nefarium]

Been a busy week at work but tomorrow is my day off so I can mess with it some more. Will report back. Thanks.

[Lion22332]

Could it be that the problem is that the processor in my GC-01 is not CH32F103R8T6 but CH32F104R8T6?

[Gissio]

According to WCH (https://wch-ic.com/products/categories/66.html?pid=5), there should be no CH32F104R8T6. Can you post a photo of the MCU?

[Lion22332]

Sorry, i made a mistake it is 103 after all.

[Gissio]

I've added instructions for flashing Rad Pro to the FNIRSI GC-01 with an STLINK USB dongle: https://github.com/Gissio/radpro/blob/main/docs/devices/FNIRSI%20GC-01/install-stlink.md

[nefarium]

Great news thank you. Will give it a shot. I just ordered the dongle for $5.69 which gets good reviews and some pin headers so I don't have to scavenge them. Will be a few days to arrive but I will let you know how it goes. PS: in your directions you don't mention the M4011 geiger tube which is also on some units. It's a good tube also used by GQ Electronics in some of their counters. Mine is dated 2023. Here is a picture online for comparison: https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/S234ea8cc10b64df2b9d77192152ddc85c/J321-Geiger-Muller-tube-counter-Hard-Beta-GM-Detectors-Geiger-Counter-Kit-The-tube-for-Nuclear.jpg Thank you!

…

________________________________ From: Gissio ***@***.***> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2024 9:24 PM To: Gissio/radpro ***@***.***> Cc: nefarium ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [Gissio/radpro] FNIRSI GC-01: Can't flash firmware on "AIR01" device (Discussion #45) I've added instructions for flashing Rad Pro to the FNIRSI GC-01 with a STLINK USB dongle: https://github.com/Gissio/radpro/blob/main/docs/devices/FNIRSI%20GC-01/install-stlink.md — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#45 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BHJDSJPAXQYGITPADWUNJTDY6M5Q5AVCNFSM6AAAAABFFZQPZGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43SRDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHM4TCNZXGM2TO>. You are receiving this because you authored the thread. [https://s-install.avcdn.net/ipm/preview/icons/icon-envelope-tick-round-orange-animated-no-repeat-v1.gif]<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> Virus-free.www.avast.com<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail>

[Gissio]

Thanks for reporting about the M4011.

Let us know how it went! I'm particularly interested in your experience with the haptic pulses feature. Are pulses too weak/too strong?

[nefarium]

Just to let you know the dongle arrived and worked great. The flash worked very well on my WCH, M4011 tube unit. One thing you may want to add is for the user to give it some time for the flashing to complete because I started to think it had froze up in a loop. After a bit it completed fine. Another thing is the line in the instructions: "To install from Windows, start the install-fnirsi-gc01-[mcu].bat" ... briefly confused me because the filename started with "flash" instead of "install". Not a big deal and I figured it out. My header pins were indeed a different layout, but no biggie. The clicker is still pretty quiet so I may end up trying the LED/resistor in parallel mod to see if that helps. When switched to high volume it uses the beep tone which I don't really like. I prefer good old-fashioned clicks. I drilled a 3/16" hole in the case for the piezo sounder to hopefully let more audio out and super glued a bit of stainless pipe screen mesh inside to keep debris/lint out. Hoped it would help click volume but still pretty quiet. I like Dusk mode best for now! 🙂 Cool stuff. Thanks again!

…

________________________________ From: Gissio ***@***.***> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2024 9:24 PM To: Gissio/radpro ***@***.***> Cc: nefarium ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [Gissio/radpro] FNIRSI GC-01: Can't flash firmware on "AIR01" device (Discussion #45) I've added instructions for flashing Rad Pro to the FNIRSI GC-01 with a STLINK USB dongle: https://github.com/Gissio/radpro/blob/main/docs/devices/FNIRSI%20GC-01/install-stlink.md — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#45 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BHJDSJPAXQYGITPADWUNJTDY6M5Q5AVCNFSM6AAAAABFFZQPZGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43SRDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHM4TCNZXGM2TO>. You are receiving this because you authored the thread. [https://s-install.avcdn.net/ipm/preview/icons/icon-envelope-tick-round-orange-animated-no-repeat-v1.gif]<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> Virus-free.www.avast.com<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail>

[Gissio]

Thanks for the comments.

Instructions were fixed. Regarding the "quiet" volume, could you try this test release:

radpro-flashtool-2.0rc4-test2.zip

It should sound stronger, but a bit more beep-ish than click-ish.

Are you able to access the bootloader now? If you are not, could you please ask the people in this thread to be generous and post their bootloader (in particular, the ones that identify as "GC01 BOOT" drives)?: #59

[nefarium]

Been pretty tired after work but I will try it soon. Part of the reason I don't like the beep tone is that it's too long. When you are measuring a source like vintage orange pottery that has a high enough count rate, all of the beeps flow together into a continuously annoying sputter tone. Clicks seem better at handling moderately high count rates. I took the unit with me into a prospecting supply store to show the owner and was measuring a bunch of rock specimens he had sitting around. Sadly, the click volume was so low that we could barely hear it over the ambient background noise of the fluorescent lighting above and street traffic. And this is with a 3/16" hole drilled over the piezo sounder. So yeah, I'd like to increase it. The beeps were a little better in volume but not much. I just plugged it in via USB a few different times, powering it on and off. It still makes the USB connection sound but nothing shows up as a storage device so I don't think I have bootloader access. I don't know what you mean about asking people to be generous and post their bootloaders...(?) At least I can still take it apart and do the firmware flash manually. Bit of a pain to do but if you think it may help click volume it's worth a try.

…

-Chris

________________________________ From: Gissio ***@***.***> Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 4:30 PM To: Gissio/radpro ***@***.***> Cc: nefarium ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [Gissio/radpro] FNIRSI GC-01: Can't flash firmware on "AIR01" device (Discussion #45) Thanks for the comments. Instructions were fixed. Regarding the "quiet" volume, could you try this test release: radpro-flashtool-2.0rc4-test2.zip<https://github.com/Gissio/radpro/files/15135960/radpro-flashtool-2.0rc4-test2.zip> It should sound stronger, but a bit more beep-ish than click-ish. Are you able to access the bootloader now? If you are not, could you please ask the people in this thread to be generous and post their bootloader (in particular, the ones that identify as "GC01 BOOT" drives): #59<#59> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#45 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BHJDSJJT2G6SXL55ECL7JK3Y7LPRLAVCNFSM6AAAAABFFZQPZGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43SRDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHM4TENBSGEYTO>. You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Lion22332]

As a newbie i am trying to understand the flashing with a ST-dongle on the FNIRSI. So you just have to double click (from Windows Explorer) the mentioned .bat file from the downloaded Radpro Flashtool and it will automatically install?

Furthermore the following sentence in the: 'Step 3 Flash The Firmware" instructions i do not understand: "To flash the original firmware, open a terminal and start the script with the firmware/fnirsi-gc01-ch32f103r8t6-v1.5.bin argument if your device has a CH32F103R8T6"

What terminal do you mean? A windows Powershell window? And what do you mean with "the script"? Is that a batch file? Or is there some software needed to do this?

[Gissio]

Regarding your first question: that is correct!

Regrading the other questions: A Windows PowerShell window is a terminal. A batch file is a script. There is no other software you need.

[Lion22332]

Thank you for your answer. Sorry for my ignorance but i still don't understand what script is meant here. Is it the batchfile that installs Radpro and that i have to adapt or is there another file that starts with the "firmware/fnirsi-gc01-ch32f103r8t6-v1.5.bin argument". Or do i have to write a new file that starts with that argument? That seems quite complicated when i see the installation batch file. I realize that you cannot pre-chew everything for us but i want to know how to reinstall the original firmware in case i brick my Fnirsi in the installation process.

[Gissio]

Sorry I wasn't clear enough.

In computing, a script is a series of simple instructions that automate a process. You can learn more about scripts here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripting_language.

In order to install the original firmware, select the decompressed "radpro-flashtool" folder in Explorer, right click on the folder while pressing the shift key, select "Open PowerShell window here...", and type the following command:

flash-fnirsi-gc01-ch32f103c8t6.bat firmware/fnirsi-gc01-ch32f103r8t6-v1.5.bin

That's all.

[Lion22332]

Thanks, it is clear now, i got everything and the ST drivers are installed. I hope soon to have the courage to try and install Radpro LOL.