ESP32-PICO-MINI-02 unable to load firmware with EspRFTestTool Toolkit

[NorthMossEmbedded]

ESP32 Module: ESP32-PICO-MINI-02
EspRFTestTool_v4.6_Manual


Hello!

We are currently using the ESP32-PICO-MINI-02 on a custom PCB and our certification team is looking to start the preparation process for certification.

I have NOT been able to flash the provided test binaries with the EspRFTestTool v4.6 to the ESP32-PICO-MINI-02.
The test binary that I'm trying to flash is: ESP32_RFTest_V191_482eb73_20230724.bin

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I have tried flashing with both the EspRFTestTool and the DownloaderTool (part of the toolkit).

Flash attempt with Downloader Tool

ESP_TIX_3.png (43.19 KiB) Viewed 1551 times

ESP_TIX_4.png (55.58 KiB) Viewed 1551 times

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I have verified that I'm successfully placing the ESP32-PICO-MINI-02 into "Download Boot" mode.

Code: Select all

rst:0x10 (RTCWDT_RTC_RESET),boot:0x3 (DOWNLOAD_BOOT(UART0/UART1/SDIO_REI_REO_V2))
waiting for download

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I have tried issuing an ERASE, which completes successfully, from the DownloadTool before attempting to flash.

Issuing an Erase

ESP_TIX_2.png (42.1 KiB) Viewed 1551 times

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I have tried updating the flash address from the default 0x1000 to 0x8000 (this was from a post on the ESP32 forum).

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I know the communication is working as I AM able to load the test binary into RAM (test commands appear to work as well), but giving out device and test we wish to run, it is highly desirable to run the test binary out of flash.


Please Advise!

Thanks,
- Kane

[Sprite]

What hardware is this on?

[NorthMossEmbedded]

What hardware is this on?

I have tried with both a Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro PC.
The ESP32 module is the ESP32-PICO-MINI-02.
The ESP32-PICO-MINI-02 has been designed into a custom PCB for our project.
Development has been smooth and I'm able to erase/flash/monitor our custom application via both UART0 and JTAG.

The issue is just when I want to flash RF test binaries via the EspRFTestTool Toolkit.

I have also confirmed the issue by using a development board for the ESP32-PICO-MINI-02 (ESP32-PICO-DevKitM-2 Dev Board), the results are the same as for the custom PCB that we are using.

Please let me know if there is something specific you are looking for.

- Kane

[NorthMossEmbedded]

@Sprite

Any ideas here?

Our FCC timeline is rapidly approaching and I'm unable to program the ESP32_RFTest_V191_482eb73_20230724.bin onto even the development board using EspRFTestTool Toolkit v4.6.

I can try loading the binaries via different means, but I would need to know what bootloader.bin, partition_table.bin, phy_ini_data.bin etc. files are needed.

If ESP32_RFTest_V191_482eb73_20230724.bin is a combined file, what address does it need to be programmed to?

Thanks in advance for your time!
- Kane

[NorthMossEmbedded]

Here is the chip information from the CHIP DEBUG TOOL V9.9.8

chip-info.png (73.58 KiB) Viewed 1475 times

[NorthMossEmbedded]

viewtopic.php?p=132075&hilit=ESP32_RFTest#p132075

This sounds like the exact problem we are experiencing.

Edited: Problem solved after received recebido from Espressif a new pack with ESP32-U4WDH-PICO-MINI-02-RF-Tool (version 2.8) and new firmware.

Where does one acquire the ESP32-U4WDH-PICO-MINI-02-RF-Tool?

[hippo59]

I'm having the same issue. Did you get an answer to your question - Where does one acquire the ESP32-U4WDH-PICO-MINI-02-RF-Tool?

[NorthMossEmbedded]

@hippo59

I did not get an response, but I was able to make progress.

I am currently using the esptool.py to issue a chip erase:

Code: Select all

esptool.py -p <YOUR-ESP32-UART0-PORT> -b 460800 --after hard_reset --chip esp32 erase_flash

Then programming the RF Test Binary to the address the bootloader is normally flashed to:

Code: Select all

esptool.py -p <YOUR-ESP32-UART0-PORT> -b 460800 --after hard_reset --chip esp32 write_flash  --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 40m --flash_size

With this I am able to run commands using the RFEspRFTestTool (v4.6), but I'm not able to use the "Certification EN" checkbox as it tries to load the power level table to the ESP32's flash. The underlying issue is the RFEspRFTestTool needs to be updated with the flash parameters required for the ESP32-PIC-MIN-02 (ESP32-PICO-V3-02 v3.1).

The lack of support on this will make me rethink using ESP32 for future projects.

Hope that helps!

[hippo59]

With help from espressif FAE, I was able to get this to work.

1. Use the power limit tool in EspRFTestTool (v4.6) to generate the appropriate phy_init.bin file.
2. Use Espressif Flash Download Tool (v3..9.8) to download the appropriate RFTest.bin and associated phy_init.bin files. As you pointed out, using EspRFTestTool (v4.6) to download to flash doesn't work.
3. Use EspRFTestTool (v3.6) instead of v4.6 to run the actual tests, including turning "Certification EN" to ON.

Hope this helps!

[newhobby]

Where did you download EspRFTestTool (v3.6) from?