Fnirsi-1014d Firmware Update ((top))
Updating the firmware on a FNIRSI-1014D digital oscilloscope introduces several functional improvements and maintenance fixes. The official updates primarily address hardware compatibility, while community-driven "custom" firmware adds entirely new user-facing features. Official Firmware Update Features Official updates from the FNIRSI support site (such as Version 3.0) typically focus on: Hardware Compatibility : Versions are often optimized for different display hardware used during production; installing the correct one fixes screen alignment issues like the display shifting or cutting off. Bug Fixes : Addresses known system stability issues and potential boot freezes. Calibration Improvements : Refines the accuracy of measurement readouts, such as voltage and current levels. Community/Custom Firmware Features Open-source projects like the pecostm32/FNIRSI_1014D_Firmware on GitHub add features not present in the original software: Startup Bootloader Menu : Allows you to choose between multiple firmware versions at startup by holding a specific button during power-on. Modified Interface : Provides a new "Basic Function Interface" with a rearranged waveform display area and simplified measurement slots. Open Source Control : Enables power users to modify the oscilloscope's behavior, including custom logos and grid configurations. How to Update FNIRSI 1014D - How to do a Firmaware Upgrade Tutorial
Updating the firmware on your FNIRSI-1014D digital oscilloscope is a critical step to resolving known bugs, improving UI responsiveness, and ensuring the device functions correctly with its specific hardware components. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for both official and custom firmware installations. Why Update Your FNIRSI-1014D Firmware? Official updates, such as the widely used V3.0 , are primarily designed to: Fix UI Alignment: Address issues where the display might be shifted to the left or right by several millimeters due to variations in LCD manufacturers. Bug Patches: Correct software glitches that can cause the device to hang or fail during boot. Performance Improvements: Enhance the stability of the 100MHz bandwidth and 1GS/s sampling rate operations. Step-by-Step Official Firmware Update Guide The FNIRSI-1014D uses a straightforward "drag-and-drop" method via USB for its updates. 1. Download the Correct Firmware Visit the official FNIRSI Software Downloads page or the Support Section to find the latest version. Important: There are often two versions (Version A and Version B) for the same firmware release to accommodate different screen types. If one version results in a shifted display, you must re-update using the alternative version. 2. Prepare the Device for Connection Power on your oscilloscope. Connect the device to your PC using the supplied USB-A to USB-A data cable. Navigate to MENU > USB Export on the oscilloscope. Your computer should now recognize it as a removable drive (typically around 8GB). 3. Transfer the Update File Clean the Drive: Open the new drive on your PC and delete any existing files to avoid conflicts. Rename and Copy: Ensure your downloaded firmware file is named exactly FSI-1014.bin . Copy this file directly to the root of the oscilloscope's drive. Eject Safely: On your PC, "Eject" the drive. For Linux users, it is highly recommended to run the sync command in the terminal to ensure data is fully written. FNIRSI 1014D - How to do a Firmaware Upgrade Tutorial
To update the firmware of your FNIRSI-1014D Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , you generally need to place a specifically named file on the device's internal storage and restart it. While official support can sometimes be inconsistent, community members and technical forums like EEVblog have documented the process extensively. Latest Known Version As of April 2026, the most recent stable official firmware version for the remains v3.0 (often dated around October 2021). Firmware Update Procedure Obtain the Firmware : Download the latest firmware file, typically named FSI-1014.bin , from the FNIRSI Software Download page or community-verified links. Connect to PC : Connect your FNIRSI-1014D to your computer using a USB "A" to "A" cable. Enable USB Export : On the oscilloscope, go to MENU → USB export . The device should appear on your computer as an approximately 8GB external drive. Transfer the File : Copy the FSI-1014.bin file directly to the root directory of this drive. Safety First : Eject or unmount the drive properly from your PC to ensure the file is fully written. Initiate Update : Disconnect the USB cable, turn the oscilloscope off, and then back on. The device will detect the update file at startup, display a progress bar for about 20 seconds, and then reboot automatically. Common Issues & Troubleshooting Screen Shift/Offset : There are two different screen hardware versions for the . If your screen appears shifted or distorted after an update, you likely need the "other" version of the v3.0 firmware provided by FNIRSI to match your specific display. Black Screen/Non-Booting : If the device fails to boot after a bad update, some users recommend opening the device to manually format the internal SD card or using a firmware loader tool to restore the original data. Alternative Firmware : For advanced users, open-source reverse-engineered firmware exists on GitHub, which sometimes offers improved features like custom boot loaders.
The FNIRSI-1014D is a popular, budget-friendly, dual-channel handheld oscilloscope. Its firmware story is a classic example of the open-source hardware community clashing with the realities of budget Chinese manufacturing. Here is the full story of the FNIRSI-1014D firmware situation, broken down into the key phases: the "Paperweight" era, the Community Resurrection, and the official update wars. fnirsi-1014d firmware update
Phase 1: The "Paperweight" Era (Original Launch) When the FNIRSI-1014D first hit the market (around 2021), it was hardware impressive for the price—dual-channel, decent screen, fast sampling—but the software was incredibly buggy.
The Problems: Users reported erratic triggering, measurements that were wildly inaccurate, and a user interface that felt unresponsive. The device often crashed or failed to display stable waveforms. The Attitude: Early firmware updates from the factory were rare. FNIRSI has a reputation for releasing hardware and moving on quickly. Many users felt the device was borderline useless for serious work, referring to it as a "toy."
Phase 2: The Community Resurrection (The "EEVblog" Effect) The device was saved from obscurity by the community at the EEVblog Forum . A user named "feaser" (and later contributors like "painless" and others) reverse-engineered the hardware. They discovered that while the hardware was decent, the firmware was poorly optimized. Updating the firmware on a FNIRSI-1014D digital oscilloscope
The Open-Source Firmware: The community developed an alternative firmware (often just called "Alternative Firmware" or "FS1014D"). It completely rewrote how the scope handled signal processing and triggering. The Transformation: Users who flashed this open-source firmware reported that the device became a genuinely usable tool. Measurements became accurate, triggering stabilized, and the UI became snappier. The Risk: Installing this firmware required opening the case and shorting specific test points on the PCB to enter "DFU mode" (Device Firmware Update mode). While risky for novices, it became the standard recommendation for owners.
Phase 3: The Official Response (The 2023 Updates) Seeing the community doing their job for them (and perhaps wanting to fix their reputation), FNIRSI eventually released official updates. This is where the controversy regarding the FPGA began. The Hardware Revision Twist FNIRSI silently changed the internal components of the 1014D during production runs.
Older units used an FPGA that the community firmware was based on. Newer units utilized a slightly different FPGA configuration or initialization string. The Conflict: If you bought a newer unit and tried to flash the popular community firmware, you would brick the device. The screen would remain white or the scope would fail to boot because the community firmware didn't have the correct drivers for the new FPGA batch. Bug Fixes : Addresses known system stability issues
The Fix FNIRSI eventually released an official firmware update (Version 1.11 and later versions) that addressed many of the stability issues the community had complained about.
Official V1.12+: These versions are generally stable. They are much safer to install on newer hardware because they auto-detect the FPGA variant. The Warning: To this day, if you have a newer production unit and you flash the older, famous "community firmware," you will brick it unless you have the technical skills to use the JTAG interface to re-flash the FPGA manually (a very advanced procedure).
