[split] 64Gb FlashAir WiFi Setup Problems (todivefor)

[GuyScharf]

I've never had to deal with this problem myself, but found one reference to unbricking a FlashAir card.  This was a W-02 card so may require modifications.

Code:

Formatting:
- make a backup copy of the files from the card, in particular:
     - DCIM/100__TSB/FA000001.JPG
     - SD_WLAN/*
     - GUPIXINF/*/*
- format card (from camera or from any other device)
- put the files you just backed up, back on the card (to restore wifi functionality)


"Unbricking" the card - if you have formatted it by mistake without a backup
- download Toshiba FlashAir utility from here
- install it (installation works under Wine, the utility doesn't)
- find the files you should have copied before formatting, here: c:/Program Files (x86)/TOSHIBA/FlashAirTool/default/W-02
- these files appear to work with W-03 as well; just copy them to the card, then reconfigure it

From "Magic Lantern Forum."  Google search for:

Code:

flashair sd "brick"

to find this as first result.

[Crimson Nape]

I notice that you have a TIMEZONE parameter. This is the first time I am seeing this. If the default is two partitions, how large is partition 1 (MS-DOS)?

[todivefor]

I notice that you have a TIMEZONE parameter.   This is the first time I am seeing this.   If the default is two partitions, how large is partition 1 (MS-DOS)?

I think the Toshiba init program put the TIMEZONE param in.

The card is no longer partitioned. Dream Station repartioned from 2 32GB partitions to 1 64GB (MS-DOS FAT 32)

[GuyScharf]

I was not able to map the card as a network drive on Windows.  I just put the IP address in FlashPap; mapping is not required.  Or you can use ftp to the IP address.

See Crimson Nape's comment at http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...#pid190683.

[todivefor]

Been fiddling around today for many hours trying different combinations of things with this 64GB FlashAir card.  I think I have made some notable progress as well as other notable things that I believe don't work.  And should probably be avoided in future attempts.  Lastly, I hope this information will help others who are trying to get a 64GB card to work on their Apple system.  Hopefully to complete success in the near future.

First, the flops.
Every time I partition the 64GB card into two 32's, the ResMed machine immediately reformats it into one 64GB partition and reformats it to MS-DOS (FAT32).  So, partitioning to two 32's seems to be out.

I used Disk Utility to format two 32GB and/or one 64GB partition(s) (all combinations thereof) as MS-DOS (FAT) / ExFAT, Master Boot Record / GUID Partition Map.  In every combination, I used FlashAirFWUpdateToolV4_v40004_K which results in three eject/remove/insert cycles ending in a message saying I don't have a Flashair card installed.  The Config file is there as it should be, but the password never changes to "********" after the card is ejected/removed/inserted.  So I have come to the conclusion that whatever the "Updater" utility is supposed to do (update software), it isn't successful.

Per the flop above, I believe the only formatting method that is viable is to use the ResMed (or other xPAP machine) to do the initial formatting.  I believe a year ago, I also had success formatting the card with my Nikon camera.

Second, the positive progress.

1. Initial formatting with my ResMed ASV. (good)
   
2. Run FlashAirFWUpdateToolV4_v40004_K utility. (Goes through 2 of the 3 cycles. 1st one "Preparing..." is quick. 2nd one, "Installing..." appears to hang, non-responsive, then continues, (several times) then after 13 minutes or so, it completes the progress bar, but definitely hangs. I then have to force quit the process. This appears to be enough to make the card work properly.) (presumably good enough)
   
3. Copy and paste new Config parameters using Text Edit. (This switches to APPMODE=5, amongst adding many other parameters - see my Config data below. Interesting note, I discovered that the default Config file has several lines and numerous space characters at the end of the file. Don't know why, but I decided to leave that area alone in case there was some purpose to it being there. Several times I would edit the Config file by only changing the "**************" password string back to my actual password, eject, remove/insert, and the password was encrypted back to "**************".  That told me that the card did have its "software" installed correctly and it was likely actually reading the Config file.) (assumed to be working to some extent)
   

Next hurdle.
I believe the next step would be to go into my Airport utility and map the card as a network drive.  But the new "NO NAME" drive does not appear with my other network drives.  I believe the parameters from the AirPort Extreme are plugged into the Config file correctly.


I pinged the IP address, but I don't know how to interpret the information that is returned.


Config Data
[Vendor]

CIPATH=/DCIM/100__TSB/FA000001.JPG
APPMODE=5
APPNETWORKKEY=egb2048rjb4096
VERSION=F15DBW3BW4.00.04
CID=02544d535736344755f330e37a012101
PRODUCT=FlashAir
VENDOR=TOSHIBA
APPNAME=flashair

LOCK=1
APPSSID=AppleNetwork8a3ca7
DHCP_Enabled=NO
IP_Address=192.168.20.77
SUBNET_MASK=255.255.255.0
Default_Gateway=216.93.227.65
Preferred_DNS_Server=66.60.130.2
UPLOAD=1
NOISE_CANCEL=0
STA_RETRY_CT=0
DNSMODE=1
APPAUTOTIME=0


Next Step.
Relax and forget about it for a little while.  At least I have things ironed out that appear to be repeatable to the point of what is outlined above.  Any ideas - am I on the right track?  Just another small tweak and I've got it?

General Info.
2018 MacBook Pro - Mojave - 10.14.6
Editor used - Apple's Text Edit.
Card - FlashAir W-04, 64GB, Type 3
Update tool - Version 40004 (or 4.04 depending on where you look)

I have the same setup as you except my Macbook Pro is mid 2012 with 10.15.4, same card, different router. I basically got the same results as you. I can never get the firmware to update, started with 4.00.03 and end up with the same after trying to update to 4.00.04. My main network is based off 192.168.1.1. My FlashAir connects to 192.168.0.1. When I run through flashairtool setup and flashair drive settings, I get a ~/documents/flashair folder, but nothing there. My CONFIG file is basically the same as yours, with some changes specific to my environment. When I us default CONFIG with flashair as APPSSID my 12345678 PW gets replaced with ********. When using my network  as APPSSID, the PW is never replaced with *s. The closest I have come to something working is when I go to http://192.168.0.1, I get a blue flashair screen with a START button.

I am at a loss, with too much time spent on this. Either I have a faulty card or something very much awry with my setup. I'm thinking I am going to have to stay with removing my card from DreamStation, and copying.

[GuyScharf]

I have the same setup as you except my Macbook Pro is mid 2012 with 10.15.4, same card, different router. I basically got the same results as you. I can never get the firmware to update, started with 4.00.03 and end up with the same after trying to update to 4.00.04. My main network is based off 192.168.1.1. My FlashAir connects to 192.168.0.1.

Assuming your subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, your router, computer, and FlashAir card all need to be on the same subnet.  192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1 are in different subnets.  If your router is 192.168.1.1, then your computer is probably 192.168.1.xxx where xxx is in your DHCP range.  If that is not the case, tell us what your computer's IP address is and ignore the rest of this for now.

Pick a number not in your DHCP range and use that for the FlashAir card.  For example, if your DHCP range is 100-255, pick a number between 2 and 99 for your FlashAir card, such as 192.168.1.90 (if that is not used by anything else).

[todivefor]

I have the same setup as you except my Macbook Pro is mid 2012 with 10.15.4, same card, different router. I basically got the same results as you. I can never get the firmware to update, started with 4.00.03 and end up with the same after trying to update to 4.00.04. My main network is based off 192.168.1.1. My FlashAir connects to 192.168.0.1.

Assuming your subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, your router, computer, and FlashAir card all need to be on the same subnet.  192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1 are in different subnets.  If your router is 192.168.1.1, then your computer is probably 192.168.1.xxx where xxx is in your DHCP range.  If that is not the case, tell us what your computer's IP address is and ignore the rest of this for now.

Pick a number not in your DHCP range and use that for the FlashAir card.  For example, if your DHCP range is 100-255, pick a number between 2 and 99 for your FlashAir card, such as 192.168.1.90 (if that is not used by anything else).

Sorry, although I have a computer background (all software), Networking leaves me cold. My network is off 192.168.1.1. My laptop 192.168.1.208. How do I get my flashair card off 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.1? If this is done through the CONFIG, it is not working. I explained my attempts in post 312. I have tried assigning the card to 192.168.1.150 by mac address in my router, no good. Help me, please!

[GuyScharf]

Sorry, although I have a computer background (all software), Networking leaves me cold. My network is off 192.168.1.1. My laptop 192.168.1.208. How do I get my flashair card off 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.1? If this is done through the CONFIG, it is not working. I explained my attempts in post 312. I have tried assigning the card to 192.168.1.150 by mac address in my router, no good. Help me, please!

You need to set it via the IP_Address line in the CONFIG file, which you have apparently done.  I probably confused your situation with RayBee since he got his CONFIG to work.

If your CONFIG isn't working (setting IP address, replacing password with ***), then it seems to me that the FlashAir software is not running.  It seems your CONFIG doesn't like your APPSSID?  What are you setting it to, and is it the same as you use with your router and computer?

[todivefor]

I thought my network setup was wrong. I have corrected that. Everything on same subnet. See attached for FlashAir. I don't see 192.168.1.220 in arp -a. I was seeing it before, but with mac addr marked incomplete, now not at all. Anything wrong in this CONFIG?

[Vendor]

DHCP_Enabled=NO
IP_Address=192.168.1.220
Subnet_Mask=255.255.255.0
APPMODE=5
APPNAME=dreamstation
PRODUCT=FlashAir
APPNETWORKKEY=*****PW*****
VENDOR=TOSHIBA
APPSSID=PittsburghNet
LOCK=1
DNSMODE=1
APPAUTOTIME=0
COMMAND=fat cp /SD_WLAN/BCONFIG 1:/BCONFIG
MASTERCODE=00223f032dca
UPLOAD=1
NOISE_CANCEL=1
STA_RETRY_CT=0

There is something about the above CONFIG that FlashAirTool doesn't like. Won't start up?

[Jeff8356]

@todivefor,  The attachment in your last post shows the wifi settings for your Mac (computer), and you manually assigned the IP address of 192.168.1.220 to your computer.  That's the same IP address you are trying use for your FlashAir card.  It won't work, you can't have two devices with the same IP address.

Set your Mac (computer) back to using DHCP in that screen, then restart it.  Then you should be able to use 192.168.1.220 for the FlashAir card.