KK2.1 Firmware Updating in Mac OS X and Windows

by cpo | January 5, 2014 | (0) Posted in How To

Flashing KK2.1 Firmware in Mac OSX and Windows

This is a part of a much more involved tricopter build video series.  When the build is complete, I'll turn that series into an article. However, there seems to be a lot of folks needing this specific information, so I am breaking it out into it's own separate article. 

In this video, I go through the process of updating my KK2.1 FC Board to the latest firmware (released by Steveis). I performed my update using a Mac, but I realize many folks are using Windows and could use some help as well. There are already a lot of great videos on how to do this, but I don't know any that are as comprehensive as this...so hopefully it's helpful for folks.

The first 8 minutes of the video is the overall how-to and actually performing the update on my MacBook Pro. I go over the Windows portion starting at 08:17 (including installing the USBasp drivers).

Video:

Screen Shots from Video:

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COMMENTS

MBR595 on February 6, 2014
Hello All,

I recently assembled a Flamewheel 450 and it flies well with one major exception. I cannot land the quad without breaking an arm or a prop. When I lower the throttle to descend it’s as if the 4th motor shuts off completely instead of in synch with the other three, thus causing a crash, EVERYTIME! I’ve calibrated the ESC’s. The props are balanced. The CW and CCW motors/props are operating in the correct orientation. All channels are operating properly. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how did you fix it or can you point me in the right direction? I’ve read on various newsgroups that it could be my settings but all the information varies. I’ve also read that it could be a “lazy 4th motor”. I tried flashing the KK board with 4.7X but it didn’t work. I believe that firmware was for the KK 2.0 only. I’ve been flying multi-rotors LOS and FPV for over a year however I’ve only used the NAZA FC. This 450 houses a KK 2.1. The specs on my quad are below. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated as I’m starting to run out of spare parts. Thanks in advance.

Platform: DJI 450
FC: KK 2.1
Firmware: Stevies 1.2S Beginner (All default settings)
Motors: DJI 30A
ESC: Turnigy Plush 30A
Props: Stock DJI 10x4.5


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Red20RC on January 13, 2014
Awesome. That has saved me a lot of time. USBasp should arrive in the next day or two and then I can finish off my tricopter build!
Thanks for doing this :)
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Red20RC on January 13, 2014
...or I would but I just realized I ordered the one with the 10 pin cable only. Oh well, now have to wait another few weeks for the adapter to arrive :(
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turbootter on January 11, 2014
Thanks for the video. I was hoping someone would explain how to flash the upgrade. Went and bought the USB programmer from 9xrprogrammer.com, being Hobby King is out at the moment. Once everything has come in and I am ready to go, I will follow your instructions. Thanks again for the helpful video.
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cpo on January 11, 2014
Glad it was helpful. I tried to make is as comprehensive as possible. There are lots of great videos already out...but I found that I had to watch several of them to get all the information. One would cover using the KKMulticopter Flash Tool, but not talk about drivers. Some show Windows, and not Mac. Some show connection to the KK itself, some don't. Very few actually show you what it looks like to flash or show you what to do if you have a problem or error.

Anyway...you can't go wrong with the 9xrprogrammer.com programmer! If you have any questions that I didn't cover in the video...just let me know.
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turbootter on January 11, 2014
What kind of transmitter do you use. I just bought the 9XR Tx. I like how the USBasp can program both the board and the 9XR. Do you have any knowledge on reprogramming the 9XR Tx. Thanks for all your information.
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cpo on January 11, 2014
I have the 9XR and the FrSky Taranis. I bought that USBasp programmer originally for flashing my 9XR....so yes, I may be able to help you.

Here are a few videos I did on the 9XR. It's a four part series on starting from scratch with the 9XR and flashing OpenTX and some basic programming and setup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u62GV22-bUc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRNkx-GrLOc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqs8Py60hzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rgdIzZixiQ


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turbootter on January 12, 2014
Thanks cpo, I will take a look at the videos. I bought the OrangeRX Tx module, since I have a couple of OrangeRX Rx, though I am waiting for the FrSky DJT, though if you or anyone has a different module to look at I would take a look. Eventually I want to get into FPV. Thanks, TOm.
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John F Hendry on October 20, 2014
In the Windows setup you show picking 32 bit OS or 64 bit OS. I can't find the article but there is an issue with the 64 bit version on a 64 bit Win7 OS and only the 32 bit version works. At least that's how it is on my Toshiba laptop and some other computers running Win7. Just a heads up as I spent a while trying to get the 64 bit ver of the KKM-flashtool to load and then tried the 32 bit and it loaded. So I went online to make sure it was safe to use and found others having the same issue and using the 32 bit version instead with no negative results. I then flashed 3 KK2.1 boards and it worked as it should with no issues including Open Arrow on one KK2.1. So unless changes have been made to the 64 bit KKMFtool it doesn't work, or at least not on most computers. Was looking for info on that as about to reload it and try again to see if 64 bit is working now as that was a few months ago... I'll come back and post if it loads.
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KK2.1 Firmware Updating in Mac OS X and Windows