OpenIPC 4G firmware for QuadroFleet

Preparing and flashing the OpenIPC firmware

This guide explains how to compile and flash the OpenIPC firmware with the QuadroFleet Masina client for a drone camera (e.g. SSC30KQ, SSC338Q). Configuring the ECM interface of the 4G modem is also covered.

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Prerequisites

• A Linux system (Ubuntu 22.04+ recommended)
• Internet access to download repositories and tools
• A TFTP server for flashing (e.g. tftpd-hpa on Ubuntu)
• Optional: a CH341A programmer for direct flashing

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Step 1: Compiling the OpenIPC firmware

Installing dependencies:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install g++-arm-linux-gnueabihf build-essential git

Cloning the repositories:

git clone https://github.com/OpenIPC/firmware.git
git clone -b opt https://github.com/beep-systems/quadrofleet-masina.git

Compiling the Masina client:

cd quadrofleet-masina/client
make clean
make

Copying the client files into the firmware directory:

cd ..
cp -r quadrofleet-masina/client/drop/* firmware/

Compiling the firmware:

cd firmware
make

• Select the target device (SSC30KQ_4G or SSC338Q_4G) during compilation
• The output files are in firmware/output/images (e.g. rootfs.squashfs.ssc30kq, uImage.ssc30kq)

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Step 2: Flashing via TFTP

Setting up the TFTP server:

sudo apt install tftpd-hpa
sudo cp firmware/output/images/* /var/lib/tftpboot/
sudo systemctl restart tftpd-hpa

Connect the camera to the TFTP server via Ethernet and access the bootloader (e.g. via minicom).

Setting the environment variables (adjust the file sizes):

setenv serverip 192.168.178.66
setenv kernsize 0x300000
setenv rootaddr 0x350000
setenv rootsize 0xA00000
setenv rootmtd 10240k
setenv bootargs 'console=ttyS0,115200 panic=20 root=/dev/mtdblock3 init=/init mtdparts=NOR_FLASH:256k(boot),64k(env),3072k(kernel),${rootmtd}(rootfs),-(rootfs_data) LX_MEM=${memlx} mma_heap=mma_heap_name0,miu=0,sz=${memsz}'
saveenv

Flashing the kernel and rootfs:

tftp 0x21000000 uImage.ssc30kq
sf probe 0; sf erase 0x50000 0x300000; sf write 0x21000000 0x50000 0x1fdd68
tftp 0x21000000 rootfs.squashfs.ssc30kq
sf probe 0; sf erase 0x350000 0xA00000; sf write 0x21000000 0x350000 0x8ea000
saveenv
reset

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Step 3: Alternative flashing with the CH341A

1. Download the pre-compiled firmware from QuadroFleet.

2. Use the CH341A programmer and NeoProgrammer 2.2.0.10:

   • Device: GD25Q128x [3.3V]
   • Type: SPI NOR 25xx
   • BitSize: 128 Mbits
   • Manufact: GIGADEVICE
   • Size: 16777216 Bytes
   • Page: 256 Bytes

3. Flash the .bin file.

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Step 4: Updating the firmware (optional)

1. Connect to the camera via Ethernet and access the terminal (SSH or web interface).
2. Download the new firmware files:

cd /tmp
curl -O http://192.168.178.66/rootfs.squashfs.ssc30kq
curl -O http://192.168.178.66/uImage.ssc30kq

3. Apply the update:

soc=$(fw_printenv -n soc)
sysupgrade --kernel=/tmp/uImage.${soc} --rootfs=/tmp/rootfs.squashfs.${soc} -z --force_ver -n

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Step 5: Configuring the 4G modem (Quectel EC25)

1. Connect the modem to a PC via USB.
2. Open a terminal (PuTTY) with the settings:

Baud rate: 115200
Data bits: 8
Stop bits: 1
Parity: None
Flow control: None

Enable the ECM interface:

AT+QCFG="usbnet",1
AT+CFUN=1,1

AT+QCFG="usbnet",1
AT+CFUN=1,1

Warning!

Wait for the modem to reboot and for the network device to appear.

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Step 6: Verifying the firmware

• Access the camera's web interface (default IP via DHCP).
• Make sure the QuadroFleet Masina client is running (ps | grep client).
• Check the VPN connection and UDP stream through the control app.

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Notes

• Make sure the TFTP server IP (192.168.178.66) matches your network.
• Back up the camera settings before flashing.