1GPSFLASH(1)                                                        GPSFLASH(1)
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NAME

6       gpsflash - 2-stage firmware loader for GPS chipsets
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SYNOPSIS

9       gpsflash [-n] [-l loader-file] -f firmware-file {tty}
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DESCRIPTION

13       This program is a firmware loader for GPSes connected to your host com‐
14       puter via serial or USB port. Presently it supports  only  SiRF  GPSes.
15       Other GPSes may be supported in the future if the vendors cooperate.
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18       For operation, this program requires a flashloader binary (found by de‐
19       fault in a file named dlgsp2.bin) and a firmware  image.  This  program
20       first  ships a command that tells the GPS a flashloader image will fol‐
21       low, then gives the GPS  time  to  reboot  into  the  flashloader.  The
22       flashloader then accepts S-records from the serial or USB port until it
23       sees a termination record, at which point it writes  the  new  firmware
24       into  the  GPS's  non-volatile memory and reboots the chip into the new
25       firmware.
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28       There is one required argument, specifying the serial device  to  which
29       the GPS is connected.
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32       The -l option specifies the flashloader binary. The -f option specifies
33       the firmware image file, and is required unless you  are  just  probing
34       the GPS (-n option).
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37       If the -n option is specified, the program will probe the GPS to try to
38       determine its type and whether the upload is compatible, but not  actu‐
39       ally  perform  the upload. When this option is specified, the -f option
40       is not required.
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43       You will need to obtain your  own  copy  of  dlgsp2.bin  and  your  own
44       firmware  image.  The GPSD project does not yet have permission to dis‐
45       tribute these files, so don't ask us for copies.
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48       Depending on your GPS type, this program may  or  may  not  attempt  to
49       check  that  the  flashloader or firmware image is compatible with your
50       GPS; in some cases no check is possible. EXPERIMENT AT YOUR OWN RISK.
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53       This program will only work with firmware images  in  S-record  format,
54       which is the form SiRF normally distributes them in. If you get a bina‐
55       ry firmware image from somewhere, you can use objdump(1), from the  GNU
56       binutils to convert it to S-records.
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59       Realize that we are not kidding around when we say that this could very
60       well break your receiver permanently, and if it  does,  it's  no  one's
61       fault but your own. For this program to flash your GPS, you must set an
62       environment variable called I_READ_THE_WARNING with the value  "why  oh
63       why didn't i take the blue pill".
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66       This program emits progress messages to standard output.
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69       The GPS will be reset to 4800bps NMEA after flash.
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BUGS AND LIMITAIONS

73              Warning
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75              THIS  PROGRAM  CAN  DESTROY  YOUR GPS. A botched firmware upload
76              will turn it into a paperweight. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Maintain‐
77              ers  are  not  responsible for direct or incidental damages. YOU
78              HAVE BEEN WARNED.
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SEE ALSO

83        gpsd(8), gps(1), libgps(3), libgpsd(3), srec(5).
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AUTHOR

87       Chris Kuethe <chris.kuethe@gmail.com>. There is a project page for gpsd
88       here: http://gpsd.berlios.de/.
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93                                                                   GPSFLASH(1)
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