Flir E30/E40 : worth getting? (for unlocking) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2020, 03:10:07 pm
content: I ask this because as most people know by now, for theE4there's a clear easy to follow single set of instructions to upgrade it into an E8 (at least for those E4's with v2.3.0 firmware - those with more recent firmware are still screwed ^^ ) : it's Fubar's site still available in an archived version, that's how I successfully unlocked mine without a hitchhoweverit aint so for the E30 & E40 cams there's no such compendium & basically the countless different steps are scattered across different pages probably on different topics, therefore following all the right steps in the right ordert would be like assembling a huge puzzle - and if you omit just 1 single step(which statistically is bound to happen)then you brick your camera for goodin a nutshell, to this day there's still no easy way to unlock the E30/E40 (an equivalent to Fubar's instructions for the v2.3.0 E4) even though in theory those can be unlocked just like the E4so my question is, is it worth it or too risky buying those cams? I actually found 2 of those cams for sale at a good price where I live

author: Vipitis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2020, 04:01:04 pm
content: Maybe, instead of posted in between 6 different thread. Make a single purchase advice thread for your plans. You seem to be very focused on the FLIR Ex line but doesn't sound like you are into actual inspection.Back on topic: there have been several topics and you might want to do a search 2-3 years back. IIRC the E30 (or -bx) has several iterations. And the older the more likely it is to upgrade it easily.

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2020, 04:26:01 pm
content: Quote from: Vipitis on September 19, 2020, 04:01:04 pmno I have to make separate threads. when I posted in existent threads I was told it was offtopic so now I play it safe ^^anyway it's not the Ex no more it's the Exx I'm interested inas you point out there's several topics & the info needed to successfully upgrade a E30 or E40 is scattered across all these threads so it's too risky (it takes just one misstep & bam, bricked camerahence my question weather those cams are still worth getting)

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2020, 08:26:49 pm
content: Quote from: calel on September 19, 2020, 04:26:01 pmI followed these instructions for an older Exx (serial number starting with 490):Step by step instructions:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-e4-thermal-imaging-camera-teardown/msg561266/#msg561266CRC01 toolhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-e4-thermal-imaging-camera-teardown/msg321956/#msg321956Config files to start with:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-e4-thermal-imaging-camera-teardown/msg338671/#msg338671I think the risk is not that high. When wrong CRC code is generated, some functions do not work correctly, but you can always update the file again. Just take a full back-up via FTP before you do any modification. This way you can almost always return to the original state.

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2020, 07:23:34 pm
content: Quote from: _Wim_ on September 20, 2020, 08:26:49 pmbummer - guess it's toast thenyour link states E30 firmware must be 2.23.14the E30 I found, only has firmware1.36.23doesn't even begin with 2. which means it probably can't even be flashed to 2.23.14and I reckon there aint no safe hack for v1.36.23 itselfso far the E4 (v2.3.0) appears to be the only cam safe to hack. witch is too bad cause I really wanted an upgradable E30/E40 too

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2020, 08:46:10 pm
content: Quote from: calel on September 21, 2020, 07:23:34 pmI don't think you will have an issue updating the software from 1.36.23 to 2.23.14. But since it is an old E30 it might not have wireless module built in (WiFi etc) So check the serial number and confer with the threads here to check what is possible.

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2020, 09:12:53 pm
content: Quote from: kaz911 on September 21, 2020, 08:46:10 pmI dont care about wifi or anything wireless (dont even know why it's such a big deal tbh) just a quality camunless you saying that the lack of a physical wifi, could screw up the updating/modding?

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2020, 10:14:30 pm
content: Quote from: calel on September 19, 2020, 03:10:07 pmA bunch of v3.x.x series firmware have been liberated and dozens of happy users enjoy their cameras . Care to explain how exactly they are screwed ?

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 04:02:29 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on September 21, 2020, 10:14:30 pmonly a few dozen??! then it's even riskier than expected (compare with the many thousands who unlocked their v2.3.0 cams). now look at all those with v3.x cams who bricked it when trying to pull that offthere's no reliable documented way to unlock recent phones & those few individuals who managed it were most likely expert programmers (as in hard core assembly language etc.)the guy selling his E30 has firmware v1.36.23 & there dont appear to be a consensus if it's possible to safely unlock it or not - so sounds too risky, gonna have to stay with my E4/E8 then

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 06:04:10 pm
content: Quote from: calel on September 23, 2020, 04:02:29 pmI think you forget that they are also way less Exx units that found there way to a lucky hobbyist...I agree that it maybe takes a bit more reading how to do it (which is in my opinion part of the fun!), but thanks to the people that posted their results I was able to do it, and also thanks to some pioneers who indeed bricked their unit, we now know what NOT to do.But from what I have seen was the bricking more related due to not following instruction and deleting/moving files other unintentionally, and not by making the wrong modifications to the config files. So as long as you modify only the config files as listed above, I think the risks is quite ok. But, do your homework before starting!

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 06:24:48 pm
content: Quote from: _Wim_ on September 23, 2020, 06:04:10 pmfun?!? it'd be fun if it weren't a life or death thing. miss just 1 step & it's overalso upgrading the E4 (or any cam) ain't just a matter of changing config (plain text) files right? in the resolution hack there was also aconf.cfc.delta.e4file, larger than the others (12kb) and NOT a text file (opened it in notepad, got unreadable ascii stuff like when opening a dll or exe in text mode) so basically machine language or somethingand whoever made that file obviously knew assembly right? it's not like the average user can do it by only editing some simple easy to read text filesso i reckon it'd be the same problem with the E30? (not a question of just changing some config files)

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 06:36:39 pm
content: Quote from: calel on September 23, 2020, 06:24:48 pmI only needed to modify 4 text files, and for that I used the E60 goodies from which I copy-pasted most parts. Then replace with your serial number and generate the correct CRC code. Replace the existing files one the camera and done!As I have only 1 thermal camera, I cannot speak for other series or revisions, but I am quite sure plenty of info is available here on the forum.

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 06:39:14 pm
content: As as your firmware version is older than mine, I would be surprised if it would be different.

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 08:29:29 pm
content: Quote from: _Wim_ on September 23, 2020, 06:36:39 pmok that's odd (why's it so much more complicated for the E4?)also what sort of "goodies" did you need to change text files in the E30? if it's just text wouldn't notepad be enough?

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2020, 09:41:21 pm
content: The high resolution (320*240), disabling the artificial noise generator and adding a whole bunch of measurement functions. The link I posted about for the config files contains the download with the 4 fully upgraded text files. These still need your serial number and the generation of a CRC code for that config with the serial number added. Notepad is indeed enough, and the CRC generator (see step by step procedure above)

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2020, 12:06:41 am
content: ok but if the only files getting altered are text files, then why is the whole CRC thing needed?or does the cam check the CRC of even those plain text files?(usually hashing's used for non-text files like .exe or .dll files etc.)

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2020, 09:08:01 am
content: Quote from: calel on September 25, 2020, 12:06:41 amyep, crc code is in plain text also and is checked. When incorrect, none of the options work, but the camera is not bricked as many have had by generating an incorrect code due to additional characters behand the serial number.

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 05:30:56 am
content: OK I just realized something else - if plain text is the only thing that's needed...how come you need a specific firmware version for the cam?why would editing those files, have no effect with latest firmware version??

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2020, 05:37:29 am
content: Because something changed in the security? Could be a different type of CRC, but could also be that indeed nothing has changed, I do know. For this, you will have to do your homework...