This is a quick guide to show you how you can upgrade your firmware on your MediaTek GPS module.  The upgrade procedure is relatively easy as you only need to connect the module with your computer and then use a PC utility to upgrade the firmware.

You will need the following to upgrade your firmware

• FTDI cable (or similar adaptor)
  
• FTDI GPS Adapter cable (you can also use a FTDI cable with jumper wires as shown below

It is very easy to connect everything together with the adaptor.  SImply press the male headers into your FTDI cable as shown in the image on the right, make sure it is connected the right way around..  Then simply lug the EM406 connector into the GPS module (it can only go in one way)

Downloading FTDI Drivers
If you are using windows 7 the drivers for the FTDI cable should be installed automatically, however if not they can be downloaded here.  The easiet option is to download the setup executable, and just follow the instructions to install the drivers.

If you are not using the FTDI-GPS adaptor you will need some male headers and 4x jumper wires as shown below.
Put some male headers into the FTDI connector, and solder the headers onto the bottom of the MediaTek GPS module as shown below.

You will need to download the following programs/files to update your MediaTek GPS firmware

• Firmware Update Utility
• Latest Mediatek Firmware v1.6 for Ardupilot Mega

1. After you have extracted the Firmware update utility open the PowerFlash.exe application

2. On the application toolbar, select Option>3329
This is the model of MediaTek GPS that you have.

3. Next select the appropriate com port (usually the highest number).  This is done by selecting ComPort>COM>

4. Now select the Update Baudrate to be 115200.  This is done by selecting ComPort>Update Baudrate>115200

5. Now select File>Download Agent.

A window will open asking you to select a file.  This file is the download agent.  Select the MTK_AllInOne_DA_MT3329xxxx.bin file.in the root of the folder of the Flash tool

6. Now select File>ROM

A window will open again asking you to select a file, the file you need to select is the MediaTek Firmware file you want use to reflash the module.  This is the .bin firmware file that you downloaded here

7. On the toolbar select Action>Connect

If everything has been done correctly you should see a screen with blue bars as shown.

If this does not work check your connections, and also make sure you have selected the correct COM port and GPS model in the options.

8. Now you are ready to start the upgrade process.  Simply click on Action>Download to start the flash process. 

A red bar will show the progress and when the flash is complete you will be notified.

Congratulations, you have now successfully reflashed your MediaTek GPS module with the latest firmware.

If you have any questions leave a comment below.

This is a quick guide to help you restore your xbee module if it has become corrupted due to a bad update, or whatever reason.

Using the sparkfun USB explorer board, or the XtremeBee USB board, do the following to unbrick your Xbee

1. Take the module out of the interface board.
2. Connect the interface board to the computer.
3. Open X-CTU make sure Baud Rate is set to 9600
4. Go to "Modem Configuration"
5. Put a check in the "Always update firmware" box
6. Select proper modem from drop down menu (select XBP24, with firmware 10E6)
7. Click on the "Write" button. After a few seconds of trying to read the modem, you will get an Info box that says Action Needed. At this point, CAREFULLY insert the module into the interface board. After a few seconds, this should trigger a reloading of the firmware.
8. You may get the info box again a short while after; if so just repeat the previous step a few times and it should work.
9. This will put the module back to 9600 baud. Set your X-CTU PC settings to that and test it. It should report back that it's recognized.
10. Once you've confirmed that it's working again, make you sure you reset its baud rate (typically 57k for APM) and VID number to match your other module.

This guide will walk you through the process of upgrading your ArduPilot Mega autopilot with a Telemetry Kit, enabling two way communications between your Ground Control Station and UAV.  Giving you the ability to change missions, or evin change configuration parameters while your UAV is circling above you.  This kit is available from the Unmanned Tech Shop

IF you did not buy the pre configured and soldered kit, you will need to build the Xbee modules yourself.  This is fairly easy, only requiring you to solder some headers onto the module.

Start with soldering the right angle header onto your XtreamBee FTDI module as shown in the images below.  It is important to solder a connection between the 5V+ and CTS pins (click on the images below for a better view), this is required for the 2.4Ghz modules.  Once this is done solder on the female headers, it is important not to use too much solder for the female headers as the solder will fill the holes and make it difficult to plug in the Xbee modules.

No you just need to solder the female headers for onto the XtreamBee USB module, once again make sure that you do not use too much solder.

The next step is to solder some headers onto your ArduPilot Mega IMU shield.  You will need to add four male header pins onto the 'TelemPort' as shown in the image.  If you want you can also mount the pins upside-down if you have a space problem, or you could use right angle headers, or bend the straight angle headers as shown below.

This step assumes that you have already soldered your Xtremebee modules.  If you have not done so, please read the guide on building Xtremebee modules.


Using the cable provided in the Xbee Telemetry Kit you can attach you Xtremebee module to Ardupilot Mega.  The images below show how to connect the two together.  As an alternative you can also use jumper wires if you want.  Click on the images to view the large version

If you purchased the pre configured kit from Unmanned Tech, then you can skip this step.

Once the modules have been build, you will need to configure them using X-Ctu which is a free program that runs on windows.  Download and install the latest version of X-Ctu here.

In order to configure each Xbee modem you will need to connect it with the XtremeBee USB board.  Once X-Ctu has been installed you will first need to go the the PC settings tab.  You must select the relevant comm port and choose a boad rate of 9600.  By default Xbee modules come with the baud rate set at 9600, and we will need to change this to 57600 to use with ArduPilot Mega.  To verify that you can connect press the Test/Query button and you should get a success window, if not make sure you have chosen the correct com port, or baud rate.

Once you have configured the baud rate (next step) you will need to choose the baud rate of 57600 to configure your module in the future.

Now go the the Modem Configuration Tab, and click the read button, all of the settings for the modem should load.  Scroll down to the serial interfacing section, and change the Baud Rate to 57600.

Now click on the Write button for the settings to be written to your modem.  You will need to configure each modem this way.

If you want you can also change the PAN ID to something different, this will need to be the same for each Xbee module that you are using in the network, its recommended that you leave this as default unless you will by flying around other xbee networks.

If you need to change settings at a later stage, make sure you choose the baud rate of 57600 on the PC settings tab as the modems work on 57600 baud now.

Attach your xbee pro module with the whip antenna to the XtremeBee FTDI board, this will go on your aircraft. The xbee pro module with the RPSMA antenna attached to the XtremeBee USB board which will be used to connect with your Ground Station PC.

Now open up your favourite ground control station, such as the ArduPilot Mega Mission Planner, and select the com port of your xbee module, and choose the baud rate and connect!