2025-07-10 21:50:23 WinSpectrum III
Xavier
Terry,
First — and just to double-check — please make sure the firmware file you're using is really for the tinySA Ultra. It's easy to accidentally grab the one for the standard tinySA, which won’t work and could cause exactly the kind of silent failure you're seeing.
For the tinySA Ultra (and Ultra+), the last release looks like this:
tinySA4_v1.4-200-g26fc821.dfu
You can download it from the official page here:
2025-07-09 23:46:28 WinSpectrum III
Terry Fugate
Firmware upgrade failure
First my Tiny SA Ultra was purchased from an authorized US vendor so I suspect it is legitimate.
Second....
I've tried to upgrade the firmware on 5 different PCs. I decided to abandon my attempts with Window 7 and use Windows 10 and 11. My wife has a Dell Win 10, HP 11 [that she hates with a passion] and 3 friends Dell, no name special, and a Leveno Win 10. The special driver installs and shows up in Device Manager, but the process doesn't complete.
Don't worry about this, I will try again this weekend with the local shortwave club datageekette. Sheila is very tech savvy.
I've started an EMI group....maybe proof I'm short a few brain cells. I worry it will turn into a snake pit of petty human behavior.
2025-07-05 18:00:43 WinSpectrum III
Xavier
DFU driver
Yes, there should be an entry in Device Manager under:
Ports (COM & LPT) → STMicroelectronics Virtual COM Port
or
Universal Serial Bus devices → STM Device in DFU Mode (when the device is in DFU mode)
If nothing shows up after running the installer, it's possible that:
The device was not properly connected,
It was not in DFU mode at the time, or
The installation did not actually install the driver (this can happen silently, especially on older systems or without admin rights).
Suggested solution:
Please download the DFU Driver from:
2025-07-03 22:44:41 WinSpectrum III
Terry
I'll have to fight the STmicro driver issue Tuesday,
going to Eastern Kentucky for a family reunion
and July 4th celebration. I ran the STmicro install package, it says completed
but nothing new shows up in Device Driver. Should there be an entry in device
driver?
Thank you, Terry
2025-07-03 19:47:12 WinSpectrum III
Terry
Does a special driver need to be loaded before upgrade?
Windows "Device driver" doesn't show a added driver and Winspectrum III returns this error:
Device not found.
Ensure tinySA is in DFU mode (hold button while powering on — black screen confirms entry).
I'll be back online in about 3 hours so no rush. Thank you for taking the time to guide me through this.
2025-07-03 18:55:01 WinSpectrum III
Terry
I've downloaded the firmware file and will give a try later today. We need to do some shopping. July 4th is a big day in the USA and my extended family goes a bit nuts.
[I finally realized why all commands that are executed return a <CH, international postal code for Switzerland.
I have a watch my father picked up during WWII in your nation, it still works fine!
Thank you
2025-07-03 09:22:10 WinSpectrum III
Xavier
flat scan
Hi Terry,
I have loaded firmware tinySA4_v1.4-49-g4f5396a to my tinySA and, like you, get the same flat display.
This issue does not occur — as I’ve tested — with versions v1.4-192 and later.
Could you try updating the firmware?
If so:
1. Download, for example, tinySA4_v1.4-200-g26fc821.dfu from http://athome.kaashoek.com/tinySA4/DFU/
2. Connect tinySA to the PC.
3. Set your tinySA in DFU mode:
press and hold tinySA button while powering on — a black screen confirms DFU mode.
4. Open WinSpectrumIII.exe
5. In the Command menu, click Firmware Upgrade. A dialog will appear. (If you don't see the Firmware Upgrade option, please download the last WinSpectrum III version again)
6. Click the File button and select the downloaded .dfu file.
7. Click Open.
8. The file path will now appear in the dialog.
9. Click the Update Firmware button and wait until the process finishes.
10. Power the tinySA off and on again.
11. In WinSpectrum III, open the Settings window (click on Settings button) and, for example, select FM from the dropdown box.
Now, if the antenna is connected to your tinySA, you should see several FM station peaks.
2025-07-03 01:53:06 WinSpectrum III
Terry wn4ix
Fmin, Fcenter, Fmax match
RBW and VBW match.
I get a nice expected display on the TinySA but a 'flat scan line'
with variations of a few dB.
Firmware tinySA4_v1.4-49-g4f5396a
HW Version:V0.4.5.1
tinySA4_v1.4-49-g4f5396a
HW Version:V0.4.5.1
2025-06-25 21:37:51 WinSpectrum III
Xavier
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