RadioFoundry
EN

Install and Back Up

Install, back up and restore radio firmware over USB. Requires Chrome or Edge on a desktop computer, or Chrome on Android.

RadioFoundry Is Beta Software

The RadioFoundry firmware and this web installer are still under active development. Over 1000 successful installations so far, but you may still run into the occasional problem. Here is what to expect before you start.

What Can Go Wrong

Your radio can always be recovered. The installer never writes the radio's bootloader, so a radio that stops working can always be installed again or restored to the manufacturer's firmware.

If Something Goes Wrong

Developers volunteer their time around the clock, and new features, fixes and improvements are released almost every day. Error reports go straight to the team: if a step fails, send a report from the page, then try again once the team has had a chance to review and fix it.

Ask the RadioFoundry group on Facebook · Open an issue on GitHub

Common Questions

What testing has been done?
  • On real radios: Each new version runs on actual radios connected to a hardware test bench (hardware-in-the-loop testing), which checks the features you use every day automatically.
  • With other DMR equipment: Each version is checked on each supported radio, over the air, against repeaters, handhelds and hotspots. An SDR (software-defined radio) receiver captures the precise timing and contents of every transmission and compares it bit for bit with the ETSI DMR standard, the specification every DMR radio follows.
  • The installer: Every step of this installer is rehearsed against simulated radios, including slow cables, dropped connections and damaged transfers.
  • Every screen: A simulator of the radio's display draws and steps through the firmware's menus and screens.
  • Every code change: Unit tests (small automated checks of each part of the software) run on every change, and the firmware is built for every supported radio before anything is released.

How RadioFoundry is tested

Can the installer damage my radio?

Not permanently. The radio's bootloader, the part that lets it be installed again, is never written to, and every installation is checked once it has been written. If an installation stops partway, put the radio in its bootloader and install again, or restore your backup or a supported manufacturer firmware file.

What to do if something goes wrong

What happens to my channels and settings?
  • Backup: The installer saves a backup file before or right after the installation, depending on the radio. Not every radio supports every kind of backup, so the backup step shows what yours can save (the original firmware, channels and settings, factory calibration) and how long each takes.
  • Your original channels: RadioFoundry organizes channels differently from the manufacturer's firmware, so they don't carry over by themselves. For some radios, the Codeplug Editor on this site can convert them from the backup file.
  • Updates: Updating RadioFoundry later keeps your channels and settings.
How quickly are problems fixed?

The developers read every report, and many problems are fixed within a day or two. Fixes to this installer take effect as soon as they are released, since this site always runs the newest version: reload the page and try again. Fixes to the RadioFoundry firmware come with its next release, which this installer offers when you update.

How can I give feedback?

When a step fails, the page shows a Report a Problem button. It sends your description of what happened, with the installer's log, straight to the developers. For bug reports, feature ideas or a request to support a new radio, open an issue on GitHub. For questions, tips and general feedback, join the RadioFoundry group on Facebook.

Open a GitHub issue · Join the Facebook group

Do not switch to another app or let the screen time out while a radio transfer is active.

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