Here is How to tell what Version Firmware is in you Roomba

Howard · Post by **Howard** » July 13th, 2006, 5:41 pm

You can tell the date of the software inside the roomba.

Disconnect the roomba from the charger.
Hold down the power button for about 10 seconds.
Count the dits and dahs it is base 5 just like the test numbers.
Each short beep is 1 & each long beep counts as 5.
Its in the format year month day.

A #4210 with a mfg-date of 041014 and got .... - .... ---- . meaning 040921
A #4100 with a mfg-date of 041023 produced the same .... - .... ---- . meaning 040921 again.
Upgraded the 4100 with a scheduler remote mfg on 050929 and got - .... ---- . meaning 050421.

So when was yours born? What upgrades have you applied? and what firmaware do you have?

Atheen · Post by **Atheen** » June 6th, 2007, 4:06 pm

I'm really sorry and I feel like a total tard, but I've read and re-read your post 5 times and I still have no clue what I'm supposed to do.

Isn't there a simpler way to find out what firmware is on your robot, say with the serial number or something ?

My roomba is a sage with convenience pack that I bought from woot. Here are the registration details of my robot. It says Roomba Club Pack, but it is a Sage with Convenience Pack (4110).

Is there a way to find out from this if there is a new firmware for it or not ? If not please someone explain it to me again in dummy-talk how to do the tests

Thanks

Moderator Edit:
Removed the unique portion of serial number for users protection.

THX-1138 · Post by **THX-1138** » June 7th, 2007, 8:04 am

Hello Atheen,

There is no easy way to get the firmware version, besides this procedure, unless you connect to the Roomba to capture it's information (more on how to do it this way can be found in the 'hacking' area of the forum).

From your serial number we can tell that your robot was created on OCT. 6, 2006 (you can get the how to in the FAQ). This number does not tell you the firmware date and even if you knew it there is not much you could have done to "upgrade/update it" short of upgrading it via the scheduler option or from an OSMO provided by iRobot. There is a strong suggestion that the next gen of Roomba will have a way to update it's firmware or parts of it via the internet. Hope this helps.

debugger · Post by **debugger** » June 7th, 2007, 11:34 am

Atheen wrote:I'm really sorry and I feel like a total tard, but I've read and re-read your post 5 times and I still have no clue what I'm supposed to do.

A #4210 with a mfg-date of 041014 and got A #4210 with a mfg-date of 041014 and got .... - .... ---- . meaning 040921

Upgraded the 4100 with a scheduler remote mfg on 050929 and got - .... ---- . meaning 050421.
meaning 040921

Assuming you've been able to to hear the beeps OK, then taking the examples above:

First .... - .... ---- .

.... = 1+1+1+1 = 4
-.... = 5+1+1+1+1 =9
----. = 5+5+5+5 =21

ie 21 Sept 04

Second - .... ---- .
- = 5
.... = 1+1+1+1 = 4
----. = 5+5+5+5+1 = 21

ie 21 Apr 05

I hope that this makes sense, it took me a few reads and listens to puzzle out what mine was saying!

THX-1138 · Post by **THX-1138** » June 7th, 2007, 12:27 pm

Sorry missed to explain the cryptic Roomba firmware language! But debugger has it right on the money with his explanation!

tacos · Post by **tacos** » July 2nd, 2007, 10:58 am

hi !

for my green roomba, this test give :
....-....----.
so it's 040921
so it's 21 sept 04
so if i can't use my rootstick USB it's because i need and upgrade of my firmware
so i need a osmo blue
i'm right ?

ProTech Robotics · Post by **ProTech Robotics** » July 2nd, 2007, 11:10 am

If you have a scheduler remote you can use the cable HERE to update the firmware to v2.1 and add ROI (roomba open interface) which is what you need for the RooStick.

Just post on that thread to request the cable and I will PM you the deposit information and get it right out to you. I curently have one cable available for use.

You could also save a few pennies by ordering something from our store that you might need and then the cable can hitch a ride!

tacos · Post by **tacos** » July 3rd, 2007, 4:29 am

ok
i think that i will take this cable ( it's the blue one or the other osmo ?)

with my green roomba and the new firmware, i can use the doc for automate the power supply ?
if it's yes, i think that i will need one too

and you know if the osmo and the doc for automate power supply is work for scooba ?

thank !

ProTech Robotics · Post by **ProTech Robotics** » July 3rd, 2007, 12:30 pm

tacos wrote: i think that i will take this cable ( it's the blue one or the other osmo ?)

Neither, it is a loaner cable for uploading the firmware from a scheduler remote to your roomba MCU. The cable is on a loaner program and would need to be shipped back.

tacos wrote:with my green roomba and the new firmware, i can use the doc for automate the power supply ?
if it's yes, i think that i will need one too

Yes, the dock will work with your Roomba Sage.

tacos wrote: and you know if the osmo and the doc for automate power supply is work for scooba ?

No, they are not compatible. The scooba curently has no remote or home base charging accessories. I doubt that they will ever have a home base charger for a appliance that uses water.

tacos · Post by **tacos** » July 24th, 2007, 9:14 am

no home base charging for scooba and no rootstick, ok
and for dirty dog ?
i can use home base, osmo and rootstick ??

THX-1138 · Post by **THX-1138** » July 24th, 2007, 9:47 am

No, they are not compatible. The scooba curently has no remote or home base charging accessories. I doubt that they will ever have a home base charger for a appliance that uses water.

Probably iRobot will not make a base for the Scooba but it does not mean it couldn't be done. They could use inductive charging method to accomplish it, similar technology is used on electric toothbrushes.

ProTech Robotics · Post by **ProTech Robotics** » July 24th, 2007, 10:50 am

Good Point, I hadn't considered that. They could in the future if they overcame one draw back, in that a charging convenance for the scooba would likely mean a scooba that is not cleaned after each use. True that doesn't mean they couldn't... just that they probably wouldn't

oSPANNERo · Post by **oSPANNERo** » July 25th, 2007, 11:01 pm

ok... got one for you....

I borrowed Chris' cable and did an upgrade for my Discovery via the scheduler remote and when I tested the firmware I got the 050421 code like you showed.

I also was lucky enough for iRobot to send me a brand new blue OSMO. So, since I am a School of Hard Knocks alum, and since Vic posted nothing bad would happen, I decided to plug it in anyways. Surprise, surprise the status light started blinking and continued like that for at least 30 seconds then Skutters went back to normal. Now when I do this test I get LOW/LOW LOW/HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH.

I take this to mean 051004 which would in theory be October 10th 2005...

THX-1138 wrote:Minor correction from your post:

051004 = Oct. 4, 2005 not Oct. 10, 2005 (probably a typo)

But the newest that you guys record is 050421 which would translate to April 21st 2005.

Any thoughts on this?

Derek

EDIT: I also just tried this on a newly replaced caster Discovery for comparison... it has a new trick! It goes LOW HIGH/LOW HIGH HIGH HIGH/LOW LOW LOW then some music. So I would assume 060715 translated to July 15th 2006.

THX-1138 · Post by **THX-1138** » July 25th, 2007, 11:44 pm

The scheduler came out before the OSMO //hacker that you mentioned so it makes sense what you have found from your observations.

Minor correction from your past post:

051004 = Oct. 4, 2005 not Oct. 10, 2005 (probably a typo)

Also it does not surprise me that the new caster roombas have a firmware from July of last year since it's when they started to come out

Thanks for sharing this information with all of us!

oSPANNERo · Post by **oSPANNERo** » July 26th, 2007, 9:44 am

Ahh.... See, I didn't realize the OSMO //hacker came out after the Scheduler remote!

The reason why this was so interesting to me was because I spent a little while trying to decide between borrowing Chris' cable and getting an OSMO. I actually almost didn't use the OSMO after I got it because I thought it was the same as the scheduler remote.

Well, glad I could be of service!

DK

ProTech Robotics · Post by **ProTech Robotics** » July 26th, 2007, 1:16 pm

So the question now is;

What if any is the difference in the firmware that is loaded into the Scheduler Remotes and the firmware loaded into the OSMO units? I do not have an answer for this but it stands to reason that there is a difference unless the OSMO and Schedulers are giving different build dates for the same firmware versions.

Anyone have an answer?

eegorr · Post by **eegorr** » October 2nd, 2007, 6:05 pm

oSPANNERo wrote: I also just tried this on a newly replaced caster Discovery for comparison... it has a new trick! It goes LOW HIGH/LOW HIGH HIGH HIGH/LOW LOW LOW then some music. So I would assume 060715 translated to July 15th 2006.

My Discovery 4220 does the same thing, but isn't that 06/08/15, or August (not July) 15th, 2006?

BTW, I also have a Sage 4110 that went wacky back in December. At the time, customer service sent me an OSMO which I used to update the firmware. It now reports a date of October 4, 2005 -- I have no idea what it was before.

tym · Post by **tym** » January 20th, 2008, 3:43 am

My Roomba Red (purchased in late 2004) gives me a FW date of 2006.08.15. How is this possible, you ask?

The original motherboard died (yay ESD) and was replaced with a newer one that apparently came from a Scheduler.

Great tip!

uphiearl · Post by **uphiearl** » June 20th, 2008, 1:32 pm

My green sage beep code is _ _''' _ _'
I think this is 5 - 08 - 11
8/11/05
not ver 2.1 firmware and no sci ?
so doing the osmo will upgrade me ?

yggdrasil · Post by **yggdrasil** » December 2nd, 2008, 12:52 am

HI can somone tell me if there is a new firmware for my rooma 4270?
I did the test beeps and (because im a ham nm5dv) I was able to hear it fairly easily.
-. -... ---.

06/ 8 / 16

(i think)

So just wondering is there a newer firmware and will my bot clean my house better with it?

Robot Reviews

Here is How to tell what Version Firmware is in you Roomba

Here is How to tell what Version Firmware is in you Roomba

Re: Here is How to tell what Version Firmware is in you Roomba