What is it?

This is a limited edition basic kit, to be able to build your own flasher for the popular OpenEpaperLink project. It can upload firmware to the most common Solum tags (based on ZBS243 and nRF52811 mcu's). It comes with a cable + connector jig for the custom pin-out constellation that those Electronic Shelf Labels use.

You can buy it as a kit, or completely build. If you choose to buy the kit, don't under-estimate the soldering! You need good soldering skills to make this. Some pins have 1,27mm pitch, other 2mm. I won't make a build description, as I think it's pretty self explanatory. If you buy the completely build version, no soldering is needed and the firmware of the ESP32-S3 is already installed.

The connector jig to hold the pogo pins is 3D printed out of nylon. It is temperature rated 175℃ (347°F), so it will survive the soldering.

This jig is to be used as a temporary connection to the tags: you hold the connector in place, while the firmware is flashed. If you need a more permament connection, for example when developing firmware, there are other jigs to 3D-print yourself, which are different for each tag type. When you order the kit, I include two pieces of the mini pcb extra for that.

Regarding the software: the flasher uses the OpenEpaperLink Access Point software (environment name 'OpenEPaperLink_Mini_AP_v4'). In autoflash mode, it uses the web interface to automatically download the right firmware files from github, and flash your tag (currently M2 type tags only). In advanced mode, you can use the command line script OEPL-Flasher.py to communicate with the tag.

Why did you make it?

Although many people buy the tags already pre-flashed, and they can be updated over the air, it's sometimes necessary to connect the tags directly for uploading new firmware. For example, if you brick them by sending a wrong firmware file or if you get some tags that still have the stock firmware on them. Or, if you want to experiment with writing your own firmware. Until now, it was especially finicky to align the pogo pins with the programming pad. This flasher makes it a lot easier.

What makes it special?

This kit makes electronic waste to something useful: the pcb is made as a prototype for a new OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP version. The ESP32-S3 part of it is fully working, so I decided to re-use them for this basic flasher kit.

On the pcb, you will find a footprint for a ESP32-C6 and CC1101 module. If you're feeling creative, do experiment! ;-)