Introduction to Zadig

NOTE:

Some OpenTX users have reported difficulty using USB3 ports to communicate with OpenTX Companion. It seems to depend upon what chipset your machine uses. Several methods were tried to alleviate this problem, and finally Zadig was found to be the apparent solution. 
If you follow the steps in this lesson exactly and you still can't make things work, check to see if you have the latest version of Zadig installed. You must have v2.1.0 or later. You can download the latest version of Zadig from HERE.
If you have the latest version of Zadig, try changing to a USB2 port, if available.  The alternative is a USB3 port.  USB3 is the newer version, and is usually indicated by having a blue insert/guide that is visible when looking at the port.

Note:  Please click HERE for a downloadable copy of the Using Zadig Checklist and Notes.

Introduction

If you’ve hung out in any of the forums at all, you’ve probably heard, and perhaps been alarmed by, the apparent difficulty that some users have when initially trying to update to OpenTX firmware for the first time. It’s probably the single most feared, confusing, and frustrating thing about OpenTX, and has brought more than one enthusiastic OpenTX neophyte to their knees. We’re going to get you through it, hopefully with as little anxiety as possible. The basic difficulty seems to be that Windows does not install the proper driver to allow OpenTX to communicate with the main STM chip in the radio. Until that happens, the operating system doesn’t recognize the chip, and you’re dead in the water. Don’t worry! You’ll be shown where and how to download and install the driver and get your machine talking to your transmitter. Mac and Linux computers use a driver called: dfu-util-0.7.mpkg.

Lesson Goals

There’s only one goal in this lesson, and that’s to get your computer communicating reliably with your Taranis. Nothing happens without that.

Background

In this day of Plug-n-Play, we’ve become used to simply connecting a new device, having the computer recognize it, install the appropriate driver, and we’re ready to go. Sometimes this doesn’t happen. This is one of those times. We would like to use a different driver when working with OpenTX Companion and the Taranis. This driver is not included in the normal Windows driver package, so you have to go out, get it and install it on your machine. You do that with a little program called Zadig. Scary? For many of us, of course! Impossible? Absolutely not!

Lesson Progression

Read and understand the information above. Know why we’re doing what we’re doing. Download and print the discussion notes and lesson checklist from the link at the top of this page . There is also a link at the top of the next page, “Using Zadig.”  At least look them over. My feelings will be hurt if you don’t. Finish this page, then move on to the next lesson: “Using Zadig.” Watch Scott Page’s latest video, OpenTX 2.0 and Beyond: Come Join the Party!, on how to upgrade a Taranis (not Taranis Plus) from a pre-v2.0 version of the firmware to v2.0.12.  The techniques and examples that he shows are identical to what’s in the lessons.

NOTE: If you have a Taranis Plus, see the comments section (below).

Follow the steps in the checklist  to see if you already have a working STM32 BOOTLOADER installed. Chances are, if you’ve been flashing different versions of OpenTX, you’re set to go. If you’re on a Windows machine and this is the first time you’ve attempted this, you’ll probably have to download and install Zadig. Use the images in the checklist and the videos as references as you move through the process.

A HEARTFELT PLEA

PLEASE, let’s not get into a discussion about which computer platform is best, or, “Well, if you had MY computer, you wouldn’t have to do that!” That’s like discussing politics or gun control at a cocktail party. You’re not going to change any minds, and all you’ll do is ruin it for the host. Let’s just accept that there are differences and we all have the option of making our own choice.