cc2538-bsl: Timeout waiting for ACK/NACK after 'Synch (0x55 0x55)'

FYI, after updating several times and helping others with different setups I have broken down my tested steps to flash firmware mentioned from https://github.com/JelmerT/cc2538-bsl/pull/114 into this basic guide for flashing ITead SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus adapter.

This guide uses the cc2538-bsl tool from JelmerT’s latest “master” branch on GitHub and could easily be made to work on all operating systems. I tested on Windows OS but others have done this on Linux and Mac OS by using different Serial/COM-port addressing as the steps should otherwise be the same.

1. Install Silabs CP210x device drivers (CP2102N USB-to-UART bridge / USB-to-Serial converter chip) needed for Windows OS and Mac OS, (this also required a reboot of my operating-system).
2. Install Python (in my case I installed and tested with Python for Windows 3.10.1).
3. Launch command-prompt (cmd.exe) as elevated Administrator. Upgrade pip with python -m pip install --upgrade pip, (if pip is not available then first run python -m ensurepip --upgrade), then pre-install dependencies fro cc2538-bsl from PyPi via pip command: pip install wheel pyserial intelhex python-magic
4. Optional but recommended: Download and install zigpy-znp via pip/PyPI with pip install zigpy-znp then perform NVRAM backup by following instructions in TOOLS.md (also find more details ZNP radio backup procedure at https://github.com/zigpy/zigpy/wiki/Coordinator-Backup-and-Migration) for Windows backup command should be something like python -m zigpy_znp.tools.nvram_read COM5 -o nvram_backup.json and optionally also backup Zigbee network via python -m zigpy_znp.tools.network_backup COM5 -o network_backup.json.
5. Download cc2538-bsl on GiHub from its “master” branch, (and not via pip/PyPI), unpact the zip to a folder then launch command-promt (cmd.exe) as elevated Administrator and run its setup.py to install its dependencies (should include “setuptools”, “wheel”, “pyserial”, “intelhex”, and “python-magic” packages).
6. Get latest firmware (I tested latest “CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_*.zip” image available from its “master” branch at this time. Alternatively, you could get the latest “beta” version from the develop branch). Regardless make sure to get the correct image file as should be the one for “launchpad” (and not for “other)”!
7. Stop any applications or services that might be connected to the Zigbee adapter via serial port (ex. Home Assistant’s ZHA integration, Zigbee2MQTT, ioBroker, Jeedom, etc.). In my case, I ran the update on another computer so nothing to stop there.
8. Run command to flash from command-promt (cmd.exe) launched as elevated Administrator, example with firmware release available at this time: python cc2538-bsl.py -p COM5 -e -v -w --bootloader-sonoff-usb CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_coordinator_20211217.hex

Obviously need to replace number in COM5 with the port # actually shown used under ports in Device Manager on Windows.

Also, if using Linux or Mac OS instead of Microsoft Windows then the COM# serial device path after -p will be different when set the port to use, (like for example /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyUSB1) and might need different Silabs CP210x device drivers (CP2102N USB-to-UART bridge / USB-to-Serial converter chip) for your operating system, on Linux might have to run Python with sudo, and read that many on Linux successfully run sudo python cc2538-bsl.py -e -v -w --bootloader-sonoff-usb CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_coordinator_20211217.hex without setting serial device path with -p for port to use.

@Hedda I had the same issue as @Rowleys. After adding --bootloader-sonoff-usb to the command, flashing completed successfully. I’ve added the feedback to 114 per your request.

@Rowleys Check out PR https://github.com/JelmerT/cc2538-bsl/pull/114 (and ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee-delay branch) if have ITead SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus adapter:

• https://github.com/JelmerT/cc2538-bsl/archive/refs/heads/feature/ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee-delay.zip

You will as well need to add new option --bootloader-sonoff-usb when have ITead SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus adapter.

Note! Also always need to first stop any application/service/integration connected to the adapter before use cc2538-bsl command.

its probably the bootloader, still need to figure out how to enable that option 😃

but slae.sh website mentioned "

You dont have to put the CC2652RB manually into the bootloader mode Its done by the tool automatically! So no need to reopen the enclosure for flashing…

in their how to so that’s probably the reason why people aren’t doing it 😃

Auto-BSL can automatically put the adapter into BTL mode via an initialization sequence if hardware and bootloader support it:

https://github.com/Koenkk/Z-Stack-firmware/blob/master/coordinator/Z-Stack_3.x.0/bin/README.md

Ex. Slaesh’s CC2652RB stick and Electrolama’s upcoming zzhp do/will support Auto-BSL, but Electrolama’s zzh does not, see:

https://electrolama.com/radio-docs/flash-cc-bsl/

ITead’s Sonoff CC2652P dongle also support Auto-BSL however it first needs patch from https://github.com/JelmerT/cc2538-bsl/pull/114 which has not yet been merged.

mine is EFR32MG21.

how do i bootloader and flash it?

That is off-topic here since EFR32 is from Silicon Labs and not from Texas Instruments like CC253x/CC26x2/CC13x2, but please note that I have collected links and information in the ZBDongle-E (EFR32MG21 variant) discussion here -> https://community.home-assistant.io/t/itead-s-sonoff-zigbee-3-0-usb-dongle-plus-v2-model-zbdongle-e-based-on-silicon-labs-efr32mg21-20dbm-radio-mcu-now-sold-for-19-99/442695

Be sure now that you have bought a CC2652P-based “ZBDongle-P” adapter and not an EFR32MG21-based “ZBDongle-E” adapter.

FYI, ITead just released a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 “ZBDongle-E” adapter, which unfortunately is also marked as “Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus V2” and looks the same as the CC2652P based “Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus”. This new “ZBDongle-E” adapter is really a different product as it is an improved version of their old ITead’s previous barebone Silabs EFR32MG21 adapter 13 and it is to be side-by-side as an alternative to ITead’s TI CC2652P based “Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus” (which has now renamed to “ZBDongle-P”).

https://community.home-assistant.io/t/itead-s-sonoff-zigbee-3-0-usb-dongle-plus-model-zbdongle-e-based-on-silicon-labs-efr32mg21-20dbm-radio-mcu-now-sold-for-19-99/442695

vesus

https://community.home-assistant.io/t/iteads-sonoff-zigbee-3-0-usb-dongle-plus-based-on-texas-instruments-cc2652p-20dbm-radio-mcu-now-sold-for-14-99/340705

I did yet it working. I had to add --bootloader-sonoff-usb to the command line

when I added this it flashed perfect

sudo python3 cc2538-bsl.py -ewv -p /dev/ttyUSB0 --bootloader-sonoff-usb …/CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_coordinator_20211217.hex