Fnirsi-1014d Firmware Update -

Published on by Tony Richardson

Fnirsi-1014d Firmware Update -

The FNIRSI-1014D Firmware Update: From Bench Tool to Brain Transplant

If you own a FNIRSI-1014D, you know the drill. It’s the budget oscilloscope that shocked the market: a 10.1-inch IPS display, dual-channel, 100MHz bandwidth, and 1GSa/s sampling—all for under $200. But for the first year, users had a love-hate relationship. The hardware was a steal; the software was… beta.

Then came the firmware updates. Not the usual “bug fixes and stability improvements” nonsense. I’m talking about fundamental personality changes.

I decided to risk bricking my unit to see if the latest update (v1.0.5 as of this review) turns a decent scope into a great one—or just rearranges the deck chairs on the Titanic. fnirsi-1014d firmware update

Summary: Should You Update?

  • If your scope works: Do not fix what isn't broken. Flashing firmware on this device is risky (there is no native USB firmware update mode; you must open the case every time).
  • If you want Community Firmware: Proceed with extreme caution. Check the EEVblog thread for the latest version that supports your specific hardware revision. If you do not know how to identify your FPGA, do not attempt it.
  • If you are bricked: If you flashed the wrong firmware and have a white screen, you cannot fix it via USB. You need a "ST-Link" programmer and need to solder wires to the SWD pads on the board to force a re-flash.

The Bottom Line: The 1014D is a great piece of hardware hampered by a chaotic software history. The "full story" is a testament to how open-source developers saved a product that the manufacturer nearly abandoned.

Phase 4: Completion

  1. Wait. Do not touch the device. A full firmware flash takes approximately 60 to 120 seconds.
  2. The scope will either automatically reboot or display "Upgrade Successful."
  3. Power off the device and remove the microSD card.
  4. Power on normally. Navigate to System Info to verify the new firmware version.

The Update Process: A Nerve-Wracking 8 Minutes

Let’s get the elephant in the room out first. Updating the 1014D is not like updating your phone. The FNIRSI-1014D Firmware Update: From Bench Tool to

  • The Tool: You need a FAT32-formatted SD card (not included, but hidden under the back stand).
  • The Ritual: Download a .upd file, rename it to fw_1014d.upd, put it on the card, insert it while the scope is OFF, then hold the “Wave Gen” button while powering on.
  • The Anxiety: A white progress bar appears. It moves slower than a hangover. For eight minutes, the fan whirs ominously. If the power flickers, you own a $200 paperweight.

Verdict on process: Clunky, but stable. I’ve done it three times. No bricks. But FNIRSI really needs a USB bootloader.

3. New Features

While the 1014D doesn't receive radical new features frequently, some updates have introduced: If your scope works: Do not fix what isn't broken

  • Improved signal generator modes (on units that include the AWG function).
  • Additional decoding protocols for the bus analysis feature (I2C, SPI, UART, etc.).
  • Better screenshot saving formats.

The update froze at 50% or 99%

  • Cause: Power interruption or corrupted firmware file.
  • Fix: Do not power off. Wait 5 minutes. If still frozen, you likely have a brick. You will need to use a USB to TTL serial adapter (like CH340 or FTDI) to reflash the bootloader via UART—an advanced recovery process found on EEVBlog forums.

2. Get the Correct Firmware

Official sources (safe):

  • Official FNIRSI forum: https://forum.fnirsi.com/
  • Official FNIRSI download page (check product support)
  • Authorized seller’s support email

Avoid:

  • Random Google Drive / Baidu links
  • YouTube video descriptions (unless verified official)
  • Third-party “firmware collections”

Filename hint:
Legitimate packages usually contain:

  • 1014D_MCU_Vx.x.x.bin (MCU firmware)
  • 1014D_FPGA_Vx.x.x.bin (FPGA firmware)
    Some versions combine both.