Overview
The Audio Box Gen 2 has a separate LCD display adapter board (ABDI) that runs its own firmware. This firmware controls what is shown on the Audio Box screen. Updating this firmware is separate from updating the main Audio Box firmware and uses a different process depending on your hardware version.
The latest ABDI firmware is backwards compatible with main firmware versions 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, and 8.0.
Important Notes
- The LCD firmware update is optional. If you do not update, your Audio Box will continue working normally with the previous display sequence.
- This update is recommended when upgrading to firmware 8.0, as it adds updated visual display information for newer features including security modes.
- The LCD firmware update process is separate from the main Audio Box firmware update (SPY/S19 files loaded via USB drive).
- If you update the LCD firmware but your main firmware is below 7.1.x, the Audio Box screen may only display “COBRA Firing Systems” instead of the normal status information.
Before You Begin
- Determine which hardware version of the ABDI board you have (see section below)
- Download the correct firmware file for your hardware version from the firmware release page
- You will need a Windows 10 (or later) PC
- You will need the appropriate USB cable for your hardware version
Identifying Your Hardware Version
There are two versions of the ABDI board inside the Audio Box Gen 2. You will need to open the Audio Box enclosure to identify which version you have.
Version 1 (Older Board)
- Has one micro button on the board
- Uses the ABDI.S19 firmware file
- Connects to your PC via the USB-A port
Version 2 (Newer Board)
- Has two micro buttons on the board (labeled SW1 and SW2)
- Uses the UF2 firmware file
- Connects to your PC via the micro-USB port
Method 1: Updating with ABDI.S19 (Older Board)
Use this method if your ABDI board has one button.
- Download the ABDI.S19 file from the firmware release page
- Connect a USB cable between the USB-A port on the ABDI board and your Windows PC
- Flash the ABDI.S19 file to the board
- Disconnect the USB cable
- Power cycle the Audio Box to verify the display is working correctly
Method 2: Updating with UF2 (Newer Board)
Use this method if your ABDI board has two buttons (SW1 and SW2).
- Download the UF2 file from the firmware release page
- Connect a micro-USB cable between the on-board micro-USB receptacle and your Windows PC
- Press and hold the BOOTSEL button (SW1, located near the USB port)
- While still holding BOOTSEL, press briefly and release the SW2 button (located near the P1 header)
- Your PC should now show a new Mass Storage Device called “RPI-RP2”
- Release the BOOTSEL button
- Drag and drop (or copy and paste) the UF2 file into the RPI-RP2 drive
- The on-board processor will flash itself and reboot automatically
- Disconnect the USB cable
- Power cycle the Audio Box to verify the display is working correctly
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| RPI-RP2 drive does not appear on your PC | Make sure you are holding BOOTSEL (SW1) while pressing and releasing SW2. Try a different micro-USB cable, as some cables are charge-only and do not support data transfer. |
| Display shows only “COBRA Firing Systems” after updating | This indicates a firmware version mismatch. Ensure your main Audio Box firmware is updated to 7.1.x or later before updating the LCD firmware. |
| Display does not change after updating | Power cycle the Audio Box completely. Turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. |
| Audio Box screen is blank after update | Try re-flashing the firmware file. If the issue persists, contact COBRA support. |
Firmware Compatibility
The latest ABDI LCD firmware is compatible with the following main Audio Box firmware versions:
- 5.1.x
- 6.1.x
- 7.1.x
- 8.0.x
If you are on an older firmware version and experience display issues after updating the LCD firmware, update your main Audio Box firmware to the latest recommended version.
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