Known Issue — COBRA 8.0 BETA Firmware: Some Modules May Not Arm

We've identified a known issue in the COBRA 8.0 BETA firmware that can, in a small number of cases, prevent a module from downloading its show script and arming. A patch (8.0.1) is already in the works. Below is who is affected, how to check your own equipment in about a minute, and what to expect for the fix.

Who is affected

Only equipment running the 8.0 BETA firmware. Within that group, the issue is most likely to appear on 72M and 36M modules, and is very rare on other gear (18M, 6M, Audio Box). If you're not on the 8.0 BETA, there's nothing to do — please don't update on account of this notice.

How to check if you're affected (about one minute)

You don't need to guess or update blindly — a quick test tells you for certain:

1. Do a normal test run of your show, just as you would before firing.
2. If all of your modules arm and the ARM light on your remote goes solid, you're all set — no action needed.
3. If a module does not arm — its ARM LED stays off and the ARM light on your 18R2 keeps blinking and never goes solid — that module is affected and will need the patch.

If it tests fine, it will stay fine. This issue can't appear later out of nowhere — a unit either has it or it doesn't. So if your equipment arms normally in a test run, it will keep working.

The technical details

The 8.0 BETA changed how modules receive their show data. Instead of modules downloading cues during the arming process, each module now downloads the entire script from the remote while it's in TEST mode and saves it to non-volatile memory (NVMe) — that pre-load is what makes arming in 8.0 so much faster.

During that download, every module reports back to the 18R2 using its own unique hardware (MAC) address. We found that a specific bit-pattern in a subset of modules' MAC addresses caused the download handshake to be misread by the receiving side. When that happens, the affected module never finishes storing its script, so it has nothing to arm against — which is why the module's ARM LED stays off and the 18R2's ARM light keeps blinking rather than going solid.

Because a unit's MAC address is fixed in hardware, the behavior is completely deterministic and testable: an affected unit reproduces it every single time, and a unit that tests clean cannot later develop it. The 8.0.1 patch changes how that address is encoded and parsed (in the module and remote firmware) so the download handshake is read correctly on every unit — no hardware change required.

The fix

We're releasing a patch, 8.0.1. It's rolling out first for the 72M/36M and 18R2, with the remaining gear (18M, 6M, Audio Box) to follow after the 4th of July. Simple update instructions will be provided with the release. If you find an affected module using the check above, please reach out and we'll help you get the patch applied.

How do I update?

Once the announcement email goes out, the updated firmware files will be posted in our firmware upgrade guide. To apply the patch, follow the standard steps here: How to Upgrade COBRA Firmware.

If you prefer to use the older Portal reprogramming software, you can download the files at cobrafiringsystems.com/portal and select firmware version 8.0 from the list.

A thank-you to our beta testers

A sincere thank-you to everyone helping test the 8.0 BETA. Catching an issue like this before a wide release is exactly what beta testing is for, and we're grateful for your help. We apologize for any inconvenience, and we're committed to getting the fix out quickly.

If you have any questions, please contact us directly.