Firmware Upgrades - Little Acorn 5210 and 6210

Fig: 1  Windows Explorer screen shot showing saved
location of firmware upgrade file.

A number of people have asked me recently about the availability of upgrades to the Acorn range of cameras and I'm combining this with an upgrade to correct an exposure problem with the 5210A. There will also be more about this issue in my next post.

At the time of writing I'm not aware of any general firmware upgrades for these cameras. Upgrades that are available are for specific issues such as the one detailed below; and as far as I know, the upgrade procedure is always the same for 5210s and (6210s see the post update 29/05 below).

Also read:  Firmware Updates, Upgrades and Software - Little Acorn Trail Cameras

Fig: 2   5210A - shadow under exposed.

Confusingly, the 5210 upgrade files are always named FW5210A.bin and arrive in a zip file which is named for the camera it is specified for. 

Similarly 6210 upgrade files are FW6210.bin 
Read this post.

Caution is required because if you load a file into the wrong camera it will stop the camera functioning which will have to be returned (not under warranty) to be  repaired.

Post Update 09.09.12  The strike through above is not strictly accurate. If a camera is updated with the wrong firmware, it can be corrected by using the right firmware, providing it's available.

Another point worth making is that update files appear to contain the complete binary coding for the camera; which means that when you do a firmware update you are recoding all the camera settings. This means that the update completely resets the camera and once it's done there's no going back, unless you have a file with the old coding; which at the time of writing I don't have.

I am not a programmer and although I have a basic understanding of the principals of binary coding I am completely reliant on the Acorn manufacturer for any changes to the programming of these cameras.
The BIN files I have are genuine factory upgrades, supplied by Acorn.

Fig: 3   Test shot in bright sunshine with 25% shadow

How to Upgrade the 5210:
Format SD Card (in camera)

1) Copy the file FW5210A.bin to the SD card at the top of the hierarchy as in Figure 1 and not in a folder.
2) Insert the SD card in the camera to be upgraded. 
3) Press and hold the OK button
4) Switch the camera to the "TEST" position. 
5) Wait until the start-up splash screen shows and then release the "OK" key.
6) Enter MENU, navigate the marker to DEFAULT SET, and press OK.
Format SD Card (in camera)

Fig: 4  Test shot in bright sunshine with 50% shadow 

The upgrade file will be automatically deleted from the card as the camera starts up.

When you have completed the upgrade you will need to re-enter your preferred menu settings which will have been returned to default.

I currently have two upgrade files. One is to correct underexposure of shadows with the 5210A (request file by email) and the other is a similar correction for the 5210MM after doing the upgrade (v1.83s available here) to increase the size of the file sent to your mobile or email from 320 x 240 pixels to 640 x 480 pixels.


The image data bar also changes with the upgrade. If you look at figure 2, you will see that the bar is broken. This is how it appears before the update. Figures 3, 4 and 5 have a continuous data bar which is how it appears after the update.

Image EXIF file. If you look at the image EXIF information you will see that the camera software version is V1.48 prior to the update and is V1.6 afterwards.

Post Update: 09.09.12  I am embarrassed to discover (thanks Josh) that in the paragraph above I'd referred to this problem as overexposure of shadow when in fact it is underexposure. Still, it only took four months to realise the mistake, so there's hope. Sorry, and I hope it hasn't misled anyone.

Fig: 5  Test shot in bright sunshine with 75% shadow

Test shots in Figures 3, 4 and 5 were taken after the upgrade of a 5210A. I am now going to return the camera to the site where Figure 2 was taken to see if the results are an improvement in practice.

I will be updating this post when I have the results.

The images in Figures 2 to 5 have been resized but are otherwise straight from the camera and were taken on its 5MP setting,

Post Update 29.05.2012 @ 15.50     I've again read through all the info I can find on this subject and changed and added to parts of this post in an attempt to clarify as much as possible.

I can't absolutely guarantee that I have all the information but at least the upgrade procedures seem to be correct. e&oe...

If you think you have a problem with any of the Acorn cameras and are looking for a fix, drop me an email and I'll see if a file is, or can be made available.

How to Upgrade the 6210:

Format SD Card (in camera)

1) Copy the FW6210.bin file to the SD card at the top of the hierarchy as in Figure 1 and not in a folder.
2) Insert the SD card in the camera to be upgraded. 
3) Press and hold the "Back" button (second button down from top right on control panel)
4) Switch the camera to the "TEST" position. 
5) Wait until the start-up splash screen shows and then release the "Back button"
6) Enter MENU, navigate the marker to DEFAULT SET, and press OK.
Format SD Card (in camera)


Some update files available here including a new User Manual for the 6210 post 0.8 second trigger speed factory upgrade.

More Reading
Acorn 5210A exposure tests - Firmware Upgrade - Part 2.
Ltl Acorn 6210 Firmware Upgrade - Night time infra-red lighting and exposure.


Release Notes for 6210MM versions:

1.0.001:
Only support China Mobile and China Unicom, the other waiting for test results.
1.0.002:
U.S. carrier testing is complete
1.0.003:
Support the three mobile phone number and email function changes.
1.0.004:
Fixed a wrong URL,Support Sweden.
1.0.005:
Ascii code for the phone supports "+"
1.0.006:
1.Solve the garbled error
2.Slovenia wait for the test
1.0.007:
Slovenia wait for the test
1.0.008:
Add SMS
1.0.009:
Add "Portugal","Turkey","Switzerland","Spain","Slovakia","Russia","Romania","Poland","Netherlands","Italy","Ireland","Hungary","Greece","France","Australia","Austria","Brazil","Bulgaria","Croatia","Czech Republic","Denmark","Finland","New Zealand","Norway".
1.0.010:
South Africa
1.0.011:
Sweden --Telia
Czech Republic -- T-Mobile ,Vodafone
Ukraine -- KiyvStar,MTS
1.0.012
Australian operator Telstra parameter correction
1.0.013
Bulgaria -- Vivacom
1.0.014
Finland --- Sonera / Elisa
1.0.015
Slovakia --  Orange / O2
Setup Date Format
1.0.016
Lithuania --Omnitel  //Unkown Result
1.0.017
Ukraine -- LIFE , Beeline UA
1.0.018
Spain -- Orange
Bulgaria -- Globul
1.1.001
New Software,compatible with previous generation style
Australia -- Mic1
1.1.002
Austria A1
1.1.003
Austria A1 //E-mail can not receive MMS
1.1.004
Add language
1.1.005
fix a bug(sms)
1.1.006
German     ---  Deutsch
Switzerland  --- Schweiz
Austria  -- Osterreich 
1.1.007
Spain   -- Telstra
1.1.008
Add language
1.1.009
Modify a cell phone the first number use 
1.1.010
Germany     ---  Deutschland
1.1.011
Australia -- Vodafone Three Virgin
1.1.012

Ireland -- Tesco
1.1.013
India   -- Idea CellOne BPL Airtel VodaFone
1.1.014
Ltl 6210 MMS Menu.
1.1.015
Remove TV Mode Setup
1.1.016
Add Ltl6210 Function.
1.Beep Sound
2.Storage Cycle
Add Latvia MMS Param
1.1.017
South Africa  --MTN
1.1.018
South Africa  --MTN
1.1.019
Modify the Finnish translation
1.2.001
Ltl 5210MG Support Smtp
1.2.002
Update Gprs Param
1.2.003
Update United Kingdom MMS Param
1.2.004
Add Cesky Language
1.2.005
Update
1.2.006
Add Namibia MMS Param
1.2.007
Update Ltl 6210M Gprs Param
Slovenia --Izi Mobil,Si Mobil
1.2.008
This is a test version, if the sending MMS have problems, please go back to the previous version
1.2.009
Estonia MMS Param
1.2.010
Lithuania MMS Param
1.2.011
fix a bug(6210MG)
1.2.012
Estonia Smtp Param
1.2.013
Norway -- Onecall
1.2.014
Croatia-- T-mobile HR
1.2.015
Belgium--Proximus Mobistar Base
1.2.016
Poland MMS Param