Recent posts

#1

ARDUINO / Re: BC66 NB-IoT Module (DevKiT...

Last post by ameero95 - December 02, 2025, 01:39:24 PM

Hello LubOlimex,

Thank you for your reply. I will write them and ask for the latest firmware. I actually managed to scrounge up an AT command firmware for the BC66 I found on the internet and flashed it with an old QFlash Tool (version 4.15) because I read that the new QFlash tools do not work with discontinued hardware. The flash tool says PASS at the end of flashing but unfortunately, nothing changed and no "RDY" is given out after the device boot up. I dont think the device is dead though. Any idea what could be the problem?

#2

ARDUINO / Re: BC66 NB-IoT Module (DevKiT...

Last post by LubOlimex - December 02, 2025, 08:45:09 AM

Try sending "AT" without the quotes and see if it responds. If it doesn't respond, try downloading the latest firmware, you can request AT command firmware from the Quectel forums, just start a new thread and request AT firmware for BC66, similar to this one:

https://forums.quectel.com/t/bc66-latest-firmware/5637/6

Then use Qflash to download it to the module

#3

ARDUINO / BC66 NB-IoT Module (DevKiT)

Last post by ameero95 - December 01, 2025, 10:33:10 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm looking into using an old NB-IoT DevKit with the discontinued Quectel BC66 Module I received from a colleague of mine. Does anyone have any idea how I can still use this DevKit? Unfortunately, the AT command firmware does not seem to exist on the device anymore. The device doesnt respond with a "RDY" after the booting process. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,
Ameer

#4

New Products release / Soldering workshop with studen...

Last post by olimex - December 01, 2025, 03:04:34 PM

Last weekend we had soldering workshop with students from Mathematics and Science High School (PMG) in Pazardzhik . They soldered RVPC the EUR 1 RISC-V retro computer and learned how computers were programmed many years ago https://olimex.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/soldering-workshop-in-mathematics-and-science-high-school-pmg-in-pazardzhik/ #riscv #retro #retrocomputing

#5

A64 / Re: eth0 disappears

Last post by LubOlimex - November 28, 2025, 11:45:03 AM

I now tested with MOD-WIFI-RTL8188EUS-ANT plugged and nothing changes. The Ethernet doesn't get disconnected between reboots. Also connected via nmtui to the local WIFI network and kept rebooting but the Ethernet works just as fine after each reboot, just like it did before attaching or configuring the WIFI module.

One thing I noticed is that the power consumption is considerably higher when the WIFI module is plugged. Can this be related to the power supply unable to provide adequate powering for all parts of the board during boot?

Edit: Maybe also test in another network, since it is easy-to-replicate issue for you, you can quickly test in another network and see if it is something related to the network or network settings.

#6

iMX233 / Re: Suspend Mode current - IMX...

Last post by LubOlimex - November 28, 2025, 08:20:12 AM

You don't need img or ISO, there is a raw file in the GitHub OP linked and there are instructions on how to download it to SD card:

To install bootstream onto SD/MMC card, type: sudo dd if=sd_mmc_bootstream.raw of=/dev/sdXY

where X is the correct letter for your sd or mmc device (to check, do a ls /dev/sd*) and Y is  the partition number for the bootstream

In my system sd device is /dev/sdb1, so writing bootstream file in card is done by:

$: sudo dd if=sd_mmc_bootstream.raw of=/dev/sdb1

Card is ready.

#7

A64 / Re: eth0 disappears

Last post by LubOlimex - November 28, 2025, 08:16:16 AM

You didn't mention MOD-WIFI-RTL8188EUS-ANT previously so I tested without it. This means my tests and your tests are different. How it goes with the WIFI adapter?

It might be a problem with the configuration between the networks then, like when you have more than one internet connection you probably need to use metering.

Well, these are completly different images. Everything is different. We no longer release Armbian images, but they still release community supported images (not everything is guaranteed to work tho, but we need it for testing only):

https://www.armbian.com/olimex-lime-a64/

Meanwhile, I'd test again with the MOD-WIFI-RTL8188EUS-ANT.

#8

iMX233 / Re: Suspend Mode current - IMX...

Last post by unlikeboxer - November 28, 2025, 05:11:59 AM

I've never done this before, and I have no idea where to go for a.ISO or.IMG file. Who can provide an answer?

#9

A64 / Re: Use USB OTG in host mode

Last post by frm - November 28, 2025, 12:04:38 AM

Software-wise I don't think the Olimage image supports it, so some changes to the image are required.

This is really a pity. Right now I don't want to go through the lengthy process of rebuilding the kernel and the image myself, so I'll just use a basic USB hub to expand the single USB host port. It makes the whole setup much less compact thought :-(

Thanks

#10

A64 / Re: eth0 disappears

Last post by frm - November 28, 2025, 12:02:54 AM

Hi,
thanks for the reply.

That line is indeed different. Can you try a different LAN cable? Also try re-writing the card and check if it works again before rebooting.

Honestly if the problem was the cable I would still expect the Ethernet controller to show up in Linux, but I would expect "eth0" to be DOWN.

Something I started to notice as pattern is that this problem happens more often when the Olimex A64 board boots with the MOD-WIFI-RTL8188EUS-ANT wifi adapter on the USB plug. Does this ring any bell for you?

In my case both eth0 (wired Rj45 network itf) and the wireless itf are connected to the same L3 network.
Just to be sure to avoid the so-called ARP flux for such case, I turned on the Linux ARP filter:

Code Select Expand

sysctl -w net.ipv4.conf.all.arp_filter=1
sysctl -w net.ipv4.conf.default.arp_filter=1

I need to run a few more test and check if eth0 disappears again anyway. And I'm still puzzled whether this is an HW issue or a SW issue.

Maybe also test with the Armbian image (root/1234) from our FTP: https://ftp.olimex.com/Allwinner_Images/a64-olinuxino/linux/1.latest_images/bionic/images/Armbian_5.92.1_Olinuxino-a64_Ubuntu_bionic_next_5.2.5_desktop_emmc_fix.img.7z

I'm downloading this one and will try.
What's the difference compared to the Olimage using Debian bullseye as base?

Thanks