FLIR E4 Teardown Q/A and newbie questions

[Fraser]

All E4 models up to FW 1.22.0 HW1.1L have been modifiable but there has been mention of a firmware 1.22.2 that has yet to be seen in the wild. We have no way of knowing what implications, if any, exist with the release of FW 1.22.2.

[godfrey]

All E4 models up to FW 1.22.0 HW1.1L have been modifiable but there has been mention of a firmware 1.22.2 that has yet to be seen in the wild. We have no way of knowing what implications, if any, exist with the release of FW 1.22.2.

Thanks, Aurora.  I appreciate the prompt reply.  I spoke to Rick at TEquipment, they are expecting more E4's next week.  I'll order a couple and post the findings when they arrive.

[tangmu]

I got a FW 1.22.0 HW1.1L unit from EBay today and used TIconfig to change the resolution and menus.  It all worked flawlessly.  I was done in 5 minutes.  Thanks to the folks who did all the work.

The image sizes both before and after the update at 320 x 240 pixels.  Somehow I was thinking the 80x60 images would be 80x60.

Does this mean the 80x60 images before the update get extrapolated out to 320 x 240?

[Fraser]

Yes 

[godfrey]

Yes 

That makes me feel pretty good.  I ordered two from TEquipment yesterday.  They'll ship when they're in stock.  Hopefully they haven't snuck something new in……but if they have, I'm sure it will be circumvented quickly.  I'm anxious to compare it with my E60.

[DaveWB]

Yes 

That makes me feel pretty good.  I ordered two from TEquipment yesterday.  They'll ship when they're in stock.  Hopefully they haven't snuck something new in……but if they have, I'm sure it will be circumvented quickly.  I'm anxious to compare it with my E60.

so hows the stock level at TE? i hope they stock more ...

Calright Instruments has good customer service and ships same day, unlike what I've found from TEquipment. Calright also offers a much better price as they are the authorized Master Distributor for their region. I'd suggest contacting David Swanson at 866.363.6634 and he can probably give you a very fair price. Tell him I sent you too

[Fraser]

A more accurate response to the question should have been ....yes & no 

The E4 reads all pixels of the micro-bolometer, whether in 80x60 or 320x340 mode. The 80x60 low resolution is believed to be achieved by averaging 4x4 clusters of pixels to create a 80x60 extrapolation. The 80x60 result is then up-scaled to 320x240 to match the display resolution. 

[tangmu]

A more accurate response to the question should have been ....yes & no 

The E4 reads all pixels of the micro-bolometer, whether in 80x60 or 320x340 mode. The 80x60 low resolution is believed to be achieved by averaging 4x4 clusters of pixels to create a 80x60 extrapolation. The 80x60 result is then up-scaled to 320x240 to match the display resolution. 

Nice explanation, thanks!

[godfrey]

As of this moment, TEquipment doesn't have any E4's in stock.  Rick said they are expecting more on Monday. 

[tangmu]

As of this moment, TEquipment doesn't have any E4's in stock.  Rick said they are expecting more on Monday.

There are some on EBay that specify the firmware rev. 

[godfrey]

As of this moment, TEquipment doesn't have any E4's in stock.  Rick said they are expecting more on Monday.

There are some on EBay that specify the firmware rev.

There are a few on eBay for $995, but they $995 almost everywhere unless you request a quote from some suppliers which saves about $100.  I remember asking Rick a while back about the firmware versions on the E4 when I bought mine.  He said he'd have to open the box and turn them on -- which is not something they'd be inclined to do.  I was disappointed with that answer……but whatever.

[jumbo]

Hy again,

with my E4 is something wrong.
When I lock the temperature the colors start changing even if I hold camera in the same place (more and offen then they should - every second).
The screen is going darknes and whiter like when is kalibration but there is no kalibration at the moment.

What happend and how I can fix the problem?

What if I will make factory reset by settings? It will be like before upgrade?

[jumbo]

Hy again,

with my E4 is something wrong.
When I lock the temperature the colors start changing even if I hold camera in the same place (more and offen then they should - every second).
The screen is going darknes and whiter like when is kalibration but there is no kalibration at the moment.

What happend and how I can fix the problem?

What if I will make factory reset by settings? It will be like before upgrade?

Make the menu hack again (without factory reset!). Verify the files you had copied to the camera. I think any one file was copied incorrectly.
Factory reset does not change the hack. The configuration is reset to default values (language, USB mode, color mode, everything can be changed in the configuration).

I made like you say but nothing happens.

[Smalldog]

As of this moment, TEquipment doesn't have any E4's in stock.  Rick said they are expecting more on Monday.

There are some on EBay that specify the firmware rev.

There are a few on eBay for $995, but they $995 almost everywhere unless you request a quote from some suppliers which saves about $100.  I remember asking Rick a while back about the firmware versions on the E4 when I bought mine.  He said he'd have to open the box and turn them on -- which is not something they'd be inclined to do.  I was disappointed with that answer……but whatever.

Which supplier(s) offer $100 off when getting a quote?

[godfrey]

As of this moment, TEquipment doesn't have any E4's in stock.  Rick said they are expecting more on Monday.

There are some on EBay that specify the firmware rev.

There are a few on eBay for $995, but they $995 almost everywhere unless you request a quote from some suppliers which saves about $100.  I remember asking Rick a while back about the firmware versions on the E4 when I bought mine.  He said he'd have to open the box and turn them on -- which is not something they'd be inclined to do.  I was disappointed with that answer……but whatever.

Which supplier(s) offer $100 off when getting a quote?

TEquipment.  I heard from one member here that another vendor might offer it for $845, but it's been 72 business hours and I never heard from the company.  I ordered two of the E4's Friday afternoon and they shipped via UPS Ground today.

[jumbo]

Hy again,

with my E4 is something wrong.
When I lock the temperature the colors start changing even if I hold camera in the same place (more and offen then they should - every second).
The screen is going darknes and whiter like when is kalibration but there is no kalibration at the moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYU86l0FLdI&feature=youtu.be

What happend and how I can fix the problem?

What if I will make factory reset by settings? It will be like before upgrade?

Make the menu hack again (without factory reset!). Verify the files you had copied to the camera. I think any one file was copied incorrectly.
Factory reset does not change the hack. The configuration is reset to default values (language, USB mode, color mode, everything can be changed in the configuration).

I made like you say but nothing happens.

Such a fault has not been reported yet. And all other functions are running as well? I have no idea! 
Battery removed? Which firmware? Resolution hack OK? Do you have a backup of the original files? Which way you got the hack done?
While the error persists, can you change other settings in the menu? (manual temp scale, color mode) What are the actual settings (msx, color, measurement...), can you made and show a photo (photo and lcd screen same or different)?
I want to reproduce the situation.

Frimware 1.21.0
MSX and Resolution Hack - ok
I have only original config file, I don't have menu file before upgrade.
I made hack by Fillezilla and cfc-generator and after there wasn't fail message. While I was making hack the camera was in standby.
While error presist I can work normaly.
I work on MSX, Rainbow, lock temperatures but in other option it is harder to find problem but there is also something wrong.

This is the movie when camera work incorrectly. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYU86l0FLdI&feature=youtu.be
 

[Fraser]

Was the camera thoroughly tested before the hack ?

The symptoms you describe could be caused by loss of the micro-bolometer drift compensation table or non operation of the associated algorithm that is applied to images. The micro-bolometer will drift all over the place with delta temperature so without such compensation it will be virtually unusable. Note, the E4 micro-bolometer is NOT fitted with a physical temperature stabilisation circuit (TEC). The effect of an error in the compensation software will be more acute with smaller temperature spans and less so with large spans. The compensation software uses data from the chassis mounted temperature sensor that is shown in Mikes teardown of the E4. I doubt the sensor is faulty though as the measured temperatures would be wildly incorrect.
 
Aurora 

[jumbo]

Was the camera thoroughly tested before the hack ?

The symptoms you describe could be caused by loss of the micro-bolometer drift compensation table or non operation of the associated algorithm that is applied to images. The micro-bolometer will drift all over the place with delta temperature so without such compensation it will be virtually unusable. Note, the E4 micro-bolometer is NOT fitted with a physical temperature stabilisation circuit (TEC). The effect of an error in the compensation software will be more acute with smaller temperature spans and less so with large spans. The compensation software uses data from the chassis mounted temperature sensor that is shown in Mikes teardown of the E4. I doubt the sensor is faulty though as the measured temperatures would be wildly incorrect.
 
Aurora

I checked camera before hack but not enough carefully;/ and before there was option to lock the temperatures but without handmade temperatures border.

So I had to send camera for warranty before hack;/
The warranty is lost? even if I will make downgrade?

What I should to do? Is it possibile to fix camera?

[georges80]

Just received a Flir email...

Guess they are trying to motivate folk to purchase the E6/E8 over the much better E4+

cheers,
george.

[ixfd64]

It looks like some home inspection students have access to an even lower price: https://www.nachi.org/forum/f58/flir-e8-sale-wow-91086

But it probably still doesn't beat a hacked E4.

[godfrey]

Just received a Flir email...

Guess they are trying to motivate folk to purchase the E6/E8 over the much better E4+

cheers,
george.

I was just about to post that as well (got their e-mail too).  I'd consider their $2,000 savings if I was never aware of the E4 hack.

The two I ordered from TEquipment last Friday will arrive today.  I bought one for a friend who's in the construction business.  He couldn't pass it up.

[godfrey]

(2) FLIR E4's received.

Model E4 1.1L
Software 1.22.0

[Iphone_hack]

Oh man!
I ordered mine from my local retailer, I am in Vancouver Canada. The camera is coming from the East - Ontario I think.
Need 2 weeks, can't wait!

Most of you guys are using TIConfig Thermal Imager Configuration Tool to perform the hack?
Or which one is better?
Also I saw that TIConfig can perform full backup, can anyone tell me how to restore to factory in case of screwup or in case need warranty?

And transfer pic to PC, which way is better
I think I read that flir tool can update the camera firmware automatically ?
I don't think I want that after the hack.
Thanks

[godfrey]

So far I can't get TIConfig to work with the imager.  It just sits there saying "Trying to connect to device…"

RNDIS is enabled.
Ethernet adapter on the PC is disabled. (Windows 7 -- fresh build)
FLIR E4 (192.168.0.2) is the same IP as my Cisco switch…but with ethernet disabled, this shouldn't be a problem.

Message pops up "Could not configure ThermaCAM. Please try to reconnect"

Am I missing something?

I also can't get FileZilla to connect.  Even with a default IP addy -- Connection attempt failed with "ECONNREFUSED - Connection refused by server"

[scientist]

Install the FLIR drivers. That should fix the ThermaCAM connect problem.