Current recommended Skyconnect firmware

[newlund]

Hi!

Since the switch to ember I have used this firmware for my skyconnect:

https://github.com/darkxst/silabs-firmware-builder/blob/**ember-nohw**/firmware_builds/skyconnect/ncp-uart-hw-v7.4.1.0-skyconnect-115200.gbl

I had problems with hardware flow control back then. That is why I used the recommended nohw firmware.

Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman#943

It has been working fine since then.

Now I guess it is time to update firmware but which one is recommended?
It seems darkxst does not build for skyconnect anymore? Should I use your (Nerivec) firmware instead?
Is 8.0.2 considered stable?
It seems all skyconnect firmware is built with hw flow control now. Has that issue been solved?

Is this one a good candidate?

https://github.com/Nerivec/silabs-firmware-builder/releases/download/v2024.6.2-update3/nabucasa_skyconnect_zigbee_ncp_8.0.2.0_115200_hw_flow.gbl

Thanks!
Nicklas Nylund

[Nerivec]

The problem with hw flow control is still present (unfortunately, doesn't seem like a fix is likely to happen), but a workaround was added a while back. In short, either should now work fine in Z2M/ZHA (although you may see in the logs a couple of errors bypassed during startup, that you can just ignore).

You can use mine (faster release cycle, but with the potential bugs that may bring), or the official ones from Nabu Casa https://github.com/NabuCasa/silabs-firmware-builder/releases

For use as Coordinator, you will want zigbee_ncp.
For use as Router, you will want zigbee_router.

FYI: I keep a curated list of firmware that Ember ZLI uses (when you pick 'pre-defined') here: https://github.com/Nerivec/ember-zli/blob/main/firmware-links.json

[newlund]

Ok, thanks! :)

Have you heard of any issues with running 8.0.2?
Also, is it totally seamless to upgrade and then downgrade in case I run into problems?

[Nerivec]

Have you heard of any issues with running 8.0.2?

It's been running well for many users. I've also been using it for testing Z2M changes pretty much since it was released.
8.0.x was mostly a massive renaming task (of various code stuff) from Silabs due to the change in SDK, really, it isn't much different from 7.4.x.
8.1.x should offer more (lots of bug fixes), but have to wait until some new bugs in 8.1.0 are fixed, it's not working on all adapters at the moment 😅

You can upgrade and downgrade between 7.4.x and later at will.
You can always make a backup of the zigbee state in your adapter with https://github.com/Nerivec/ember-zli/wiki/Stack#backup-nvm3-tokens if you are worried 😉