Firmware Updates

The WDD-LITE supports over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates for both itself and the connected base station. Updates are downloaded over WiFi from LF Audio's update servers and installed automatically.

Updating the WDD-LITE

When Connected to a Base Station

If the WDD-LITE is connected to a base station, it can use the base station's saved WiFi network automatically:

1. Long-press the screen (or tap the gear) to open the menu
2. Select Advanced
3. Select Update Firmware
4. The WDD-LITE connects to WiFi, checks for a newer firmware version for its hardware, and downloads it if one is available
5. Progress is shown on screen, with a live status message and percentage
6. Once the download and installation finish, the WDD-LITE restarts automatically on the new firmware and reconnects to your base station

Some base stations do not share their WiFi. Then the WDD-LITE uses the WiFi it has saved. It picks it the same way as when it is not connected (see below).

When Not Connected to a Base Station

You can update the WDD-LITE even without a base station connection. It picks one WiFi network, in this order:

• Cached base station WiFi: the network learned from a previous connection to your base station
• Most recently saved network: the most recent of your saved custom networks
• WiFi discovery wizard: if no WiFi is saved, the wizard opens so you can pick a network

It uses only that one network. If that network does not work, the update stops and the WDD-LITE restarts. The next time you start an update, the WiFi list opens so you can pick a network. (If the WDD-LITE is connected to a base station that shares its WiFi, it uses that WiFi first.) See If the Update Fails.

WiFi Discovery Wizard

When the WDD-LITE needs to connect to a new WiFi network, the discovery wizard walks you through it:

1. The WDD-LITE scans for available WiFi networks
2. A list of detected networks appears, sorted by signal strength (strongest first)
   • Networks you have previously saved are marked (saved)
   • Secured networks are marked (locked); open networks connect directly with no password step
   • Select Enter Manually to type in a hidden network's name and password
   • Select Rescan to scan again
   • If no networks show up, the screen says No networks found. If the scan itself does not work, it says Could not scan. Select Rescan to try again, Enter Manually to type the network name, or Back to leave
3. Tap a network from the list
4. Enter the WiFi password using the on-screen touch keyboard (see below)
5. The WDD-LITE connects to the network and begins the update

The Two-Tap Keyboard

Passwords and network names are typed on a two-tap keyboard designed for finger use in a vehicle, so every key is a large target rather than a cramped one.

It works in two levels:

1. Group level. The keyboard opens showing a handful of letter-group tiles (each covering a few letters), plus 123 for digits, #+= for symbols, a shift tile for capitals, backspace, space, OK, and a List tile.
2. Zoom level. Tap a group and it zooms so each character in that group becomes its own large key. Tap the character you want.

A few behaviors worth knowing:

• Letters return automatically. After you tap a letter, the keyboard returns to the group level ready for the next character.
• Digits and symbols stay open. The digit and symbol pages remain on screen so you can type several in a row without reopening them. Use the back tile when you are done. Symbol pages that hold more characters than fit have an arrow tile to reach the next page.
• Every zoom has a visible back tile. If you open the wrong group, tap back to return to the group level. Swiping right does the same.
• List (at the group level) leaves the keyboard and returns you to the network scan list without connecting. Swiping right at the group level does the same.
• Naming uses the same keyboard. It also opens when you name a channel group (Group 1 Name and so on). There the box opens holding the current name, if there is one. The List tile reads Back. Back leaves without saving. OK does nothing while the box is empty.
• Shift applies to letters only; digits and symbols are unaffected.

Managing Saved WiFi Networks

You can view and manage your saved WiFi networks in Settings > WiFi. The screen lists, in order:

• Base WiFi, showing the network name learned from your base station, with an indented Clear Base WiFi row beside it (value Clear). These two rows appear whenever base station credentials are stored, whether or not you are currently connected to the base station.
• Saved Networks, a header showing how many networks are stored (for example, 3 saved), followed by one indented row per network, each with a Remove action.
• Add Network (value Scan), which opens the WiFi scan list so you can add another network.
• Back.

Removing a saved network, or clearing the cached base station WiFi, does not delete on the first tap. Tapping the row shows a prompt with Confirm and Cancel choices, so an accidental tap cannot erase a stored network. For a saved network the prompt reads Remove and the network's name, for example Remove MyNetwork?. For the base station WiFi it reads Remove base WiFi?. Confirm ignores a tap right after the prompt appears. Wait a moment, then tap it. Leaving the screen without choosing Confirm cancels the removal, and the prompt is cleared each time you open the screen.

A Factory Reset clears everything here, including your saved networks and the cached base station WiFi, so you will need to re-enter a network the next time you update. A Forget Base leaves your saved networks and cached base station WiFi intact.

During the Update

While the update runs, the screen shows what the WDD-LITE is doing at each step (locating your network, connecting to it, checking for the latest version, then downloading), followed by a download percentage and a short restart countdown.

• Do not power off the WDD-LITE or the base station during the update
• The process typically completes within a few minutes, depending on your WiFi speed
• A brief WiFi problem no longer ends the update. If your network does not accept the first connection attempt, the WDD-LITE tries again, up to five attempts. Between attempts the screen shows Connection failed with a short countdown
• If the download is interrupted, it resumes from where it stopped rather than starting over, and the screen shows Resuming download with the percentage it reached. The download also gets five attempts before the update gives up
• If the WiFi signal gets weak during the download, the screen shows "Weak WiFi signal. Move closer to your router". The download keeps going
• Every downloaded update is verified before it is installed, so an interrupted or corrupted download can never be flashed
• After restarting on the new firmware, the WDD-LITE reconnects to the base station automatically

If the Update Fails

• A failed update does not affect the firmware already installed; you can safely retry
• Common causes are WiFi connectivity problems or being unable to reach the update server
• If the screen says "Update failed - no WiFi saved. Try again to pick a network", the WDD-LITE had no WiFi to use. Start the update again from the menu. If there is still no WiFi to use, the WiFi list opens so you can pick your network
• When a weak WiFi signal is the likely cause, the screen says so. It shows "Update failed - weak WiFi signal. Move closer to your router" when the download was too slow to finish, or "Update failed - unstable WiFi. Move closer to your router" when the connection dropped or never got through. Get closer to your router and try again
• If the download is too slow to finish in time, even with a good signal, the update stops early. The screen shows "Update failed - WiFi too slow. Move closer to your router"
• If the update runs out of time for another reason, the screen shows "Update failed - it took too long. Try again"
• Make sure you are within range of your 2.4 GHz network and that it has internet access
• If the WDD-LITE cannot find the network after a few attempts, it restarts so you can try again
• If the WDD-LITE cannot join a network, it tries 5 times. After the last try, the screen shows one of these lines, then the WDD-LITE restarts:
  • "Update failed - WiFi password not accepted": the network turned the password down. Start the update again. The WiFi list opens. Pick your network and type the right password
  • "Update failed - check your WiFi password": the password may be wrong. Remove the network in Settings > WiFi. Then enter it again through the WiFi list
  • "Update failed - could not connect to WiFi": move closer to your router and try again
• If the update server reports it is busy ("rate-limited - try again later"), wait a few minutes before retrying

Repairing the Firmware (Repair Firmware)

A normal Update Firmware only installs a firmware version newer than the one already on your WDD-LITE. If you are already on the latest version, it reports that you are up to date and stops without reinstalling. That leaves no way to fix an installation that finished in a bad state.

Repair Firmware, in the same Advanced menu, installs the latest published firmware even when the WDD-LITE is already up to date:

1. Long-press the screen (or tap the gear) to open the menu
2. Select Advanced
3. Select Repair Firmware
4. The WDD-LITE connects to WiFi and installs the latest published firmware, using the same WiFi cascade, status messages, and progress display as a normal update

Use this to repair an update that was interrupted, or firmware that is misbehaving, or when LF Audio support asks you to.

If you are already on the latest version, Repair Firmware reinstalls that same version over the top. If a newer version has been published since, it installs the newest one, exactly as Update Firmware would.

Updating the Base Station

You can trigger a firmware update for the connected base station directly from the WDD-LITE:

1. Make sure the WDD-LITE is connected to the base station
2. Long-press to open the menu
3. Select Advanced
4. Select Update Base
5. The base station downloads and installs its own update, and the WDD-LITE displays its progress as Updating Base Station

If the Base Station Doesn't Respond

If you start Update Base but the base station goes quiet (no progress for about 30 seconds, or 5 minutes total without finishing), the WDD-LITE automatically falls back to updating its own firmware instead, and the screen switches to showing the WDD-LITE's update progress. This prevents it from getting stuck waiting. If this happens, retry Update Base once both devices are back online to actually update the base station.

Checking Your Current Version

View the WDD-LITE's firmware and hardware version in System Info from the menu (see System Diagnostics). To check the base station's firmware versions, open Base Info (see Menus and Settings).

Release Notes

Older versions are listed in the firmware changelog.

4.15.4

• Song covers: the playback bar shows the song's cover beside the song name. On Now Playing, the cover shows behind the song, in High Speed mode. This needs an Android phone with the latest LF Audio app, with Song list on. Your WVC base station needs firmware 4.22.0 or newer. In Base Info, CPU1 FW and CPU2 FW must both be 4.22.0 or newer. See Song covers.
• Voltage and temperature on Now Playing: Now Playing has the same top bar as the main screen. Your system voltage shows in it. The temperature shows beside it when a probe is connected. It uses your Temp Units setting. See Now Playing Voltage and Temperature.
• A close button for volume: the volume arc has an X at the top. Tap it to close the arc. In landscape, it sits in the top-right corner. See Adjusting Volume.
• This update also includes performance and stability improvements.

4.14.9

• A longer Song list: the Song list now holds up to 250 songs. It opens on the song playing now. Earlier songs are above it, and look dimmer. Tap one to play it, if your music app allows it. This needs an Android phone with the latest LF Audio app. Your WVC base station needs firmware 4.21.0 or newer. In Base Info, CPU1 FW and CPU2 FW must both be 4.21.0 or newer. See Song list.
• When the song changes, the Song list stays where you scrolled. If you are still at the song playing now, the list moves to the new song.
• Songs further down the list load before you scroll to them.
• Lists redraw faster.
• This update also includes performance and stability improvements.

4.14.8

• Your channel pair comes back: on a 6-channel WVC-PRO 6 or a 4-channel Smart Signal Analyzer, the FFT, Scope and Waterfall views remember the pair you tap. After a restart, they come back on that pair. See Channel Pair Selector.
• Charts say why they are empty: when the FFT, Scope or Waterfall view has no data, it shows Waiting for data... or Reconnecting.... See When Data Isn't Available.
• More firmware in Base Info: with a Smart Signal Analyzer, Base Info shows CPU2 FW. With a Temperature Hub, it shows Sensor board FW. The analyzer or hub needs firmware 4.20 or newer. See Base Info.
• Harder to confirm by mistake: the confirm for Reset All Colors, Orientation, and removing a network in Settings > WiFi ignores a tap right after it appears. Wait a moment, then tap it.
• The slider is easier to grab: on Now Playing, you can start a drag anywhere from just under the artist down to the times. Only a drag moves the song. A tap on the slider does not. See Now Playing.
• The song time stays close to what you hear.
• On Now Playing, the slider stays at the new spot after you move through the song.
• On Now Playing, a new song starts with the slider at 0:00 until its time comes in.
• This update also includes performance and stability improvements.

4.14.3

• Forget Phones: use it when your phone cannot pair with your base station. Open Advanced and tap Forget Phones. It removes every phone paired to the base station. Then each phone pairs again with the BT Pin. It shows once your base station has firmware 4.20.0 or newer. See Forget Phones.
• An update now tries up to five times.
• If the signal gets weak during an update, the screen tells you to move closer to your router.
• If WiFi is too slow, the update stops early and says why. It no longer restarts without a message.
• If the WiFi password is not accepted, the screen now says so. See If the Update Fails.
• If your saved WiFi is not found or turns down the password, the next update opens the WiFi list. If your base station shares its WiFi, that WiFi is still tried first.
• If a scan fails, the WiFi list now says Could not scan. Choose Rescan to try again.
• If your WDD-LITE is paired to a High Precision Voltmeter, it now reconnects when you leave the WiFi list.

4.14.1

• A playback bar at the bottom of the screen: with a WVC base station, it has the previous, play/pause and next buttons. On an Android phone, it can also show the song that is playing and a Song list button. See Playback Controls.
• Song list: see the songs coming up on your phone, and play any of them. This needs the LF Audio app on an Android phone. Update your base station and the app too. See Song list.
• See where you are in the song: on an Android phone, the bar shows how far into the song you are. Tap the song name to open Now Playing. See Now Playing.
• Move through the song: on an Android phone, if your music app allows it, hold previous or next to jump 10 seconds. On Now Playing, you can also drag the slider, or tap back 10 or forward 10. See Where you are in the song.
• The song name, the time, Now Playing and moving through the song need Song list on in the app. They also need the latest base station firmware.
• The bar shows only when Playback is On in Settings and your phone is connected to your base station. After the update, Playback may be Off. To see the bar, open Settings and set Playback to On.
• When there is only one tab, the tab bar hides and the view gets the space.
• When the Song list button is hidden, the other buttons sit in the middle.
• The equalizer icon moves while a song plays.
• Forget Base and Factory Reset now show both choices right away, with Cancel highlighted first.
• Smart Home and other menu screens no longer go blank when some rows go away.

4.12.3

• Set up your system from the display: with a WVC base station, the Advanced menu now has Pair WVC, Channel Groups, Pair Knob, and Smart Home. See Menus and Settings.
• Mute with one tap: swipe up to open the volume arc, then tap the number in the middle. Tap it again to bring your levels back. See Mute.
• Pick the Auto Swap views: with Auto Swap on, Settings lists each view, so you can hide the ones you do not want in the cycle.
• Competition Mode keeps working while the screen sleeps: on a battery-equipped display in Competition Mode, the screen still sleeps. But the display stays connected to the base station, so your system does not mute or turn down. See Sleep.
• Clip Detection is now in Base Settings for a WVC-PRO or WVC-PRO 6.
• RCA gain for each channel: with RCA Gain on, Base Settings now has a gain row for every channel, on up to 4 base stations.
• Groups 9 and up keep playing: on a system with more than 8 channel groups, changing a group's volume on the display no longer sets groups 9 and up to 0.
• The right level for groups that follow a higher group: a channel group set to follow group 9 or higher now shows the right level on the Volume view.
• Easier to read with many groups: the Volume view puts the faders in two rows when one row is too tight, so the names have more room. Tapping a fader still opens the volume arc for that group.
• Clearer message when an update fails on weak WiFi: when a weak signal is the likely cause, the screen now says so and tells you to move closer to your router. See If the Update Fails.
• Back on the first tap: after you scroll a settings screen, one tap on the title at the top now goes back.
• Fixes a rare restart while the display searches for a base station.
• Searching for devices several times in a row with a High Precision Voltmeter nearby no longer leaves the display unable to connect to it.

How Updates Work

The WDD-LITE asks LF Audio's update server which firmware version applies to its hardware. The server returns one of three responses: a new firmware build to install, an "up to date" confirmation if no newer build is published, or a "try again later" response if the device has been checking too frequently. Each is reflected on screen. If a newer build is available, it is downloaded and verified before it is installed, so an interrupted download never leaves the device with a broken image.

The LF Audio app also shows firmware changelogs so you can see what is new in each update.