Zectrix Note 4 / Note 4C Firmware v1.8.10

This release provides TRMNL firmware builds for the ESP32-S3 N16R8 versions of the Zectrix Note 4 and Note 4C.

Built from the latest commit on the zectrix branch:

8b753d06edb5db7066e5ebc4a99a05bf46cb9e1f

Supported devices

Device	Display	Firmware files
Zectrix Note 4	Black-and-white 400×300	zectrix-note4-*
Zectrix Note 4C	Four-color 400×300	zectrix-note4c-*

Warning

These images support only the ESP32-S3 N16R8 versions of the Zectrix Note 4 and Note 4C. Do not flash an image intended for a different device or hardware revision.

Which file should I use?

Each device has two firmware images:

• merged-firmware.bin contains the bootloader, partition table, and application. Use it for the first TRMNL installation or a complete reinstall. Flash it at address 0x0.
• firmware.bin contains only the application. Use it only to update a device that already has this Zectrix TRMNL firmware and partition table installed. Flash it at address 0x20000.

Use the Note 4 image for a Note 4 and the Note 4C image for a Note 4C. The display drivers are different and the images are not interchangeable.

Back up the factory firmware

Before installing TRMNL firmware for the first time, put the device into ESP32-S3 ROM download mode and back up the complete 16 MB factory flash:

esptool --chip esp32s3 --port PORT read-flash \
  0x0 0x1000000 zectrix-original-16mb.bin

Keep this backup in a safe place. It is required if you want to restore the original Zectrix firmware later.

Replace PORT with the device serial port.

First installation or complete reinstall

Flash the appropriate merged image at address 0x0.

For Zectrix Note 4:

esptool --chip esp32s3 --port PORT write-flash \
  0x0 zectrix-note4-v1.8.10-merged-firmware.bin

For Zectrix Note 4C:

esptool --chip esp32s3 --port PORT write-flash \
  0x0 zectrix-note4c-v1.8.10-merged-firmware.bin

Keep the physical power button pressed until the newly installed firmware starts for the first time.

If the device powers off unexpectedly, reconnect USB or hold the power button, enter ROM download mode again, and repeat the flashing process.

Updating an existing installation

If the device already runs this Zectrix TRMNL firmware with the included partition table, the application-only image can be written at address 0x20000.

For Zectrix Note 4:

esptool --chip esp32s3 --port PORT write-flash \
  0x20000 zectrix-note4-v1.8.10-firmware.bin

For Zectrix Note 4C:

esptool --chip esp32s3 --port PORT write-flash \
  0x20000 zectrix-note4c-v1.8.10-firmware.bin

Do not use the application-only image for the first installation because the factory partition layout may be incompatible.

After flashing

1. Restart the device while holding the physical power button until the firmware starts.
2. Connect to the TRMNL Wi-Fi setup portal.
3. Configure Wi-Fi and connect the device to your TRMNL server.
4. Confirm that the display completes its first refresh.
5. Allow the device to enter deep sleep and verify that it wakes normally.

A Note 4C refresh can take more than ten seconds. This is normal for its four-color e-paper panel.

Limitations

• Automatic upstream TRMNL OTA updates are disabled for these targets to prevent incompatible firmware from being installed.
• Only the Home / OK button is currently mapped to the TRMNL single-button interaction model.
• The factory Zectrix firmware is not included in this release.

SHA-256 checksums

64309d4ad87e554398b3c52aafdba9ae1696bdd8f3c0c32a961639d5b937c279  zectrix-note4-v1.8.10-firmware.bin
e90ed8dc765ab982469bd9863e3c8b3654325a78c758f6830d593c56a9747223  zectrix-note4-v1.8.10-merged-firmware.bin
c799dff67e692d307c415f2c1bfc34e18ff14c7f1e94d18b047f5282539c09ab  zectrix-note4c-v1.8.10-firmware.bin
c032d0d07cb4c00d21fe10918ba0dc3f9cb34796720c04c745f9997c23fe8f74  zectrix-note4c-v1.8.10-merged-firmware.bin

References

• TRMNL Firmware
• ZecTrix Website