A smarter way to update OpenTX SD card contents? 

If you are interested in a true 2-way synchronization, look into rsync or (for Windows only) robocopy. The OpenTX "sync" just copies files over and updates them if they are newer or the contents changed. If files have been deleted in the source, OpenTX "sync" will not delete them in the destination. FWIW this is the reason I have always avoided this method and just copy over the new contents to an empty SD, then set up any custom stuff manually.

Joshua thank you for doing what you do. I am disabled and live in the middle of no where. Learning lots from your posts. If I ever get back on my feet going to send my love and support your way.

Hi Josh, been watching your videos for a long time, just wanted to say you are a legend in my book, I look up to you as a source of inspiration and want you to know how much I appreciate your videos and effort and will support you in any way I can 😎

Your videos are so professionally made, your information properly structured and your presentation is soo good for all types of audiences. Superb !!!

You made my morning JB I love the little squirm , I am going to do this today, thankyou.

You are a saver of my sanity. I kcuffed about all weekend after upgrading to opentx 2.4.14 and had stupid errors. The reason was that I had totally messed-up the sdcard contents update. Your method worked very well taking the card out of the TX16 and plugging it into the computer. I am now a subscriber and not far from forking out some dosh in your direction. [I will get over it...probably.]

Pretty interesting indeed! Thanks, Joshua! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

Oh those reactions to yourself and inside jokes are a joy to watch! Someone who does not always take himself too seriously, but who knows his business.

Now I know what that button does. Thanks for taking the dive for me.

Thank you once again you saved the day

Thanks I can use this when i will try to update my jumper t lite.

with the companion you can decide how it synchronises - both ways, one way etc...

You did everything correctly minus deleting the language packs you did it on the radio side should have done on the new firmware update side located on your computer and also the SD card in the radio so when it does synchronize they're missing from both and there is nothing to sync. Hope this helps

Hey Joshua, thanks for these! Quick question, when should I upgrade my radio? Dunno if updating OpenTx is the same as updating the radio firmware, pretty pretty new to fpv.

Great video man didn’t knew that

I have done it that way for awhile. It does synchronize them, just not in the way you are thinking. It takes the new contents and makes sure the SD card matches. Delete the language packs before starting from the new contents. It doesn't take from the SD and update the new. I am not sure what the best word would be. It makes sure the SD has the newest date for each file between the two locations

Hey Josh! Thanks for the great content as usual 👍 your "Joshua Bardwell's kwadbox shirt " on Rotor Riot's website is that you with the mohawk?

What happens if you have an alternate sound pack? The file names are the same. I would expect the custom sounds to get overwritten. The last update I seem to remember some of the files being moved around. I have to wonder if the “sync” would end up with the old and new versions on the card because the names and/or locations had changed.

Well if it did a Tru sync it would have deleted all your custom files as well... And that would have been a bad thing. I did not know about this tool but I always put the sd card into my PC when doing this and just dragging the new stuff over... doesn't take that long. not an hour for sure. so basically will perform the same thing as windows but might skip files with same size and date!?! Or what sync criteria is been used?

Love the peacock dance in the beginning haha

It is synchronizing the files you downloaded, all of the language files were downloaded so it synced them too, it mirrors the source as it should.

I guess it's fine... translation, ok it's faster and avoids the issues when doing it the way "we" always have but I hate being told Im wrong when technically there is no wrong or right in this scenario. Your the man JB thanks as always!

I always put the SD card in my computer and copy the new contents over to it using the merge option ( not the replace option ). It just copies the newer or modified files over leaving everything else intact. Simples.

I don't know how you do it. I avoid making comments yet alone make videos due to the inevitable annoyance of people responding with nonsense. Thanks jb

Wouldn't a true sync delete your custom files?

I manually move over just the folders I need and it's very quick, even plugged into the radio. That said, I use Amber so am not moving sounds which is, I guess, what takes all the time.

I use on the Mac SyncFolder… does the same.

It sync the folders and files that is the same name as the source and target. Any extra files in target will be remain intact but any missing in target will be added according to the source. If you delete the sounds folder on both source and target, then you will not see that appear again in target radio.

I keep a local copy of the content and sync it with the SD card. Since I run Linux, I use the Krusader file manager for this. On Windows, Total Commander will provide the same functionality. I prefer this to an automated rsync process, since sometimes I want to keep certain files or only update or remove selected files. It’s still annoying and usually the reason I hesitate, when it comes to upgrading OpenTX.

Do you know what is strange, i don't own a racing quad, but I always love watching your videos, always smash the like button, I just like to try and learn you know. When your son gets older, he will be great at FPV, awesome, Good Job 👍 👊 from the UK, I do own a DJI Mini 2, that's fun, but I would love a nazgul 6s, all day long.

Lmao the wink before intro 😂

Hi Josh Great video on the openTX, I just don't know enough about computers to get myself out of trouble when something goes wrong. And it always does, I just tried to download Betaflight for my phone, so I don't have to take my computer to the field. I couldn't even get that to work. Thanks again for the video and information.

I have two taranis xd9 plus tx . In one I broke the usb connection while racing on a racing simulator but was able to use a wireless connection to still practice on the sim. I want to update that broken tx with open TX so I can have crossfire on it. Can I take the sd card out and load everything not using the usb connection then put it back in and it’s good to fly or if not can I take the sd card out of my good TX put the sd card from the bad usb one in good tax load everything in it and be good to fly crossfire in both transmitters ? Basically I want them both to use crossfire. Thanks , on a side note I’m so freeking computer stupid my head hurts but I do astrophotography acquisition completely on a laptop . That was insane to learn and took over a year . Hope is not a good plan.

Its quicker if you take the sd card out of the radio and put it directly in your computer!

I have the Radio X9d ACCST, but my laptop does not recognize it, it only sounds when I connect and StM32 BOOTLOADER appears below but the radio or the SD card does not appear, I want to update my Radio, how can I solve this I have Windows 7

Is there a video on the best widgets for openTX

when you do this does it wipe out your model setups?

I cant even get my Xlight pro to connect to 3 different computers and cant find a single answer to my issue and how to fix it on line. I have tried updating drivers and trying any way to get it to pop up on my computers with different cords as well with no luck. The radio says its connected and also asks to open it as a joystick or a usb ssd and clicking either on the radio does nothing on the computers

I have a QX7 2.2.0. Why should I update? It works now and if I try to update, there is a chance that it will no longer work.

Hey! I have the Jumper T-Pro and I've already put the SD card contents onto the SD card, but they're not showing up on the radio! At least when I go to tools the only option is "Spectrum (INT)" - can anyone help?

Usually quicker to do it manually, because you dont have to go through the hassle of replacing all the custom files the sync has removed.

Is open TX and Edge TX the same thing or different?

I tried this and the process freezes up around 1400 files every time. Had to do it manually. Now if I plug my radio tx16s in to usb both joystick or storage mode the radio shuts off and goes into emergency mode. I reflashed to 2.3.14 but still have same issue. Went to a nightly build 2.3.12n5 and no issues there...

Sync may have an issue between file dates on destination card and local drive. If FILE/System DATE comparison option is OFF then sync may have Source or Destination Priority or conflict issue. To be sure you want to delete other Lang sound files, you may have to delete BOTH on Source and Destination BEFORE you sync again. HOWEVER, if sync time is an issue, deleting Lang sound files should not impact sync times too much. Sync or Replicate should only change FILES of DIFFerence, either on Source or Destination. Make sure you understand the difference between BACKUP and SYNC and Replication.

Hey Joshua I have a problem with my FrSky Horus x12s. I made a little video an would like to send it to you. My Horus crashes all the time. Do you know that problem?

Thx a lot. I still think that the update from OpenTX itself, should also update the filesystem... Every other software update system that I know, works like that... But anyway, this is an improvement. I no longer have to be afraid to loose settings.

i checked and you can customize the direction of file transfer so it stops copying folders back into the folder on your pc EDIT: you also have to add hello.wav to the excludes list if you want to keep your startup sound

Sir joshua is there any way to download old opentx firmware versions?

привет, Я купил jumper tprov2 и пытался обновить прошивку встроенного модуля elrs, ничего не получалось, Я решил обновить прошивку как в инструкции. Я получил отзеркаленый экран.. что делать подскажите

If you have the Amber sound pack installed on your SD card, will this synchronizing overwrite the Amber sounds? Or do they have different file names altogether?

Does this work for EdgeTx?

Or how I found out that you can update your bootloader when a new update comes out from Opentx

EdgeTX Companion File/Synchonize SD ->Sync. Direction is were you decide what and which.

Whats improved in the update -my TX16 is working ok with previous & ive heard alot of problems after updating - i might get a new 32g card and do this then and copy my models over that took forever to setup? My basic theory is if it aint broke dont fix it 😝

That’s very smart! Reduce number of write on SD cards.

Joshua, i love the videos. i watched the diatone roma f5 video and purchased one and loveit. i just bought the v2 version and cannot get it to work . im bound to reciever and it wont talk to flight controller radiomaster radio frsky reciever xsr. i also have rxsr but cant get it to bind. frustrating . im fairly new to quads ,i have some emax freestyle s and the tinyhawk too. im really stuck . what do you sugest?

good video

Does this work with EdgeTX?

you'll bet that i updated my SD card contents, my tx and rx yesterday... dammit joshua... 24 hours late mate! haha

i just put the SD card in my USB card reader, than copy all files into the folder and if its ask to overwrite an file, I will click yes. So my files stay in place and it goes really fast over an normal USB SD card reader.

Here was me expecting the new method to be a git checkout and pull to update. That would be a true synchronization and you could backup your scripts via a local branch. Oh well.

Look at the options you had both directions selected

How necessary to update the sd card?

I noticed that your have downloaded version 2.3.14 open tx, have you had a problem with windows reporting an error when searching for an update. also I have problems with this update and wanted to roll back to version 2.3.13 but could not find anywhere on the internet on how to do this. I also tried to find out how to do a "full factory reset" but no luck. Thanks for you help.

Hi, im Joshua Bardwell. And today im going to learn something...Lol

why has everyone including myself updated their radio yesterday before you made this video xD

I think we can use sync directions. But this doesn't remove files it seems

I watched your edge TX video then you posted this. Does that mean after flashing Edge TX for the video you switched back to Open TX? If so, why?

..so you learned something today .. ;o)

What if some audio file was updated and it updates on top of your custom one? 🤔 I rather keep doing it manually, I copy all my custom models, scripts, images... To the new downloaded folder on the computer, and then I copy everything to the sd card and everything will already be there. (delete everything from the sd card before copying over and do a backup before if you want to be safe)

Failed, AGAIN, I have a couple of leads & they all work, but my radio never goes into USB mode. Pulled SD card & tried to update direct in laptop using 'Sync' method. Didnt update my radio & I dont know why, looks like it only 'updated' the Companion. All sync settings were same as yours. STILL stuck on version 2.1.6 since I bought my Taranis x9D+se new. NEED LUA scripts so I can get this blasted Crossfire to bind to an old secondhand quad & rx & then update it, I HOPE... Please JB, can you help me? Ive been banging my head on this wall for two years now!

I know you’ve heard this 1000 times but I’ve been doing this for years ever since Bruce Simpson introduced me to open TX! How did you not know this??😂

Top 👍👌

Just change sync direction. Much faster only from computer to radio.

It can't sync the files you've deleted because it doesn't know if it was made by purpose or not

I found an app for android to " move sd card " files or contents from sd cards to internal memory or from internal memory to sd card . It kind of copied everything in the phone to the sd card and photos and files and dcm, download , documrnts , haystack , computer stats , kitchen sink , bthrm sinc , all transferred but it worked . Even jb voice files showed up .

you didnt realise about the "direction" drop downs so that it only syncs in one direction? :D

I remove the SD from the radio and use a 2 step process where I first sync the new sd contents with a local copy of the SD in my hard drive and then sync with the SD itself. I do this for 2 reasons: 1) if something happens with the SD I already have a fresh copy available and 2) Keeps the SD image used by companion fresh. I use rsync for that instead of relying on Companion.

Thanks but no I won't ever let a program choose which files remove update or whatever. Sync is good if it perfectly works and it works exactly as you expect. Otherwise it's better doing things manually whehter you unplug from your tx its card and put into a reader or plug your tx to your pc directly

wait you guys don't just take the sd out and plug it straight into the computer?

Time for a rebrand? fpvknowsalot? :D j/k

In that case, you should delete both original sd card and the new downloaded language before you sync.

I keep hearing about this supposed pre-installed SD card.

Hmm

When looking to the SDcard content most files on the new SD card are empty and often the rest is nearly similar. The reason for update is for me unclear and maybe the developers could give a hint which files are necessary for working together with the new OpenTx version. I confess sometime I only copy the new opentx.sdcard.version on my SD card in my transmitter.

just rename?

Arm your quads

$ rsync -avu /from/somewhere/ /to/over/here rsync - Initial release: June 19, 1996; 25 years ago Edit: JB mentions this in his PINNED comment, that I neglected to read in my haste, TINYwhoops

I reckon your gonna keep doing it the same way you've done before..........

give credit where credit is due...

I really done see thre need to always update the sdcard content. From my observation, it's just looking for the correct file name and nothing seems to be important at all to have. I've seen radios run without them and I don't ever see anything significant in any of the folders on every fresh, updated download that's critical to have. It's just a waste of time.

I can do it faster the old way, manually populating the folders...As for that SD card Synchronizing....jeez, really?...😳😳😳🙄🙄🙄😀🇬🇧

first

your only synchronizing files that are changing. If it deleted files that were not on the sd card, then all your customer scripts and sounds and widgets etc would get deleted lol. Are you for real? You would completely void all of the benefits that this provides.

Still not a very efficient or smart way. There are a plethora of free tools and utilities out there that perform actual file sync. This video is what happens when a 'drone guy' tries to do 'computer guy' stuff. Thank goodness he *doesn't* do more 3D printer videos.

really, is this a joke, the fpv knowitall didnt know this, mate your years behind alot of the time, yawn!