I've just received a notification on my inverter to update my Dongle Chipset and to use Givinstaller to do so.
I downloaded Givinstaller but can't sign in, which I think is because I am not an GE installer.
Why am I receiving this message if I cant do the update?
Do you have a problem with the Wifi connection? My inverter is in the same room as my Google Nest router so is always connected and 100% reliable, so I won't be updating.
Stevef1964 You don't need to sign in. There's a button on the bottom left to update the dongle chipset.
Might be worth having a browse of this thread first: https://community.givenergy.cloud/d/5350-givinstaller-app-should-we-be-using-it/29
My dongle update appeared to go well, but then the dongle wouldn't reboot; I went through the process again and it then worked.
My experience. I could not get it to work so had to start connection from scratch and then I installed the wifi chipset by downloading the image file from the GivEnergy website and logging into the dongle from my laptop using the address assigned by my router.
The update worked that way OK
https://community.givenergy.cloud/d/5288-givinstaller-dongle-firmware-update
App didn't work for me either - just said something like 'failed because of an error', no hint as to what the error might have been. I don't think the steps required were presented clearly enough - was never quite sure which WiFi I should be connected to.
Thanks to the links above, I got hold of the image file then logged in to the dongle using a browser (it says M2M Web Server) and updated the dongle going through Device Management - Update Firmware - Browse - Apply.
Had to juggle between connecting to the dongle SSID and my home WiFi, but I've wrestled with this before so knew what to expect.
Device Management page says I'm on 5.05T.19(Boot:V1.1.3) now
same here, though what that has done - no idea
I got that message too (also as a phone notification from the app). I wasn't aware that my old '2209' gen1 inverter dongle could be updated.
alan_johnston
Nor was I, but it updated (dont know what it did) my Gen1 Hy5.0 dongle chipset
nophead I’m in the same place, inverter works OK, I do get occasional rejected commands from givtcp which may be due to a wifi issue, but they are rare so I don’t feel the need to rock the boat and potentially break it when upgrading.
Did receive a second notification to upgrade today via the app.
geoffreycoan Seems to have gone from "Experiencing wifi problems?" to "Why Update your Dongle Chipset?" in two days.
After years of silence on dongle updates I can't help wondering what's going on.....
Edit - only thing I can think of on a chipset that old is they've changed it so it'll try to re-auth rather than sulk if it gets booted first time. That would probably allow it to work with the WPA3->WPA2 fallback mechanism which the latest ISP routers use. It'd also help with meshing.
Vestas Hmm, but for me, my dongles all connect to the mesh network and I generally haven't had any connection issues ( 🤞 ) so it would be a big risk to do the update (presumably for each inverter?)
CW I'm not advocating anything, just speculating 🙂
I am not at home for a month, so too risky to try updating anything in case it needs a manual intervention. And it would be very difficult for me to attach to Dongle's AP. I would have to do it remotely via a Raspberry Pi that had both Ethernet and Wifi. Should be possible but not trivial.
why is this not available in Ireland?
Brexit ?!
I have a slightly different problem. Did the update OK and entered in my home wifi details. Although the update seemed to work It didn't connect to my home wifi and when I connect to the dongles local wifi it doesn't recognise the local password. This I assume is the case sensitive serial number of the dongle but no avail. Anyone else seen similar?
Turn off any 5gHz on router until connected
Hi Steve. I have a specific 2.4GHz net for the dongle to sit on. Not my first rodeo ;-)
But the problem is I can't access the MDM web server as 1) it's not come up on my home net and 2) the local dongle wifi password is not working so I can't recover it that way.
Done the dongle reset procedure many, many times now so a bit stuck.
GeoffAlder
Sorry I am not an expert in this field.
I have had the same issues and just followed as many post as i could find until sucess.
What actually fixed things - pass
geoffreycoan Same. Not touching mine, it's worked perfectly for nearly 4 years.
SteveCook No problem and thanks for trying to help. Always worth asking in case someone has worked it out. The dongle is really old tech even back when the inverter was released. Glad the newer kit doesn't use it. It would be nice if they offered an upgraded part with hardwired ethernet on it though for us early adopters....
Seems Giv may have realised that mass spamming everyone when your support already can't cope is perhaps a bad idea.
Now it's being walked back a bit:
NO NOT USE THE GIVINSTALLER DONGLE UPDATE !!!
I tried the update last night and it's completely bricked the dongle - I can't even get the WiFi to show when searching for the dongle network. Nice work GivEnergy, and thanks for the regular spamming to test your rubbish software - the 5 minute upgrade wasted 3 hours and I now have a useless battery and I can't control the inverter or monitor it. :-/
Does anyone know how to reinstall the dongle image from scratch?
Thanks
Dave Hostick same issue here. Updated fine (?) via the GivInstaller app but now the dongle is not showing its SSID even after multiple 15 second button press resets. Weep.
Dave Hostick ditto 🙁
Dave Hostick You might want to restart the inverter. That may kick it into life, or if you are already in the hole - stop digging...
They have sent out a new message asking you not to use it, or call if you did and have problems
CW Call the support line which is closed "because of the storm last weekend"? Best of luck with that one 😉
Vestas I know - it's not good 😒
Translation - we've overloaded support with goosed fw updates right before Xmas.
(Given we sent out 2 different notifications on different days to everyone and only after it went pear shaped did we realise "oh noes, only meant a few of you")
I imagine installers have spent last 2 days with head in hands dealing with this for free...
I asked my installer about this update and he said that if there were any updates for my system then I should be able to instal them from the portal, not the GivInstaller app. He got in touch with GivEnergy who told him that I wasn't meant to receive the notifications to upgrade the dongle. I had already updated it through the portal at the beginning of December. I then received the same Notification in Error message as CW.
It does beggar belief that this happened - where is the testing of the comms? If it were supposed to be to a few affected individuals, then there should be a file with the relevent users in there, and the testing would test that that entire list were "notified" - obviously in a test system. You then roll that solution out to production.
I updated my wifi (via the wifi we pages)
I also noticed it renamed itself from giv-hy-a21 or equiv to Givenergy_abababababab (mac addresss)
hoggy I imagine installers have spent last 2 days with head in hands dealing with this for free...
They should tell the customer to get GE to sort it out as they caused it. Either that or the customer pays and takes it up with GE themselves.
This shouldn't be dealt with by ANY installer for free as its nothing to do with them, shonky f/w updates are the manufacturer's problem as they caused the issue.
Vestas oh yes definetly their (Givs) problem now. Just feel sorry for installers as it'll be another bunch of emails/phonecalls for them to bat off.
Dave Hostick
Dave
Take a look at my post elsewhere.
It may help
Regards
Steve
https://community.givenergy.cloud/d/5288-givinstaller-dongle-firmware-update/26
Dave Hostick Have you had any joy on reinstalling the files needed on the dongle?
I had been experiencing occasional wifi connection issues, so figured the firmware update would solve these. WRONG!
I too now have a bricked dongle - I've removed it from the inverter and inserted it onto a laptop and there's just a text file with the S/N of the dongle in it on there.
GivEnergy support have not got in touch, my installer is saying they can't help and that I need to speak to Giv support.
How many of us have bricked our WiFi BECAUSE GIV TOLD US TO, and are now left with non-functioning kit?
Any help from a Giv tech, a fellow end user or whoever can help is much appreciated!!
@SteveCook your method would work if the dongle was still able to broadcast its SSID, but mine is totally fubed as far as I can tell.
mrtnbcky Please see my post: https://community.givenergy.cloud/d/5288-givinstaller-dongle-firmware-update/31
I bought a new dongle and editted the MSN.txt file to change the S/N to the old dongle S/N (you can do this by plugging the new dongle in your PC). Put this back in the inverter and the WiFi should start up, where you can connect to it and configure it (make sure you change the SSID to the old dongle S/N).
My installer has advised me to claim the cost of the new dongle from givEnergy, when/if they eventually contact me.
Good luck,
Dave
GeoffAlder In case this helps anyone. I managed to recover my Dongle. I followed the reset procedure for maybe the 20th time and repeated the update, which this time went through and connected to my local wifi. Once connected to the built in web server I can see it has generated a complex passphrase to protect the local AP, which explains why I could not connect to it. I have made a note of all the dongle settings in case I have problems again.
I had just ordered a replacement dongle from tradesparky before this success, which I then cancelled.
Givenergy finally replied to my support request after a number of days and offered an engineer visit 2nd week in January, which I have stood down. I am glad I managed to recover it myself and I am sure a replacement dongle would also have worked and be better than having the battery out of action for a month.
Thank you so much for this!!
I must admit I'd not seen your other post, so thanks for the link. I had given up on GivEnergy getting back in touch with me at least this side of Christmas, and with the electricity needing to do some heavy lifting over the next few days.
I too decided to buy a new dongle online, which arrived today and I came back here to get that last smidge of advice about replacing the S/N in the MSN.txt file, and I'm back up and running with full control of my system.
This has been the single most shocking Customer Service experience I have ever suffered, and I shall wait intently to see how my request for some form of compensation is viewed (as you seem to concur) when/if GivEnergy deign to respond to my support request.
At least we're back up and running and at worst, £45 out of pocket.
Thanks again so so much!!!
You're very welcome - this is what this community is for.
I agree with you - givEnergy customer support is dire, but this is the same for most services these days: when it goes right, it's great, but when it doesn't? Well here we are. :-/
Dave
i seem to be in the same boat after 2+ years flawless. Found dongle flashing but dose not seem to broadcasting anything, even after pressing button reset multiple times. GE suggest i replace dongle which isn't covered by warranty obviously.
The installer is going to send another. Fingers crossed this resolves it. Ill let you know outcome for others benefit
G-dog GE suggest i replace dongle which isn't covered by warranty obviously.
Where does the documentation say that?
G-dog
That sound BS.
The inverter will not work without the dongle and it was GivEnergy design that had an external wifi dongle as opposed to an internal LAN port.
Sounds like a company trying to cut costs and when taken with other things it doesn’t sound great.
SteveCook Yeah I tend to agree. if your read warranty it says accessories are 12 mths. I think they are being unreasonable there tbh. Installer didnt mention payment for dongle so maybe they think same. finger crossed im stuck with no control or readings for inverter in the mean time.
G-dog An "accessory" is something optional. The inverter cannot be controlled by the user without a dongle so its not optional.
Very dodgy indeed.
Just an update for those searching similar dongle issue. My installers replacement dongle finally arrived today. Plugged it in and set up no problem. Glad it turned out to be was a corrupt / faulty dongle.