Hi

 

I have recently purchased a 60 plate Octavia Elegance which has a Columbus unit (20GB HDD)

 

I wish to update the unit to the latest firmware, however I cannot find the version, when I press and hold the setup button I just get the AM and FM options in the Mode Service Radio menu (No system information option).

 

Can anyone please offer any advice on what I can do in order to upgrade this, I am not sure what firmware I can use and don't wish to brick the unit. I presume it is the RNS5210 but again, I have no way of finding out any information about the unit at all.

 

Any help or advice would be much appreciated

 

Regards

 

DJC.

You'll need VCDS to activate the developer menu. Do you have radio text on the unit? If you're listening to the radio you get a message where the station presets are displayed telling you what the song etc. is. You might need to select this in "Extras" (from memory).

If you have radio text then there's nothing much to update for. There's no visible benefit or particular speed improvement which can be gained from updating.

 

Maps could be updated fairly easily.

Hi Freedom.

 

Thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that I needed to upgrade to get full postcode navigation? At the moment I can only do partial postcode.

 

I have the text showing presets etc, posted a couple of links to pics I have taken.

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByfH0L1lPCv6dlBVNUJZb3NYOGs

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByfH0L1lPCv6YzlxOER3eE1KdWs

 

I have just downloaded firmware 5238: 

 

1. Everyone can use firmware 5238 and newest maps
-> You can always use firmware 5238 on any device from 2005 to October 2013 (with HDD). *Hardware C3-C12*.
-> You can update directly to 5238 with no need for an update in between.
-> There are no exceptions to this, no matter what anybody else says

 

I am also in the process of downloading V12 maps:

 

RNS510 / RNS810 CD8195 V12 DVD Westeurope

 

Let me know your thoughts?

 

Many thanks IA

 

Regards

 

DJC

You appear to be sorted then.

Thanks again Freedom.

 

The firmware I found (the bullets I pasted in were from where I found the firmware, not my own comments..) appears to be the latest I can safely use and the maps were the latest I could find, but I am in no way sure that this firmware and maps will work with my unit.

 

So I take it with your last post you wouldn't have any concerns with the data I have found?

 

Regards

 

DJC.

My Superb was built in Nov 2011 and as a '61 plate is about a year younger than yours. The Columbus (Delivery Part Number 3T0035680E) was originally at 'Software Version' (i.e. Firmware) 3984 and Map Version (i.e. Software) 7690 - which is v8.0 - and had just been issued. I have updated it over the years and it is currently at firmware 5274 and maps 8195 (v12). 

As you have probably read the hard disk on earlier units was partitioned differently to later units and the latest maps 'may' not fit in the available space.

Try firmware 5238 but if it fails or refuses to install (there are checks made before it installs) then try 4120 which is a known safe version and will give you full postcodes and reformatted hard disk.

Maps are not dependant on a particular firmware level - apart from the formatting issue - although they do get slightly larger with each version. We are expecting v13 in the next month or so.

PS: If you haven't found it already then...

http://www.my-gti.com/3868/volkswagen-rns-510-firmware-download-repository

...is a very useful site.

Remember that the firmware and maps are common to VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda and Bentley.  

Just to help you out in future, the chap who answered your original question is called rustynuts. Freedom is a membership subscription (more info: http://www.briskoda.net/freedom ) so quite a few of us will have that in our profiles

 

I also suggest checking what hardware you actually have before attempting to update the firmware.

 

While I'm sure there is a good chance your unit can take the 5238 firmware, it might save a expensive mistake...

Hi

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

Sorry Rustynuts, I'm new to this forum and didn't read the thread properly....... 

 

I haven't tried the firmware update as yet, is there anyway of knowing what hardware I actually have? I can't get any information from the device, and I don't fancy removing it from the console to check the back of it for any S/N stickers etc. Is there any other way of enabling the system version menu other than VCDS? I see that people say you need VCDS to enable this, but from what I can tell you need to connect a lappy to the ECU using vag-com cable as well as the relevant software. seems a little overkill to get all the equipment I need to do this just to upgrade the firmware and maps.

 

I'm still downloading the V12 maps, slow process as I can only donwload about 5 rars a day from the link I have and there is 22 of them...... Any idea if I can update the maps from SD card or do I have to burn to a DL DVD (providing the unit I have can read this kind of DVD.....

 

I'm sure the internet used to be easier and better for finding stuff like this and downloading it....

 

Regards

 

DJC

To find out the current hardware the choices are limited to:

- removing it and reading the label (this really is very simple to do)

- press and hold the setup button for about 30 seconds (only works with test mode enabled)

- use VCDS to read the information from the columbus

 

I'd definitely choose option number 1, it means you can see what the unit started off as rather than what software has since been installed and only takes five minutes. The trim pulls off and there are 4 screws to undo, possibly T20?

 

Otherwise, I'd check the VCDS owners map and see if someone local will plug in for you. Good list of owners can be found:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/224376-vcds-owners-map/

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/262215-list-of-vcds-owners-previously-known-as-vag-com/

Hi Langers.

 

You were right, it really was simple to do, first time I've used my phone repair tool kit and security bit set for a while........

 

So, on the Label we have:

 

3T0 035 680 A

HW: H42

SW: 2724

VD1

 

 

So looks like the same unit the guy in this thread has:

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/298284-guide-upgrading-columbus-firmware-and-maps/

 

So guess at the least I can install firmware 4120.

 

Still looking for a definitive answer on the latest firmware I can use on this unit. 

 

I have downloaded so far:

 

RNS510-5238A-josi-VIM-Testmode 

EU_4020a_noru_70_25_5

 

I will download 4120 as well at some point. I am still downloading the V12 maps, damn it's a long process......

 

I have just found this info on this link:

 

http://vwforum.ro/topic/40393-rns-510-columbus/page-145

 

Volkswagen RNS 510 Hardware and Software (firmware) Versions

HW Vehicle: 0xC001 – HW Radio: 0003

C3/C4

1T0 035 680 (1T0035680)

1T0 035 680 A (1T0035680A)

Firmware version (when hardware last produced): 1200

Firmware version (unmodified releases): 1200

Firmware version (modified releases): 5238

HW Vehicle: 0xC201 – HW Radio: 0004

 

let me know if you think I will be OK with 5238 on my unit, or what the latest version of firmware you believe is compatible.

 

Regards

 

DJC

Hi

 

So I have (finally) downloaded V12 maps (CD_8195).

 

All I need to do now is get some DVDR+DL or DVDR-DL media and burn it, then once I've confirmed the latest possible firmware I can use, burn that, then I am good to go I think. I have still not found out what the difference is between 4xxx and 5xxx firmware versions.

 

One thing is I am sure my unit has a 20GB HDD (Unless it is a 30 with a reserved partition). When I look at HDD space, I think it says 18GB or something, so it could tie in with a 30GB HDD with a 60% music partition (60/35/5 ratio maybe?) in which case I am not sure whether to go for:

 

Firmware 4120 for units in Europe with HDD ratios 60/35/5

 

or:

 

RNS510 firmware 4120 modified for Europe (this one is a 70/25/5 ratio)

 

Also if I have only 2 partitions currently I am not sure the 5238 FW will give me the 3 partitions I probably need for the new maps.

 

I am also now considering swapping the HDD for an SSD. Not sure the wife will sign my time off to spend on that one though.......

 

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/f78/rns-510-hdd-replacement-ssd-swap-diy-60984.html?s=4b5ce033138b8146e3ff2b9d0e515aa7

 

Possibly the best (safest) course of action would be :

 

1 - Install Firmware 4120 for units in Europe with HDD ratios 60/35/5

2 - Install V12 Maps CD_8195

3 - Step away from the vehicle

 

Appreciate anyone thoughts on this before I undertake this task.

 

Regards

 

DJC

I'd probably try Firmware 4020 for older units in Europe with HDD ratios 60/35/5 to start.

 

This will give you more space for the maps and avoid an potential issues with the radio board and 4120+. I don't know anything about these issues but at least the site with these firmwares on suggests that 4120 may cause issues with radio hardware 003 which is what you look to have. Rustynuts really knows his stuff and can probably confirm this.

 

Another useful tool is here: http://www.christian-jeanin.ro/mapstool2/files/help/help.html

 

This will allow you to update from an SD card, you still need a single layer DVD to start the process but skips the double layer requirement.

Hi Langers.

 

Thanks for that, but I just noticed that above I pasted info about 1T0 035 680 A (which it says is radio version 0003) , where I have 3T0 035 680 A, so i have no idea what Radio version I have really.

 

I take it the firmware 4020 will have the secret menu enabled and I can find my radio version from there before deciding whether to go to anything higher or not?

 

Regards

 

DJC

Most firmwares seem to have the test mode and VIM enabled so I'd expect that to be the same. Just remember it will wipe out the maps and any music you have installed.

Hi Langers.

 

Tonight I went ahead and updated the unit with  EU_4020a_FW_60_35_5 

 

The only issue I had was a clamp state error:

 

‘a swl disk is detected but it is invalid because of clamp state. please switch clamp state to hour mode and re insert disk’ 

 

I read this was to do with having 12 hour clock not 24 hour clock set, though 24 hour clock was set and there was no option anywhere on the unit to change this....

 

In the end I restarted the unit pressing the Setup / Eject / Mic button and it eventually installed fine.

 

I then used the SD card method to update the V12 maps and this worked fine to, so all in all a success

 

Thanks you for your input and you to RustyNuts (again, sorry I got your name wrong earlier in the thread, I didn't mean to offend )

 

Thanks and Regards

 

DJC

Edited 9 September, 201510 yr by DJCUTS

Excellent news!

 

You should also be able to get into the test mode now and find out exactly what hardware you have, it might be useful to other people with the same unit.