Installing using M1 Mac and VMWare Fusion/Parallels

[KD0RK]

Has anyone managed to install using an M1 Mac with either VMWare Fusion or Parallels? None of the drivers seem to load even changing amd64 to arm64. I've been able to successfully load drivers for other radios (different cable, of course). The DFU drivers seem to be the issue.

Thanks.

[N0PEU]

I am going to start with a disclaimer here. I do not have an Apple Silicon Mac

If you can configure VMware Fusion to emulate AMD64 and can boot Windows 10 AMD64 you are half way there.

Now when you connect the cable in DFU mode you are going to have to go to the USB sub menu of the Virtual Machine menu and select to connect the USB device to the VM. This should trigger found new hardware in Windows. If you get the STM in DFU mode device you can try flashing your radio.

Very important, do not let the Mac go to sleep while flashing or you may make a brick.

[KD0RK]

Thanks for chiming in! The problem is that it needs arm64 drivers or a way to use the built in drivers that I can modify for the USB PID.

[VK3KYY]

Thanks for chiming in! The problem is that it needs arm64 drivers or a way to use the built in drivers that I can modify for the USB PID.

The DFU driver to update firmware is from STMicro who make the CPU in the radio. Intel Windows has the driver built in, or it can be downloaded from ST's site. However STM may not have a ARM / M1 DFU driver.

You would need to contact STM via their support website

https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/su ... -home.html

[KD0RK]

You would need to contact STM via their support website

https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/su ... -home.html

Thanks! I've searched and haven't found an ARM64 driver. Contacting them is a good idea.

[W8SCL]

I use Parallels, but also have been unable to find an Arm driver for the STM chip. Apart from the firmware updates the CPS works flawlessly though.

You may want to give this driver a try if you're feeling adventurous. I haven't tried it yet so YMMV.

https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus- ... d-p/224127

[KB8YKF]

There are a lot of cheap N100/N95 based (Intel processor) miniPCs - https://www.reddit.com/r/MiniPCs/ is where I went for advice on what to get.

I ended up finding a quad-core N95 computer, 8GB RAM (soldered on) and 256GB NVMe (upgradable) on Amazon for $60. This is unusually low, it was just a right time/right place sort of thing. Currently the same computer is listed for $110. I use MacOS and Linux myself and run into needing to run some windows software a couple times a year, usually firmware updating tools for some piece of hardware.

https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Portable ... B0CKYWW721

I did run into some driver issues for the built-in Realtek microSD card reader after wiping Windows 11 and reinstalling it, I detailed my experience in one of the Amazon reviews. There is no support from the manufacturer. But its a shockingly nice computer and has lots of connectivity considering what I paid.

GMKtec, Beelink are brands I read about a lot.

[KC6WOG]

This is unusually low, it was just a right time/right place sort of thing. Currently the same computer is listed for $110.

It's crazy how prices can fluctuate like that from moment to moment. I just checked your link and now it's $160. Bezos is up to something!

Do you happen to know if the HDMI and DisplayPort outputs on this computer can be used simultaneously?

[KB8YKF]

It's crazy how prices can fluctuate like that from moment to moment. I just checked your link and now it's $160. Bezos is up to something!

Do you happen to know if the HDMI and DisplayPort outputs on this computer can be used simultaneously?

I checked and I still see $110 but I noticed it says "Exclusive Prime price" - which I've not noticed before. Do you know anyone with prime?

I just tried it out for you - two displays works great! One on the full size Displayport port, one on full size HDMI.

IMG_1567.jpg (195.72 KiB) Viewed 1170 times

[VK3KYY]

If you are installing from a blank PC etc, its probably better if use Windows 10 because it installs the correct DFU drivers automatically.

Even better, get hold of a copy of Windows 10 LTSB, and then you won't have any of the MS bloatware either