[RE-wrenches] Any OpticsRE outage updates, and firmware archives erased from website?

Sat May 31 06:06:18 PDT 2025

Hello Dan,

Typically a reboot has been working to get Optics back up for most of my
clients.  What do you see on the port screen?  Is the router assigning an
IP address?  Continually connecting?

Regarding tech support with Outback, the most effective way to work with
them now is the website tech support chat on their website (lower right
corner).  They can send you links to the firmware through that.  I'm
not sure why they don't have it easily accessible on the website anymore.
It would be nice to know what the overall strategy is going to be with
Outback.

Victron's remote monitoring works really, really well.  I have just added
smarts to very old systems (such as Trace systems) by adding smart shunts,
perhaps a charge controller, and handing over generator start duties to the
Victron Cerbo (or Ekrano).  This allows you to track battery voltage, SOC,
remote generator start control, but put off getting a new inverter.

In my opinion, Victron occupies the sweet spot of taking the best of the
older inverters (surge), ability to work with lead acid (shunts) and
integrating the good new stuff (closed loop comms with many
different Lithium batteries) and probably has the best generator starting
logic/options that I've seen.  Their weakness is complexity of install and
piecing together UL listing top to bottom.

On Fri, May 30, 2025 at 10:28 PM Dan Fink via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Esteemed Wrenches -  Thank you so much. Your help from my previous post
> here a couple months ago after the first unannounced OpticsRE outage solved
> the problem on my remote, off-grid client's system...new SD card (system
> events showing corrupted SD card), fresh firmware on it, Mate 3S firmware
> update, and connected within 5 minutes. Flawless for a couple months until
> the most recent OpticsRE failure.
>
> Some of you have spoken of at least some portion of your OpticsRE sites
> returning to service recently, with many just needing a manual reboot. Not
> working here, I'm onsite again, 5 hours drive one way, and thank Dog the
> client lets me stay here overnight.
>
> I've tried all the usual tricks today, fresh SD card, mint firmware for
> update, factory Mate3S reset, reboot the DSL service (no issues since the
> RESOL Vbus solar hot water data has been flawless on the same router). I
> was going to try a revert to previous firmware version, but all the
> archives have...disappeared.
>
> What disturbs me tonight is that on arrival here today I figured I'd just
> download the latest Mate3S  firmware update from the Outback website and
> stick it on the fresh SD card, to be absolutely sure it was current and
> bugs fixed and......it appears all Mate3S firmware updates, AND the
> firmware archive past versions, have been removed from their website. All
> that shows on those pages is an invitation to join their mailing list.
>
> Can anyone else confirm that NO Mate3S firmware, new or old, is available
> from Outback anymore? I assume they just want it to die a silent death
> because they are in too far over their heads to make it work?
>
> My client is pissed off. I am pissed off. They don't answer their tech
> support phones or return calls. They don't reply to tech support emails. Is
> this a death spiral for Outback? Are the new young solar bros who bought
> the place in over their heads? Do they not care about tech support (EG4
> tech support was arrogant and treated me like I didn't know shit, even
> though I've been installing and supporting off-grid systems before they
> were born)? EG4 had flippant tech support because most of their customers
> were DIY, You-Tube certified installers.
>
> Don't you dare apply that attitude to my NABCEP- and IREC-certified
> company, new Outback solarbros. We graybeards all know why the company got
> the name "Outback."
>
> On lighter note, anyone know how to just rewire all the Flexnet DC shunts
> and add more to to the FM80s, and what equipment to buy to have sort of
> reliable remote monitoring for an off-grid system? Can Victron do it? They
> have been very responsive to me for tech support but these would be
> complete rewires of all the shunts and adding new ones as the MX CCs don't
> have them individually.
>
> I apologize for the vitriol, but my very patient client is at the end of
> his rope, as are many other of my clients, and so am I.
> Recent comments from clients -  "In over their heads." "Bit off more than
> they can chew." "You can see the water swirling down the toilet bowl." "A
> bunch of T-ball toddlers trying to play hardball." "Solar Bros who want to
> replace the old Lexus with a Buggati...but forgot it don't work on a dirt
> road." "Trying to haul 2 tons of bullshit in a Cybertruck." "So the
> purveyors of cheap Chinese solar crap now say Outback will be built in the
> USA? BS." And on and on.
>
> Dan Fink
> Owner, Buckville Energy Consulting LLC
> IREC Certified Instructor for PV and Small Wind Installation
> NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector
> NABCEP PV Associate
> d <dan.fink at greendustrialtraining.com>anbob88 at gmail.com
> 970-672-4342
>
>
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-- 

Mac Lewis

*"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*
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