Hi Folks --
We just implemented the N-Scan contactless App and, as you may have seen on the forums, Motorola Zebra TCxx Android Devices have lots of scan issues (after a few scans, the scanner will just shut off) if you're running on an old build / OS or the original factory build / OS that came with the device.
Zebra's Knowledgebase does *not* make it easy to figure out how to upgrade or update the device to the latest build, so the team at Arsht put together a guide in the hopes that it saves everyone a few hours cobbling together how to figure out how to upgrade your device.
If you have any questions about how to use StageNow, I'd be happy to help out!
Best,
DGomez
Daniel, this is great! Thanks for sharing.
Having just tested an upgrade on a TC20 from Android Nougat (BSP 04.14.30 with LifeGuard Update 14) to Android Oreo (BSP 01.28.07 Full Image) and then to the latest LifeGuard Update for BSP 01.28.07 - LifeGuard Update 09, I can confirm that you do not need a factory reset when upgrade between Android versions. As noted above, you just need to first upgrade to the "Full Image" of the latest "BSP" (Build Support Package) and then apply the latest LifeGuard Update after the system has been upgraded.
I was just talking today to a coworker about how convoluted the Zebra documentation is for upgrades. I'm thankful you posted what you all figured out as we're about to do this as well. Thank you!
For our initial foray into contactless scanning with our first live performance, we had upgraded our TC20 devices to the latest LifeGuard version available for Android Nougat (7.x). We experienced some issues with scans going through slowly and with the N-Scan contactless app locking up on a green / successful screen.
Tonight, as we're scanning tickets for our second live performance, we went ahead and upgraded to the latest LifeGuard version for the most recent BSP for Android Oreo (8.x), and it so far appears to have solved those issues. Scanning is quick and we've had no lock-ups or issues with the N-Scan contactless app.
I now recommend that you upgrade to Android Oreo (8.x; or the latest Android version for your device), which requires installing the base Full image first, then upgrade to the latest LifeGuard update for that BSP.
Thanks for this! Am I understanding your notes correctly that if I'm already on Oreo (8.x) then I just need the LifeGuard update but that it's not as simple as downloading it onto the device? I'll need to get the StageNow app all set up first?
I can't download it due to it requiring a contract number with zebra. Does tessitura provide such a contract number?
And along Madeline's question, if I'm still on Nougat, can I upgrade directly to Oreo by installing the full image and then the latest LifeGuard update or do I need to upgrade to the latest LifeGuard update on Nougat and then upgrade to Oreo. And is there a way to upgrade directly on the device? (Sorry I'm totally new to Androids and really have no idea what I'm doing here with this upgrade.)
Greetings, Viktor! It has been a few years since I created my Zebra.com login, but here's how I'd start. Register your Zebra.com account -- don't request software download / entitlement if you don't know your contract number or account number.
Once you've successfully registered your Zebra.com account, while logged in, fill out the entitlement form at https://www.zebra.com/us/en/ewa/ewaform.html. Have the Serial Number of one your devices handy (you can find it in Settings app > About Phone > Status on Android Oreo or somewhere similar on older versions of Android) and choose "Serial Number and Contract Number Not Available" as your issue. Enter information -- use your organization's name as the "Account Name" and include in the notes the Device Model for which you're wanting to download LifeGuard updates.
Greetings, Madeline! That's right -- it looks like future versions may introduce over-the-air updates for Zebra devices, but at the moment, there are only two methods for updating your device as far as I know -- one is to use StageNow; the other is to use the Android command-line utility "adb" to "sideload" the package. StageNow is *way* easier, in my experience, but both are viable. Happy to help walk you through it if you'd like!
No worries, Elizabeth! Zebra really *does not* make this process easy to understand.
You do not need to upgrade to the latest LifeGuard update for the version you are currently on. You can, instead, download the "Full Image" version of the latest "BSP" under "Operating System for Android Oreo" and install that first. Then download the latest LifeGuard update for the same "BSP" version and install that.
There is no way to kick off an update to your device directly from the device as far as I know -- there are hints that over-the-air updates are coming in future versions, but right now -- for both the TC20 and TC51 devices I've upgraded, there are only two ways to upgrade: you can use StageNow (super easy once you get the hang of it), and an Android command-line utility called "adb" -- you download the command-line utility from Android's site, then put the device into recovery mode and "sideload" the package -- these are the instructions included in the Release Notes of each BSP LifeGuard update.
If folks want a walkthrough, I'd be happy to setup a meeting for us to do this together -- we can even see if Tessitura would help by setting up a webinar for us that we could then record. (Pinging Chris Szalaj)
Let me know.
I'd love a walkthrough on how to do this since I feel like I'm in over my head. I upvote for a webinar. Chris Szalaj
Daniel, yes, a walkthrough would be great! I'm feeling a bit over my head as well.
Elizabeth Carlock (Past Member) and Madeline Dummerth (Past Member) -- do you all have deadlines you're working against? If so, I can setup a Zoom sooner rather than later.
At this point - we won't be using them before March so no deadline other than wanting to check something off my list and know that it's all set!
We have an internal deadline because we want to show off our new technology to our City Council on December 17. But we don't have shows for a while.