unexpected shutdown of internal RF receiver on Meteobridge PRO2 (mbpro2-01241 to mbpro2-01265)
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2026 12:03 pm
Newest batch of Meteobridge PRO2 is equiped an updated variant of FT232RL chip which handles serial console to VoCore2 chip and provides 3.3v power for the RF subsystem. Unfortunately, the new chip variant toogles under certain conditions to a low power mode that disables the 3.3v supply and by that makes the RF subsystem unresponsive until doing a power-cycle. This symptom does only show up when the power supply that feeds the Meteobridge PRO2 does not internally connect unused data lines D+ und D-. As some power supplies simply let D+ and D- open, the new FT232RNL chip flips into low power mode after a while and disables the RF subsystem.
I got in contact with FTDI, the manufacturer of the FT232 chips, and they provided me a Windows program, that can be used to disable low-power mode and by that rersolves the issue completely. You just have to install the program on your Windows PC and have to use a USB A to micro USB cable to connect the PRO2 with the USB port of your PC. The micro USB cable connects to the PRO2 exactly as you do with the PRO2 power supply. When you start the PC program just select the switch marked in yellow and program to the device.
The new FT232 chip is used in MBPRO devices with a license number lager than "mbpro2-01241". I do the programming for all units that will be shipped from now on, so nothing to do for you when license number is beyond "mbpro2-1265".
Long story short:
1) When you have a PRO2 with license number between "mbpro2-01241" and "mbpro2-01265" I highly recommend to do the explained patch with the FTDI tool. All other PRO2 units are not impacted.
2) When you are impacted, please reach out to "info(at)meteobridge.com" so that I can provide you a download link to the FTDI tool. Please understand, that I cannot make it public available following FTDIs requirements.
I have to say a big thanks to Daniele from "www.soluzionimeteo.it" who discovered this tricky issue first and did a brilliant analysis why the RF subsystem sometimes shuts off on latest batch of PRO2. As the RF subsystem starts working fine after power-on this bug went unnoticed by me when testing units before delivery.
I apologize for any inconvenience caused by this.
I got in contact with FTDI, the manufacturer of the FT232 chips, and they provided me a Windows program, that can be used to disable low-power mode and by that rersolves the issue completely. You just have to install the program on your Windows PC and have to use a USB A to micro USB cable to connect the PRO2 with the USB port of your PC. The micro USB cable connects to the PRO2 exactly as you do with the PRO2 power supply. When you start the PC program just select the switch marked in yellow and program to the device.
- Bildschirmfoto 2026-08-13 um 11.45.39.png (745.2 KiB) Viewed 14 times
The new FT232 chip is used in MBPRO devices with a license number lager than "mbpro2-01241". I do the programming for all units that will be shipped from now on, so nothing to do for you when license number is beyond "mbpro2-1265".
Long story short:
1) When you have a PRO2 with license number between "mbpro2-01241" and "mbpro2-01265" I highly recommend to do the explained patch with the FTDI tool. All other PRO2 units are not impacted.
2) When you are impacted, please reach out to "info(at)meteobridge.com" so that I can provide you a download link to the FTDI tool. Please understand, that I cannot make it public available following FTDIs requirements.
I have to say a big thanks to Daniele from "www.soluzionimeteo.it" who discovered this tricky issue first and did a brilliant analysis why the RF subsystem sometimes shuts off on latest batch of PRO2. As the RF subsystem starts working fine after power-on this bug went unnoticed by me when testing units before delivery.
I apologize for any inconvenience caused by this.