EYTraker V11 LTE:                           27 August 2026

Introduction

In order to improve the functionality and the user experience of the EYTraker the unit has undergone a major long overdue upgrade.

The latest revision of the EYTraker V11 retains the reliable SIMCom Cat 1 LTE/GPS engine A7670E module that is available from Makerfabs or Robotics as a complete voice and data LTE solution. The new unit features a dual core ESP32S3 processor with power and battery management included. The design remains compatible with Arduino IDE that makes it ideal to use in a familiar development environment. By using the Espressif online flash utility the downloaded .bin files can be flashed onto the ESP32S3 boards with no more need for compiling of the source code. The unit retains LTE or 4G capability that increases the tracking reliability of the unit with the most significant upgrade being the use of the Wi-Fi function  or USB configuration software on the ESP32S3 to allow for remote and/or local Wi-Fi management through a dedicated W-Fi Access Point, home Wi-Fi connected webpage, USB configuration or over the newly developed remote management software that can also be found on the download site.

 

The features of the EYTraker V11 remains the same as V9 with additional features the includes the following:

·         Local Wi-Fi AP configuration

·         Wi-Fi configuration via your home network

·         USB configuration via the configuration app

·         Remote configuration over the air with the APRS Bridge software

·         Robust WDT protected firmware

Similar to the V9, the design of the EYTraker V11 is based on off-the-shelf components that allows for quick configuration of the unit. The basic design is based on the A7670E module PCB and a LM2595 buck boost converter set to 5V feeding the USB-C or JST-PH connector. A small 3.8V 800mA LiPo battery provides about 2 hours of backup power in case of a power disconnect. The ignition sense with a voltage divider (220K and 1M resistors) and smoothing cap (1 uF) on pin IO1. The 220k resistor and 1uF capacitor is placed between GND and IO1 with the IGN voltage via the 1M resistor to pin IO1. The buck boost used in the pictures is a Mini360 set to 5V.

 

 

A very simple design supported by stable firmware on the ESP32S3 that has been tested extensively.

The unit is housed in a plastic enclosure (110mm (L) x 60mm (W) x 24mm (H)) with an external power connector, GPS SMA pigtail and GSM SMA pigtail to allow the connection of external GPS and GSM antennas. The option exist to use an internal GPS antenna if required. The complete unit draw 80 mA on average with the Wi-Fi radio switched off in the configuration.

A black box with red and black electronics Description automatically generated

There are 2 options available to flash the ESP32S3 module:

Option 1: Custom EYTraker Flashing tool:

·         The .bin full firmware can be downloaded and flashed with the EYTraker Flashing utility also located in the download section. Both the executable file and the Python source code is available. The executable will be flagged by MS SmartScreen but click on More info and run anyway. The other option is to run the Python code on Visual Studio Code with the correct libraries installed.

·         Connect the ESP32S3 Tracker board to the PC with the cable plugged into the USB port. If the CP2102 drivers are not loaded on your PC, you will have installed then. Without the drivers the COM port will not show up, and the port will be flagged as unknown in the Device Manager of you Windows machine.

·         Refresh the Flash tool Com port and select the ESP32S3 Com port.

·         Browse and load the EYTracker V11 Full.bin file that has been downloaded previously and the flash utility will auto select the ESP32S3 in the target window, make sure this is the case. Leave the Baud rate at 460800.

·         Click on the FLASH FIRMWARE button on the flash utility and confirm the installed progress in the status window.

·         When done, reboot with the slider switch and look for the EYT-Config-NOCALL Wi-Fi Access point (password: eytraker123) and connect to IP address 192.168.4.1 or connect the via the USB configuration application also on the download page.

·         From one of these configuration pages, you can activate the home Wi-Fi option and configure the unit further.

·         The home W-Fi IP address will be on your home router configuration screen or on the USB config app when you read the tracker back after activating the home Wi-Fi option.

·         Once you have the unit up and running it is advisable to load the latest firmware via the Elegent OTA function on the config page. This .bin fil is also available in the download section. Sometimes the initial firmware and the new firmware are not the same revision.

 

 

Option 2: Espressif Online tool (more reliable than the ESP32):

·         The .bin full firmware can be downloaded and flashed with the Espressif online utility.

·         Connect the ESP32S3 tracker board to the PC with the cable plugged into the USB TTL port.

·         When the online flash tool website has loaded click on Connect and switch on the tracker board.

·         The COM port will become available in the dialog window, select it and click connect. The Flash address is 0x0000 and select the v11.21 ESP32S3 FULL.bin file that you have downloaded and click program.

·         The firmware will be flashed onto the tracker. When done, reboot with the slider switch and look for the EYT-Config-NOCALL Wi-Fi Access point (password: eytraker123) and connect to IP address 192.168.4.1 or connect the via the USB configuration application also on the download page.

·         From one of these configuration pages, you can activate the home Wi-Fi option and configure the unit further.

·         The home W-Fi IP address will be on your home router configuration screen or on the USB config app when you read the tracker back after activating the home Wi-Fi option.

·         Once you have the unit up and running it is advisable to load the latest firmware via the Elegent OTA function on the config page. This .bin fil is also available in the download section. Sometimes the initial firmware and the new firmware are not the same revision.

 

You will have to change the unit callsign, SSID and icon based on your requirements and insert a suitable LTE simcard for one of the South African cell phone network providers. Telkom and CellC has not been tested. Also ensure that the GSM and GPS antennas as connected.

 

The unit connects to the South African APRS-IS server at  http://www.aprs-za.com:14501 with full position reports and engineering data available at aprs.fi.

Please send me an email if there are any questions or you can’t get the firmware to flash or having other issues.