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Safe Mode

Firmware builds starting with 56294 (January 2, 2013) for OpenTracker USB and Tracker3 include a safe mode option to temporarily enter default configuration mode. Safe mode is only checked at power-up or reset.

Ordinarily, a cold boot over serial can recover from invalid configs — but safe mode offers a simpler alternative when that fails.

Safe Mode Entry

Tracker3

How to enter safe mode:

  • OT3m: Connect CT (counter/config) and 1W (1-Wire) pins on the front terminal block using a piece of wire.
  • T3-301: Insert a wire into pins 6 and 7 of the DB9 connector.
  • T3-Micro: Carefully short pins 2 and 21 on the microcontroller using tweezers or a wire (no external header access).

OpenTracker USB

To enter safe mode:

  • Connect pin 2 (1-Wire) and pin 7 (GPIO1) on internal header CN4 while powering up the device.

Operation

  • In safe mode:
  • The red LED blinks five times at startup.
  • SAFE MODE appears in the serial banner.
  • The device uses a default configuration, unaffected by saved user settings.
  • Ports A and B operate at 4800 baud, AUTO mode.
  • The callsign is SAFEMD.

Configuration changes still apply to your normal configuration. For example:

MYCALL W1AW

…will set MYCALL for your regular profile, but the device will continue to identify as SAFEMD while in safe mode.

Exit Safe Mode

To exit:

  • Run the RESET command, or
  • Power off and remove the jumper used for safe mode entry.

Restoring Defaults

To permanently restore default settings, use:

RESET DEFAULT

⚠️ This works even when not in safe mode and will overwrite the current configuration.