The GoPro HD Hero2 I just got was bundled with the HD2.08.12.70 firmware: 

1$ cat /media/9016-4EF8/MISC/version.txt
2{
3"info version":"1.0",
4"firmware version":"HD2.08.12.70",
5"camera type":"HD2",
6}

Since then a new firmware was released (called the “ProTune feature” update ) which adds higher video bitrate (35Mbps), a neutral color profile and 24 fps recording. But GoPro only provides installer for Windows and Mac OS X. Here is how I managed to upgrade the firmware under Ubuntu 12.04.

First, download the binary firmware: 

1$ wget https://software.gopro.com/Firmware/HD2/HD2-firmware.bin
2$ sha256sum ./HD2-firmware.bin
33403348b39796ff1d775d759e6243d541b4d1db1c8c7992f5742bd258c7c5031  ./HD2-firmware.bin

Then copy the binary file to the root of your mounted GoPro: 

1$ cp ./HD2-firmware.bin /media/9016-4EF8/

Now unmount the GoPro, unplug it from your computer and make sure it’s powered off.

It’s time to trigger the firmware upgrade:

  1. Keep the shutter button on the top pressed while turning the camera on.

  2. Release the shutter button.

  3. Press and release the power button. The camera front will display “press 1”.

  4. Again, press and release the power button. The camera will now display “press 2”.

  5. Then press and release the power button, again. The camera is now installing the v70 upgrade, then turn itself off.

  6. Power the camera on, to now upgrade to v198 . The camera will turn itself off at the end.

You can now remove the HD2-firmware.bin file at the root of the camera, and check the firmware version: 

1$ rm /media/9016-4EF8/HD2-firmware.bin
2$ cat /media/9016-4EF8/MISC/version.txt
3{
4"info version":"1.0",
5"firmware version":"HD2.08.12.198.WIFI.R47.00",
6"camera type":"HD2",
7}

Note that the configuration is lost and you have to set back the date and time of the camera. As for the ProTune feature, it must be activated from a new item in the configuration menu of the HD Hero2.

5 archived comments

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  1. Nessaja

    This was 100% of what i was searching for.
    Thank you very much!

  2. TheDiveO

    Kevin, did you manage to work with protune footage in kdenlive? So far, I did not manage to get decent "raw" footage from Hero2 protune material. My problem is not the compresed graduation curve (which is easy to compensate), but instead the huge amount of color noise. I wasn't successful in getting satisfying filter parameter settings. Any suggestions?

    Interestingly, the protune raw footage without white balace from the new hd3 black has extremely low color noise so I can use it without color noise processing...

    1. Kevin Deldycke Author

      When I wrote this article I just did a quick test to check the bitrate of the files produced by ProTune. But haven't tried to import or edit them in Kdenlive. Sorry.

  3. mrintegrity

    Any way to update the WifiBacpac firmware from linux?

  4. Renan

    Great!!! perfect I update my hero 2. Thanks!