◤ Image Deployment ◥

DOWNLOAD FIRMWARE

Download the image, write it to a microSD card, and boot your node. Three steps. Already running a node? Jump to update.

A next-generation platform is in development; current nodes may need a one-time re-flash to adopt it.

01
Download
v0.12.0
Download Firmware
02
Flash
Get Pi Imager
03
Boot
Boot & Connect
04
Update
Latest: v0.12.0 · 2026-08-16
Download Update
Download

Grab the latest CicadaTAK image (~1 GB download, ~10 GB written — use a 64 GB card; the offline-map store grows to fill it). Includes the node OS, the gateway, the setup wizard, and CONUS map tiles.

Flash

Write the image to a microSD card using Raspberry Pi Imager. Select "Use custom" and browse to the file.

Boot

Insert the SD card, power on the Pi, connect to its WiFi from the CicadaTAK app. The wizard does the rest.

Update

Already running a node? Compare its firmware date (app → Settings → Node Firmware) to the version above. If it's older, update in place (~64 MB) — no re-flash, easiest through the app.

cicadatak-rpi4-mm6108-full-v0.12.0.img.gz (~982 MB) — OpenMANET 1.6.5 + CicadaTAK 0.12.0 · CONUS map tiles pre-seeded

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// Step-by-step
  1. Download the firmware image using the button above or this link
  2. Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager for your platform (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
  3. Open Pi Imager and click "Choose OS"
  4. Scroll to the bottom, select "Use custom", then browse to the downloaded .img.gz file
  5. Click "Choose Storage" and select your microSD card
  6. Click "Write" and wait for the flash to complete (~2 minutes)
  7. Eject the card, insert it into the Pi, and power on
// Updating a running node — through the app

A node that's already on the mesh never needs re-flashing — the CicadaTAK app updates it in place. Open Settings → Node Firmware and tap Check Latest: the card shows your node's firmware date next to the latest release, so you know at a glance whether an update is due. If it is, Pull Update downloads it over the node's internet uplink and Apply installs it — no computer, no SD card.

The node reboots (~3 minutes) and comes back with its identity, team key, and downloaded maps intact — it does not re-run the setup wizard. Don't cut power mid-update.

No internet at the node? Grab the update file on a laptop, plug into the node's wired port, and upload it at http://10.41.253.1:8080/update. In-place updates need an image from 2026-07-24 or newer — older nodes take a fresh card from the full image above. Details in the guide.

CicadaTAK app — Node Firmware card showing an update available
Settings → Node Firmware — Check Latest flags an update the moment one ships.
// Alternative — Pi Imager custom repo

Add CicadaTAK directly to the Raspberry Pi Imager OS selection menu:

$ rpi-imager --repo https://cicadatak.com/images.json

This adds "CicadaTAK" as a selectable OS with description and version info.

// What's next?

Once flashed, head to the build page for assembly and first boot setup, or check support if you run into issues.

Build a Node Support & FAQ