Originally Posted by
WheresWaldo
[MENTION=388729]Marcus_Ti[/MENTION] thanks for that bit of info I have a newer, not new 5-port Junction A but since I started with Gen 1 Ultegra Di2, that Junction A didn't exist and you needed the SM-PCE1. Which charger allow USB connection to the Di2 Bus?
By the way, that Carlton Bale article is very old, he may have updated sections but it existed when you could still hack specific 10-speed Di2 into 11-speed Di2. (before Shimano plugged that hole)
You need one of the newer Junction A models, e.g. SM-EW90A (3-port) or SM-EW90B (5-port) or MT800 etc....and ofc compatible battery/parts..... Having one of those (and compatible battery etc.), the SM-BCR2 "charger" is ALSO a USB interface that allows E-Tube on PC to update firmware of anything on the Di2 network, as well as any programming of switches/synchro/multi-shift etc. It has a USB tail wired in on one end (proprietary? Di2 2-pin tpigtail on the other) and takes power from any USB wall wart or plug into any PC for power or E-Tube programming.
NOTE: the diagnostic portion of E-Tube only works with the SM-PCE1 (NOT BCR-2)and one part at a time. Hence my comment earlier about debugging, unless you're still running the old SM-EW79 junction box and other legacy hardware. Most of Carleton Bale's info is still correct. Not a whole lot has changed over the years since Di2 6770 came on the scene....aside from some franken-bike quirks with old hardwardware (like you mention with 10s and 11s not playing anymore), and new SKUs....The biggest things being multi-shifting and synchronized shifting (this later needs as noted the new DN110 battery with its bigger onboard memory and ofc one of those new Junction A boxes).