Questions about hörbert 2011 (model with toggle switch)

Requirements:

1. You need access to a 2.4 GHz WiFi network at your location.
2. The latest firmware version Butterfly2 must be installed on your hörbert. hörbert 3.0 already comes with firmware Butterfly2 or newer. Here you’ll find the -> instructions for a firmware update.

How to activate the podcast function for your hörbert

• Start the Browser Set Mode for hörbert -> explanatory video
• Click on “WiFi” in the main menu. Activate WiFi there and enter the WiFi name and password.
• In the “Advanced Settings”, choose the time at which hörbert should silently wake up and download new episodes. Use a time when hörbert is definitely not in use.

• Adding podcasts to playlists:
  • In the main menu, select one of the colourful playlists on which you’d like to save a podcast URL.
  • Click on the “+Podcast” button
  • If you know the URL, enter a name for the podcast here, type or paste the URL into the field provided and select “save”
  • You can also start a keyword search for a podcast, pick the right podcast from the list of results and click “Save”.
  • At this point, also define how many podcast episodes should be kept:

• As soon as you’ve clicked “Save”, hörbert downloads the control file for the podcast. In the playlist, this control file is displayed together with the preview of the podcast episodes.
• If you then click on the download symbol in the parent control file, hörbert downloads the entire number of displayed episodes. Depending on the length of the podcast, this can take several minutes.

• If you’d first like to download just a single episode, click on the download symbol to the right of the desired episode.
• hörbert will then automatically download the other episodes at the wake-up time you set earlier, provided it is connected to your home WiFi at that moment and was switched off beforehand. If it’s currently playing and in use, no new episodes will be downloaded.

We hope you enjoy your favourite podcasts!

Requirement:

• Your hörbert is already running the new BETA version of the Butterfly2 firmware from October 2025. hörbert 3.0 (release March 2026) definitely has it.
• If needed, here’s how to update to the new BETA version -> Firmware update

People who use hörbert, especially small children who often press all the buttons just for fun, must not end up in hörbert’s SET mode by accident. That’s why we’ve come up with a method that can’t be triggered “by mistake”.

Here’s how to get into hörbert’s SET mode without unscrewing him:

• Press the rotary knob on top and keep it pressed.
• Wait 5 seconds (hörbert may start playing)
• Now additionally press the dark green button.
• Hold both buttons for at least 10 seconds, then first release the rotary knob and afterwards the dark green button.
• hörbert is now in SET mode and opens his own WiFi network for you.
• Connect your smartphone, tablet or computer to hörbert’s WiFi. The WiFi password is: hoerbert
• Then start a web browser on your device and enter the following address: http://hoerbert.local
• Now you’ll see hörbert’s Browser Set Mode on your screen:

In the Browser Set Mode you can now make all the settings for hörbert. For example:

activate/deactivate WiFi, Bluetooth and the voice microphone, edit playlists, add podcasts or web radio stations, and much more.

Here you’ll find an overview of the options in the Browser Set Mode: BLOG ARTICLE BROWSER SET MODE

Requirement: You have a hörbert model without a toggle switch.
If you’d like to upgrade your hörbert 2011 (old model with toggle switch), order the upgrade kit right now to retrofit it yourself, or have us upgrade your hörbert in our workshop.

How you carry out a firmware update depends on which firmware is running on your hörbert. If your firmware is older than November 2024, you have to use the manual method (further below). It’s most convenient if your hörbert already has the “Butterfly” firmware or newer.

Firmware update via Wi-Fi using the Browser Set Mode

Start the Browser Set Mode (click here to go to the explanatory video)

Activate and configure hörbert’s Wi-Fi function in the Wi-Fi menu item:
Select your Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) from the list of available networks and enter your Wi-Fi password.
Tip: If you’d like to use hörbert as a podcast player: Under “Advanced settings”, set the time at which hörbert should automatically look for new podcast episodes. Choose a time when hörbert isn’t being used, e.g. at night. hörbert won’t make any sounds while updating podcasts.

Then select the item “General” in the main menu and open the Advanced settings there. Click on “Check for updates NOW” to bring your hörbert’s firmware up to date.

Wait until the update has been carried out. You’ll know it’s done when hörbert automatically ends the Browser Set Mode. Please don’t switch hörbert off and wait until it plays content through its speaker again.

Done! You’re now using the latest firmware with the current features and bug fixes!

TIP: BETA VERSIONS

We’re constantly developing hörbert’s firmware further. We test new features in BETA versions, which aren’t yet stable or fully developed. If you’re curious and you have a backup copy of your memory card, you can also take a look at these BETA versions:

To do so, download the BETA firmware as a file. You mustn’t unzip the downloaded file, as it’s simply loaded onto hörbert as a .bin file:
Click on “Choose file“, then find the downloaded .bin file, and afterwards click on “Update“.

Manual firmware update via the memory card

1. Download the latest firmware file “hoerbert_firmware.bin” from this page: hörbert Firmware
2. Don’t unzip the downloaded file, it’s loaded onto hörbert as a .bin file.
3. Now insert the memory card into your computer and drag & drop the file onto the card.
   Place the file directly onto the card, and not into a subfolder.
   The file must be named exactly like this: hoerbert_firmware.bin
4. Eject the SD card properly and put it back into hörbert.
5. Watch our explanatory video for the further steps with hörbert or carry straight on with points 6 to 10.
6. Take one of the four batteries or rechargeable batteries out of the battery clips or the separate battery compartment, and unplug the USB charging cable if your hörbert has the charging function.
7. Wait at least 20 seconds until hörbert is completely without power.
8. Press the SET button inside hörbert and hold it down while you now put the last battery back in.
9. Keep the SET button pressed for a further 50 seconds or so, until the LED on the SET button flashes rapidly. Now you can release the SET button.
10. Wait at least 10 seconds before you switch hörbert on.

Done! From now on you can carry out future firmware updates quite easily via Wi-Fi using the Browser Set Mode.