OTA Updates

"OTA" stands for over-the-air — your cabinet checks the Team Encoder update server periodically, downloads new versions of the Pinner software in the background, and applies them when it's safe to do so. You don't have to do anything to receive updates; this page just explains how it works so nothing surprises you.

What gets updated

• Pinner software — the launcher, daemon, AP setup, overlays, and other apps Team Encoder ships.
• Per-table fixes — patches for specific Zen / Williams / PBA tables that need adjustments.
• Configuration — small data files (table lists, ROM mappings, etc.) that change between releases.

Updates do not include:

• Tables you don't own. The OTA system never sideloads game content you haven't paid for.
• Your settings. Page configuration, gyro sensitivity, API token, audio output, etc., all carry over.
• Your saved Google account. Sign-in state is preserved across updates.

How the power switch and OTA fit together

This is worth understanding before you ever flip the cabinet's power switch:

• The cabinet's power switch never fully powers down the OrangePi 5 Max — it puts it to sleep. The Pi keeps a small amount of power and stays on the network.
• When you flip the switch back to on, the Pi wakes and reboots itself. That gives the system a clean slate every play session.
• OTA updates apply while the cabinet is in the "off" position — the Pi is asleep, no game is running, nobody's watching the screen, so it's the safest possible time to update. That's why the cabinet is designed to be left in that state when you're not playing.

How it works (the short version)

1. The cabinet checks for updates Once a day on a schedule, and again shortly after every boot.
2. If there's a new update, it downloads in the background The download happens silently while you play. You won't notice anything; it doesn't interrupt the game.
3. When it's ready to apply, it waits for safe-idle The cabinet won't interrupt a game in progress. It waits for the launcher to be open and no game running.
4. A fullscreen progress overlay appears You'll see a Team-Encoder-branded progress UI while the update applies. This typically takes 30 seconds to a few minutes depending on update size.
5. Cabinet reboots if needed, otherwise resumes Some updates require a reboot, others don't. Either way, you're back at the launcher when it's done.

Forcing a check manually

If you want to grab the latest update right now instead of waiting for the next poll:

1. Open Pinner Management on your phone (last tile in the launcher → QR).
2. Find the System Controls card.
3. Click 🔄 Check for Pinner Updates.

The cabinet immediately reaches out to the update server and applies anything pending.

FAQ

Will an update interrupt me mid-game?

No. The system is gated to wait for the launcher to be active and idle. Even if a critical update is downloaded while you're playing, it won't apply until you're back at the launcher.

What if I'm offline?

Nothing. The cabinet works offline too — you just won't get new updates until it's connected to WiFi again.

What if an update fails?

The cabinet rolls back to the previous version automatically. If you see the cabinet reboot itself a few times unexpectedly, that's likely the rollback path. The next OTA poll will retry the update with whatever the server has at that point — which is usually a fix.

Can I opt out?

There's no built-in opt-out, but you can simply leave WiFi off and the cabinet won't fetch updates. Just be aware that you'll also miss table fixes and online leaderboards.

How big are updates typically?

Most updates are 5–50 MB. Occasionally a major release is larger (up to a few hundred MB). The cabinet shows the size on the progress overlay so you'll see it.

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