Current Version: 5.1.0

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Page 1 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Application Name: Firmware Loader

Current Version: 5.1.0

The following notes provide the revision history, features, and a list of known software issues in the current release. For more information please call your Extron Application Engineer.

Updated: July 20, 2012

Extron Products Affected: All Extron products with upgradeable firmware.

TECH NOTES

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Page 2 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

KNOWN ISSUES

The following is a list of known issues found in Firmware Loader Version 5.1.0

Issue (originated in v5.0) – “Failed to Verify” error message after TLP upload – This error message may be displayed even after successful upgrade of

firmware on TouchLink touchpanels that have very large GUI projects. From the ‘Options’ menu, select “Refresh Connection Status” after the touchpanel shows the GUI start page in order to verify a successful upload.

Issue (originated in v4.0) – “Failed to Upload” error message after Fiber Matrix 6400 upload – Extron Firmware Loader might incorrectly report that a serial

upload of firmware to a Fiber Matrix 6400 failed. In this event, compare the firmware version on the device to that of which you were trying to upload. Retry if necessary. This issue is known to occur with Firmware version 2.01.0023, but may occur with other versions as well.

Issue (originated in v3.4) – Intermittent SCP Firmware Upload Error – When

uploading firmware to the SCP series, the Firmware Loader may time out (error message appears). It is recommended that users close all other applications before attempting to load firmware, and avoid using the system while an upload is taking place.

Issue (originated in v3.4) – MTPX sensitive to PC speed – Some computers

with faster processors, or that are running fewer processes, may be too fast for a successful firmware load to an MTPX.

Issue (originated in v3.3.1) – Devices left in inoperable state – IN1508, SW

DVI series, and VSC series devices will be left in an unresponsive state when a firmware load is interrupted. Once a firmware load is initiated, the process must be allowed to complete.

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Page 3 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

SOFTWARE RELEASE HISTORY Released Version: 5.1.0

Affects: Engineering Revision: E22261

Software Revision: 5.0.1

Date: April 5, 2010

The following is a list of changes and fixes in this release.

Fixed Issue (originated in v5.0.1) – Firmware Loader must be restarted after the device list is updated – Firmware loader would not refresh the Device

Name drop down list after updating the Device List. This required the user to close and reopen Firmware Loader. This issue has been resolved.

Fixed Issue (originated in v5.0.1) – Firmware Loader cannot not be closed after failed upload – If the connection to the device is lost during an upload,

Firmware Loader could enter a state where it is impossible to close the program properly. This issue has been resolved.

Added Feature – Newly supported devices include: DVS 605, SW HDMI Series, DMP

44 LC, and MVC 121 Plus.

Added Feature – When updating the Device List from the web, a backup of the

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Page 4 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Software Revision: 5.0

Date: Feb 15, 2010

Fixed Issue (originated in v5.0) – 64 bit versions of Windows unable to find Firmware Loader when launched from Extron configuration and control applications – Extron configuration or control applications are unable to find

Firmware Loader when the Update or Upload Firmware menu item is selected, and therefore prompt the user to locate the application. This issue has been resolved.

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Page 5 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

SOFTWARE RELEASE HISTORY Released Version: 5.0

Date: May 27, 2009

Fixed Issue (originated in v3.3.1) – Verification hangs on the IN1508 – If the

IN1508 is recovering from a corrupted state, the verification of new firmware may hang indefinitely. The remedy is to disconnect power and perform a factory reset by pressing the Output Rate button on the front panel while reconnecting power and holding it until the front panel’s LEDs start to light up in sequence. This issue has been resolved.

Added Feature – Newly supported devices include: TLP 700MV, TLP 700TV,

TLP 350CV, IPL 250, PVS 305SA, MTPX Plus 128, MGP 462xi, DVS 304 DVI, USP 507, SSP 7.1, DMP, VLR.

Added Feature – It is now possible to administer more than 100 devices in one

Firmware Loader session.

Added Feature – It is now possible to administer firmware through USB-connected

devices.

Added Feature – It is now possible to administer firmware of a VLR 102 connected

serially to a PVS 305SA, as long as the PVS 305SA is connected serially to an IP-Link enabled MLC. This is called a “Pass-Thru” connection.

Added Feature – A toolbar with Firmware Loader’s key features is now available in

the user interface.

Added Feature – Specifying the devices to which new firmware is to be applied is

now more streamlined, and proactively prevents errors by guiding the user through the process.

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Page 6 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: November 11,2008

Fixed Issue (originated in v3.4) – Upload Issue with USB to Serial Adapter –

Inconsistent success when uploading via a USB to RS-232 cable. This issue has been resolved.

Fixed Issue (originated in v3.3.1) – IN1508 cannot handle reduced baud rate – If the command line switch to reduced maximum baud rate is used, upload

will not proceed successfully. This issue has been resolved.

Added Feature – The Supported Devices list is now downloadable from Extron

servers from within the application.

Added Feature – Newly supported devices (added to device list) include:

CrossPoint ULTRA 84 HV, CrossPoint ULTRA 84 HVA, CrossPoint ULTRA 88 HV, CrossPoint ULTRA 88 HVA, CrossPoint ULTRA 128 HV, CrossPoint ULTRA 128 HVA, CrossPoint ULTRA 1212 HV, CrossPoint ULTRA 1212 HVA, CrossPoint ULTRA 168 HV, CrossPoint ULTRA 168 HVA, CrossPoint ULTRA 1616 HV, CrossPoint ULTRA 1616 HVA, FOX 500 Tx/RX MM, FOX 500 Tx/RX SM, MGP 464, MLC 104 Plus, RGB-HDMI 300, RGB-DVI 300, Annotator

Added Feature – It is now possible to upload firmware to multiple Extron devices

simultaneously.

Removed Feature – The automatic logging of unhandled exceptions into

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Page 7 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: April 29, 2008

Added Feature – New devices added to device list: MGP 464W series, MPX Plus 866

A, SMX series, Fiber Matrix 6400, SW8 series, MAV Plus 248 A, MAV Plus 328 A, FOXBOX 4G series, VLR 102, FOX 2G series, SW12 series, SW 2 USB, SW 4 USB series, SW4 3G HD-SDI, MTP SW6

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Page 8 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Affects: Engineering Revision: N/A

Date: November 16, 2007

Fixed Issue – Corrected issue of intermittent failures when loading firmware serially

to ISM 824.

Fixed Issue – Fixed reported issue with installer not overwriting or installing

devices.xml in some cases.

Fixed Issue – Occasional problems reported when uploading to the MLS 406.

Application would report “Unexpected Response…” after a successful load. The application was missing the initial expected response of “Done” and just getting the bootload messages.

Fixed Issue – Added additional time to allow the IN1508 to fully reset. Some

firmware loads require a longer reset period, which was causing the application to report a failed upload, when in fact, the upload is successful.

Fixed Issue – When used with an AVT 100, the Firmware Loader application would

hang if the serial cable was disconnected after verifying connection and making firmware file selection prior to clicking “Upload.”

Fixed Issue – Some devices require a power cycle and the dialog that reported this

message would occasionally hang if the user cycled before clicking “OK”.

Fixed Issue – Device list parser not always recognizing all XML nodes. This issue

has been corrected.

Added Feature – New devices added to device list: FOX 500 DA6 Series, Fiber

Matrix 6400, PVS 204SA.

Added Feature – Added the ability to pass in a firmware file path. When coupled

with the /Com or /IP command line switches, application will proceed directly to the upload screen where the upload will begin immediately.

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SOFTWARE RELEASE HISTORY - Continued

Added Feature – Added Advanced button to serial load page. The advanced window

allows the user to set slower pacing for devices that aren’t loading successfully due to a fast computer. The dialog allows the user to change the pacing for each

individual unit or select multiple units. Users can choose to have these settings saved in their computer’s registry, or to only use them for current session.

Added Feature – Added the ability to recognize an IN1508 stuck in “bootload”

mode (not responding to standard SIS commands), which can result from a failed or interrupted firmware load. If user selects IN1508 from the drop down on the RS-232 tab, and the Firmware Loader does not receive any standard responses to queries, the application will instruct the user how to put the IN1508 into “bootload” mode and attempt to proceed with a standard firmware upload.

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Page 10 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: August 6, 2007

Added Feature – New devices added to device list: SW DVI series.

Added Feature – Added support for newer longer part numbers that are expected

to be used in the near future.

Added Feature – Application will confirm the correct date on IP Link-based products

and ask the user if they would like to update their boxes if it is off by more than a day.

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Page 11 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: January 12, 2007

Fixed Issue – Added support with application modifications for HDXP series and

ISM 824.

Fixed Issue – Under some circumstances he IN1508, will respond to the bootloader

version query with binary characters. Firmware Loader can now recognize and decipher the response. Additionally, the bootloader query SIS command was initially “$” and changed after firmware version 1.02 to “32Q”. The Firmware Loader will take the current firmware version into account when making this query.

Fixed Issue – When run from a User Level account, the Output.txt file write would

cause an exception. The application will now check for access rights and will not write the file unless allowed.

Added Feature – New devices added to device list: RCP 2000, CrossPoint 450 Plus

1212 series, CrossPoint 300 1212 Series, MAV Plus 1212 AV, MAV Plus 164 A, MVX 1616 VGA A series, MVX 168 VGA A, MVX 1212 VGA A, and MTPX series.

Added Feature – A “Check for Updates” option has been added to the Help menu. A

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Page 12 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: September 25, 2006

Fixed Issue – Corrected issues with failed MPS 112 uploads.

Fixed Issue – Corrected issues with failed PIP 444 uploads (specifically to firmware

version 1.01)

Fixed Issue – Serial upload for IPL T S series using mode 2 for uploading now

works.

Fixed Issue – Disabled Exit button during most uploads.

Fixed Issue – Set Defaults button on TCP/IP tab clears IP address and password

box fields, as well as, resetting the telnet port back to 23.

Added Feature – New device added to devices.xml file: DVS 304

Added Feature – New Device box on the main GUI allows a user to select a device

from a list which is populated by the device list. Doing so will update the baud rate to the default for that device. A device does not need to be selected; the application will still retrieve this information from the device list and the attached device’s part number.

Added Feature – Firmware on the ISS 506 can now be updated via the Firmware

Loader serially as well as via IP.

Added Feature – F1 pressed anywhere in the program will access the Help file. Added Feature – If the application is unable to locate devices.xml, the user will

be given the opportunity to browse for the file or continue without it. However, the application is limited without the file.

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Page 13 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: September 25, 2006

Disabled Bit boxes – All Extron devices require a standard data bit, parity bit, and

stop bit setting. Changing these values will cause errors in the program; therefore, these boxes are still visible but no longer changeable.

Changed Devices.txt to Devices.xml – The list of supported devices is now an

XML file. It can now be shared with other Extron software programs.

Added Feature – New devices added to devices.xml file: AVT 100 series and the

MGP 464 series.

Added Feature – IP command line switch can now include an optional password

parameter. (i.e., /IP=<ip address>,<telnet port>,<password>)

Added Feature – Added a command line switch to set the maximum upload baud

rate. For some groups, the Firmware Loader will increase the baud rate to 115,200 to process the upload. The following command line switch will reduce that maximum to the entered value (9600, 19200, 38400 only).

FWLoader.exe /UploadAt=38400 (i.e., /UploadAt=<baud rate>) This can be used with any of the other Command Line Switches.

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Page 14 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: June 7, 2006

Fixed Automatic close – When another application launched the Firmware Loader

with arguments the Firmware Loader would not show the initial settings dialog. However, after a successful upload it would return to this dialog. Now it bypasses the settings dialog and closes the application.

Fixed Command Line Arguments – Not all information would be absorbed from

command line arguments for RS settings

Revised Command Line Arguments – To launch Firmware Loader with comm port

settings a command line argument starting with “/Com” can be used as follows: FWLoader.exe /Com1,9600,n,8,1 (i.e., /Com<port number>,<baud rate>, <parity>,<data bit>,<stop bit>). To launch with IP or hostname settings a command line argument starting with “/IP=” can be used: FWLoader.exe /IP=10.13.183.1,23 (i.e., /IP=<ip address or hostname>,<telnet port>).

Added Feature – New devices added to Devices.txt file: GSS 100, MSW series,

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Page 15 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: May 24, 2006

Fixed missing Devices.txt file during MLC 52 Control Program launch – After

being launched from the MLC 52 Control Program, the application could not find the Devices.txt file because the directory pointer was still pointing to the MLC 52’s directory.

Fixed VSC series upload timing – Timing was off with the VSC group of products.

The upload would be processed but the application would report failure.

Changed automatic launch – When being launched from another program after

having the parameters passed in to fill port settings, the Firmware Loader will now advance to the “next screen” if able to connect to the device on that port.

Changed default firmware directory – The first time the application is run, the

default directory that will be searched for firmware will be the Extron\Firmware directory, pulled from the registry (if available).

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Page 16 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: May 15, 2006

Added Feature – The user interface has been completely revised.

Added Feature – TCP/IP functionality has been updated to allow firmware uploads

to products via IP using hostnames as well as IP addresses.

Added Feature – Added the sixth method of serial uploads for the IN1508.

Added Feature – the Devices.txt list is external to the program so it can therefore

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Page 17 79-508-01 Rev. 5.1.0

Date: April 10, 2006

Added Feature – IPL T series products that are connected serially need an extra

command (i.e. “+++”) typed in after pressing the reset button to begin an upload. An additional dialog box now asks the user if this is an IPL T series box and performs the required steps to change it to mode 2.

Added Feature – TCP/IP functionality has been added to allow firmware uploads to

products via Serial or IP.