TECH NOTES. PC System requirements Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista or later.

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Application Name: Firmware Loader

Current Version: 3.3.0

The following notes provide the latest enhancements, resolved and known issues for the software application. For more detailed information please call your Extron Application Engineer.

Updated: August 6, 2007

Extron Products Affected: All Extron products with upgradeable firmware With specific notices for the following products: RCP 2000, HDXP, IN1508, ISM 824, CrossPoint 450 Plus 1212, CrossPoint 300 1212, MAV Plus 1212, MAV Plus 164, MVX 1616VGA series, MVX 168VGA series, and MVX 1212VGA series, MTPX series

Current Engineering Revision: N/A

TECH NOTES

PC System requirements – Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista or later.

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).

External Devices File – The devices.xml file contains a list of configured devices using the application.

Output.txt File – A text file showing the most recent upload can be created and saved in the same folder where the program is installed (by default it is C:\Program

Files\Extron\FWLoader) by using the command line switch /OUTPUTFILE. This file is overwritten every time the application runs provided the user has file write privileges. However, it can be saved prior to starting the application for troubleshooting purposes. Upload for MLC 104 v1.00 – The MLC 104, firmware version 1.00, cannot handle the faster baud rate of 115,200. Uploads need to be set at 38,400. This can be done by using the command line switch (i.e. /UploadAt=38400.)

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SOFTWARE RELEASE HISTORY Released Version: 3.3.0

Affects: Engineering Revision: n/a

Software Revision: 3.3.0

Date(s): August 2007

KNOWN ISSUES

Upload Issue with National Instrument cable – Inconsistent success when uploading via a National Instrument USB to RS-232 cable.

IN1508 cannot handle reduced baud rate – If the command line switch to reduced maximum baud rate is used, upload will not proceed successfully.

ISM 824 does not load consistently serially – Depending on PC and/or serial connections, the ISM 824 has intermittent failures when loading firmware serially. It is recommended that this product be loaded via ethernet whenever possible.

Devices left in inoperable state – VSC series devices and the IN1508 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 fully.

USA: 800.633.9876 (inside US/Canada only) or 714.491.1500 Page 2

Europe: +800.3987.6673 (inside Europe only) or +31.33.453.4040 Asia: +65.6383.4400

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SOFTWARE RELEASE HISTORY Released Version: 3.3.0

Affects: Engineering Revision: n/a

Software Revision: 3.3.0

Date(s): August 2007 The following is a list of changes and fixes in this release.

Fixed Issue: Added support with application modifications for HDXP series and ISM 824.

Fixed Issue: Added support for: RCP 2000, CrossPoint 450 Plus 1212, CrossPoint 300 1212, MAV Plus 1212, MAV Plus 164, MVX 1616VGA series, MVX 168VGA series, MVX 1212VGA series, and MTPX series to Devices.Xml.

Fixed Issue: The IN1508, under some circumstances 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 – A “Check for Updates” option has been added to the Help menu. A shortcut to this has also been added to the start group.

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SOFTWARE RELEASE HISTORY

Application Name: Firmware Loader

Current Version: 3.2

Updated: January 12, 2007

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

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 (effected v3.1) – Serial upload for IPL T S series using serial/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 box on the main GUI allows a user to select a device from a list which is populated by the Devices.Xml file. 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 Devices.Xml file and the attached device’s part number.

Added Feature – Added support for DVS 304 to Devices.Xml

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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Application Name: Firmware Loader

Current Version: 3.1

Updated: September 25, 2006

Added optional password parameter to IP command line switch – IP command line switch can include a password parameter.

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

Changed Devices.txt to Devices. Xml – The Devices List is now an XML file. It can now be shared with other Extron software programs.

Updated Devices. Xml – Added functionality for the AVT 100 series and the MGP 464 products.

Added Command Line Switch – 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.

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.

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Updated: July 25, 2006

Updated Devices.txt – Added functionality for GSS 100, MPX 866 A, & ISS 506. Added Support for MSW series – Added MSW series to Devices.txt and small changes to allow for correct timing of the upload.

Revised Command Line Arguments – To launch FWLoader 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>).

Command Line Arguments – Not all information would be absorbed from command line arguments for RS settings

Changed Automatic close – When another application launched the FWLoader with arguments the FWLoader 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.

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Updated: May 31, 2006

Updated Devices.txt – Added the MAV Plus 32 line of devices to Devices.txt. 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).

Changed Missing Devices.txt file when being called from another application – After being launched from the MLC52 Control Program, the application could not find the Devices.txt file because the directory pointer was still pointing to the MLC52’s directory. Changed VSC Group – Timing was off with the VSC group of products. The upload would be processed but the application would report failure.

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Updated: May 15, 2006

Added New User Interface – The user interface has been completely revised. Added TCP/IP functionality – Can now upload firmware to products via IP using hostnames as well as IP addresses.

Added 6th Serial Class – Added the 6th method of serial uploads for the IN1508. Added External Devices List – the Devices.txt list is external to the program so it can therefore be updated without recompiling the program when a new product is released.

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Updated: April 10, 2006

KNOWN ISSUES

IN1508 upload is slow – The upload to the IN1508 is slower than can be done on the OPLUS Flash Loader. This was done to reduce the CPU usage a little. It is already a long process.

Intermittent SCP Firmware Upload Error – When uploading firmware to the SCP series, the software occasionally times out and an error screen may appear. It is recommended that all other applications are closed before attempting to reload the firmware. Warnings are in place to avoid using the system while the very fast upload is taking place and suggests the user retry if the upload fails for this reason.

Added TCP/IP functionality – Can upload firmware to products via Serial or IP. Changed IPL boxes connected Serially – IPL boxes 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 Help link on all windows – Added the help tool bar to all windows and a help file.