Overview

The HFRR updater program is supplied with all HFRPC and AutoHFR software. The firmware updater enables firmware updates to be uploaded to the HFRR control unit by PC connection.

If the instrument is only being used in standalone mode, then any available PC or laptop can be used as long as it meets the following minimum requirements:

• Operating system - Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7
• One unused serial port eg COM1.

How to use the firmware updater

Starting the software

Check that instrument is connected to the PC and switched off. Start the firmware loader. The following window will be displayed as shown below.

HFRR Firmware Updater

The loader defaults to using COM1.  If the connection to the instrument is via a different COM port, click ‘Options|Comm. Settings...’. The available communications ports are then displayed. Pick the correct COM port from the list.

Switch on the instrument. The status message at the bottom left of the window will change to show ‘Instrument ready for updating’ and the display on the instrument will show ‘Loader’. The blue indicator light on the instrument should also be displayed.

To view the firmware details of the HFR, click the ‘Options’ button on the right hand side of the dialog box. By clicking on ‘Change View Settings’ the screen can be changed from ‘Standard view’ (hardware and firmware details are not shown) to ‘Extended View’ (hardware and firmware details are shown at the bottom of updater).

HFRR Firmware Updater - Changing the View

Click the ‘OK’ to confirm the change, the updater screen will then change to show the view chosen from the options menu. The Extended view is shown below.

HFRR Firmware Updater - Extended View

The Extended view displays the Instrument Hardware and Instruments Firmware. The Instrument Hardware consists of the instruments serial number and hardware revision (currently rev. 1). The Instrument Firmware is the firmware currently installed on the HFRR’s processor.

Before you can install the new firmware, move the firmware required for update (whether this is on CD, email etc) onto your computer’s hard drive so it is accessible to access (moving the firmware to the computer’s desktop is recommended).

Click ‘Load Firmware…’ and browse to the firmware file which is to be installed in the instrument.  Select the file then click ‘Open’.

Selecting and installing the firmware

The updater window will show the version information for the firmware and which hardware revision(s) it is suitable for.  Verify that the version information is correct then click ‘Start’.

HFRR Firmware Updater - Verify Information

A message will appear asking you to close any other programs as they may interfere with the update process, it is advisable that you close all other programs.  Click ‘OK’ to start the update. 

HFRR Firmware Updater - Warning message

A status bar will show the progress of the update and the display on the instrument will show ‘Programming’.

IMPORTANT - Do not switch the instrument or PC off during the update process!

HFRR Firmware Updater - Updating

Once the update has completed, if there are further updates to install this can be done by loading each firmware file in turn and clicking ‘Start’, as described above.

After installing the firmware

Once all the updates have been installed, switch the instrument off, close the firmware loader program by clicking ‘File|Exit’ and switch the instrument on again to reboot the firmware.

This completes the firmware update procedure.