From here you may download the latest firmware versions for all our
products or read the release notes. If you know the procedure scroll
down or click on one of the links below to take you to the right
place. Otherwise read on about file types and upgrade procedures.
Firmware File
Types
There are two types of files that you may
download into your computer to upgrade the firmware in
the Afar devices. The two file types have extension .BZ
or .DWN. The file you need depends on the method
you intend to use to upgrade the unit firmware.
- .BZ - Binary "Zipped"
Use this file type in conjunction with the program
EConsole (described below). This is the
fastest way to upgrade, and lets you upgrade remote
devices across RF, so it is usually the preferred
method.
- .DWN - download text file (hex encoded
text)
Use this file if you intend to update the firmware
through the serial
console in the device or remotely using
Telnet. The .DWN files are ASCII and larger than .BZ files and the update time
is longer.
All firmware files have a three letter name
identifying the application, followed by two digits of
major revision number and two digits of minor revision
number. For example the pmp03_26.bz file is
a compressed binary file of version 3.26 of the firmware
for the PulsAR-24027 running in Point-to-Multipoint mode.
Firmware Update Methods
You can
establish a command session with the Afar devices on
three different interfaces. Once the command session is
open you can then download new firmware, configure device
parameters, or monitor the operation of the device.
Each of the three interfaces has their own
advantages:
- Serial Console: All Afar
devices have an RS-232 console port running at a
default speed of 9600 baud. To establish a command
session on this port all you need is a terminal or PC
directly connected to the device through an RS-232
cable. The serial console port is often used for
bench testing and for setting up device parameters
prior to installation. To upgrade the firmwaere through this port you need the .DWN file.
- EConsole: This is an AFAR
program that runs on a PC Windows or a Linux platform
(you can download it below ). With this program you can
access any AFAR devices that are connected to the Local
Ethernet and also networks that are bridged to it.
Econsole works across multiple RF hops. However,
EConsole does not cross an IP router. To upgrade the firmware using EConsole you need the .BZ file.
- Telnet: All
Afar devices support Telnet which lets you establish a
command session from anywhere on the Internet.
The only requirement is that the Afar device must
have been pre-configured with an IP address. To upgrade the firmwaere using Telnet you need the .DWN file.
Econsole Software
This program runs on a Windows PC or Linux platform. For a PC, after you download and unzip the file, run the program WinPCap.exe (included in the package) which installs a DLL necessary to run the Econsole program.
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