[Elecraft] firmware upgrade snafoo

[Don Wilhelm]

Sam,

Yes, that certainly does point the finger at a flaky serial port.  It 
does not happen often, but it certainly is possible.
I am glad to hear that you have a better handle on it now.

73,
Don W3FPR


Sam Morgan wrote:
> On 5/9/2010 3:28 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Sam,
>>
>> It is normal for the K3 display to go blank following each piece of a
>> firmware load (the red TX light blinks once too). It should come right
>> back again and proceed on if you just wait.
>> If one panics and presses buttons, or manually cycle power or does other
>> clicking on the K3 Utility window, yes, it can get stuck, and you have
>> to do the "Disconnect Power Thing".
> >
> well then I am ok on that point,
> I am not freaking out until
> I see the red led flashing for over 30 sec or a min
> b4 I do the Disconnect power dance
>
>> Is there any chance that you have a flaky USB to serial adapter? Try
>> using a computer with a real serial port. If that is not possible, try
>> another adapter and be certain you have the latest drivers loaded.
>>
> no, I am using a real serial port
>
>> I have loaded firmware many many times as a firmware field tester, and
>> have never had a problem, except once when I did something stupid during
>> the firmware load. I have always used a real serial port which helps a
>> lot too.
> >
> well this has happened every time I have tried updating,
> since I got the K3, but I did fear op error was involved,
> that's why I finally ask the list for help
>
>> Just start the firmware load (use normal mode in K3 Utility and click
>> "Send All Firmware to the K3"), then let it run to completion.
>>
> I would love to be able to do this........
>
> I may have fixed my problem(s)
> folks have suggested a different serial cable or comm port
>
> I don't have another serial cable to try,
> but I did switch the same cable, to a different serial port,
>
> now a problem I had been having with EZ K3 has stopped happening
> I'm not ready to try a firmware install test at this point,
> maybe tomorrow when I get bored with the day, hi hi.
>
> Note,
> only K3 util and EZ K3 pgms were having any problems
> DXLab HRD K3_Memory PowerSDR-IF .....
> none of them have had any problems with data between the computer and 
> the K3
>
> Thanks for the help pointing me in the right direction.
> I'll be buying another serial cable also, just in case!