[Elecraft] Fwd: K3 Failed DSP Firmware Download

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

>> The radio queries can be disabled in the microHAM USB Device
>> Router if you go to the ports tab and click the SET button for the
>> CAT port you will get a new screen the has a check box for "Disable
>> router queries". If you are brave, you could try this. I am not
>> sure if I am that brave.

"Disable Router queries" will not resolve the problem because Router
will immediately begin polling when the K3 Utility closes the port
for the "reboot" phase of the update.  It is theoretically possible
to set the radio type to "None" and do an update but you can not allow
Router or the microHAM keyer to reset (e.g. power must stay on) during
the "reboot" phase.

Because of the possibility to turning the radio - any radio - or the
microHAM interface into a brick by an improper update (or by buggy
software if microHAM were to allow something like the K3 Utility to
disable the keyer's normal operation), microHAM simply prohibits any
update through the keyer.

73,

    ... Joe Subich, W4TV
        microHAM America, LLC.
        http://www.microHAM-USA.com
        http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM



On 2/6/2011 2:41 PM, Craig - AE6RR wrote:
> Bob,
>
> I had the same experience with my first K3 firmware upgrade.  I had the
> radio connected to the microKEYER II in the normal operating configuration
> and was trying out the utility, checking filter settings etc. and decided to
> do a firmware upgrade.  I had forgotten about micrcoHAM's warning and
> proceeded to click the upgrade button, there was no "Are You Sure?" warning
> as Microsoft has trained us to expect, it just proceeded to turn the radio
> into a brick.
>
> After the thoughts of a road trip to Aptos went through my mind, I
> remembered the warning, poked around in the manual and found the recovery
> procedure.  I switched to a physical serial port on the PC and after a
> couple of attempts managed to turn the brick back into a radio.
>
> The radio queries can be disabled in the microHAM USB Device Router if you
> go to the ports tab and click the SET button for the CAT port you will get a
> new screen the has a check box for "Disable router queries".  If you are
> brave, you could try this.  I am not sure if I am that brave.
>
> It would be nice if the upgrade installation software was a bit more robust
> and didn't just give up if it gets a bad record (the records do have
> checksums or some other validity check, I hope).  If it would try again
> after a bad record, it could probably recover.
>
> 73,
> - Craig, AE6RR
>
> K3 SN #4877
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bob Lanning
> Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2011 10:58 AM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Fwd: K3 Failed DSP Firmware Download
>
> My first time FW upgrade failed too.  The problem?  I use Router a
> virtual port defining piece of software microHAM uses for their
> product's interfaces to such things as the microKEYER II.
>
> In their manual is a warning in Yellow to not perform FW upgrades via
> the microKEYER II interface which uses a port in their Router.  Indeed -
> don't do it.  microHAM support told me the problem is the Router is
> continually polling the radio and interferes with the download.  While
> all other features and functions of Elecraft's Utility and Memory Editor
> works fine, the FW download does not.
>
> I have a desktop PC with no serial ports only lots of USB.  Elecraft
> sells a very nice serial RS-232 to USB adapter cable with FTDI chip.
> Using the FTDI driver to define a separate USB port as a COM port works
> well.  I have also used Prolific drivers for converter cables using
> Prolific protocol without any attention.  Both work really well.
>
> It will/would be nice to have Elecraft provide a USB port in the radio
> like some other manufacturers.  ICOM for instance - absolutely trouble
> free and simple.  Copy a file to a thumb drive and stick it in the
> radio's USB jack and press Upload.  Also in the case of ICOM's 7800 and
> 7700, you can plug a USB keyboard in and run RTTY or PSK - from the
> keyboard.  No paddle needed.
>
> Anyway - microHAM has excellent software and hardware but as they say,
> do not attempt to download FW into any radio using an interface with
> something like microKEYER II.  So when I want to perform a FW update I
> unplug the microKEYER II originating DB-9 from the K3 and plug in the
> separate USB/RS232 cable and perform the update.
>
> 73,
>
> Bob - W6OPO
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
--