[Elecraft] [K3] Possible bad file in 4.67 ZIP archive

[Dick Dievendorff]

Hi, Tom!

We tried to make this as smooth as possible, but had one problem with an
older Linux version of the K3 Utility.

We are starting to build K3s with a different LCD driver integrated circuit
(no better function, just a different supplier).  The two LCD drivers
require different MCU firmware files, and the intent is that the K3 Utility
install the correct one without K3 owners having to worry about this detail.

The MCU firmware file for version 4.67 is hmcu0467.hex for almost all K3s
"in the field", and hmcu0467b.hex for K3s that use the new LCD driver IC.

We expected older versions of the K3 Utility to find hmuc0467.hex and ignore
hmcu0467b.hex. 

Only users with the new LCD driver would be required to upgrade immediately
to the newest K3 Utility. That almost worked. But the older Linux version of
the K3 Utility somehow chose the "b" suffixed filename. The Windows and Mac
versions made the correct choice.

W4SMT quickly corrected the Linux version, and the K3 Utility has been
updated to revision 1.13.4.15 for Windows, Mac and Linux.

We recommend that all users install the latest K3 Utility version from
http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm#util 

This is particularly important for users of the K3 Utility Linux version and
users with very recent K3s.

73 de Dick, K6KR

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tom H Childers
Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2013 3:04 PM
To: Elecraft list
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Possible bad file in 4.67 ZIP archive

Downloaded and installed this morning.

I see no problems, and yes I saw the hmcu0467b.hex, but I'm not a bit
worried about it.  My machine and rig working great on my wonderful Win 7.0
Pro SP1 machine.

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

Let's start giving Mr. Uda his due.
The Yagi antenna was designed by
Mr. Yagi AND Mr. Uda.  It should
be called the "Yagi-Uda" antenna.

On Sun, 5 May 2013 10:20:48 -0500, Nate Bargmann <n0nb at n0nb.us>
wrote:

>Checking on the available K3 firmware this morning, I saw that a Beta
>4.67 is available.  After downloading and attempting the update, the 
>MCU load failed (first time for me).  After a few more tries and 
>failures I successfully loaded MCU 4.61, FPF 1.15, and DSP1 2.81 so I 
>knew the K3 was fine.  :-)
>
>Watching the K3 Utility dialog boxes I saw that file 'hmcu0467b.hex' 
>was being loaded.  Looking in the directory, I saw that file 'hmcu0467.hex'
>also was present and 17 minutes newer.  "Hmmmm", sez I, so after 
>deleting 'hmcu0467b.hex', MCU 4.67, FPF 1.15, and DSP1 2.81 firmware 
>files all loaded correctly.
>
>I am using the "Elecraft K3 Utility for Linux Version 1.12.9.22", if 
>that matters.
>
>As the file size between 'hmcu0467b.hex' and 'hmcu0467.hex' is the same 
>(but the "diff" utility shows a lot of differences), the utility 
>apparently chooses 'hmcu0467b.hex' by determining that the extra 
>character makes it a later file.  In this particular case, it happens 
>to be earlier and this K3, S/N 4762, didn't like it at all.
>
>On the plus side, I now know how to recover from a bad MCU load, the 
>first time this has happened to me in over 2 1/2 years of owning my K3.
>;-)
>
>73, de Nate, N0NB >>

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