K3 Firmware Uploads

[J.A. Wolf, MD, K6JW]

   When I try to upload new firmware, I seem to get frequent failures during the FPF load. This has happened both with 3.44 and 3.52. The upload fails at different stages of the FPF load each time, seemingly with no consistency or predictability. With repeated tries, the process finally completes and the remainder of the upload goes without a hitch. Am I alone in this, or is this a problem others have seen?
--Jeff, K6JW
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[Julian, G4ILO]

J.A. Wolf, MD, K6JW wrote

   When I try to upload new firmware, I seem to get frequent failures during the FPF load. This has happened both with 3.44 and 3.52. The upload fails at different stages of the FPF load each time, seemingly with no consistency or predictability. With repeated tries, the process finally completes and the remainder of the upload goes without a hitch. Am I alone in this, or is this a problem others have seen?

It crops up fairly often, with people who use USB to serial adapters. If you have a desktop PC, consider purchasing a PCI serial board to give yourself a real serial port.

[David Pratt]

>J.A. Wolf, MD, K6JW wrote:
>>
>>    When I try to upload new firmware, I seem to get frequent failures
>> during the FPF load. This has happened both with 3.44 and 3.52. The upload
>> fails at different stages of the FPF load each time, seemingly with no
>> consistency or predictability. With repeated tries, the process finally
>> completes and the remainder of the upload goes without a hitch. Am I alone
>> in this, or is this a problem others have seen?
>>
>>

In a recent message, "Julian, G4ILO" <[hidden email]> wrote ...
>It crops up fairly often, with people who use USB to serial adapters. If you
>have a desktop PC, consider purchasing a PCI serial board to give yourself a
>real serial port.

Desktop owners may not even need to buy a PCI board as most motherboards
already have a serial connection.  All is needed is a 10-pin header to
feed the port to D-9 plug on a back plate.  It often puzzles me as to
why so many people need to get a USB to serial adapter when all is
needed is a bit of simple electronics.  Perhaps this is beyond many of
today's radio amateurs ;-(

Of course, if a laptop/notebook computer is being used maybe an adapter
is the only way.

73
--
David G4DMP
Leeds, England, UK
------



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[4Z5TO]

Try a different baud rate. Start at 4800.

[Julian, G4ILO]

4Z5TO wrote

Try a different baud rate. Start at 4800.

The baud rate used for firmware uploads is determined by the firmware utility. I think it uses 38400.

Surprisingly, slow baud rates often cause more problems with USB adapters than fast ones.

[Mike Scott-7]

>Jeff Said...   When I try to upload new firmware, I seem to get frequent
failures during the FPF load.



I used to get failed loads all the time. Then I worked with Dick and he
found a bug that affects some K3s but not all and definitely not his K3.

Check which version of the K3 Utility you are using. If you have not updated
very recently your problem might be fixed if you do. I am running version
1.2.10.23

Mike Scott - AE6WA
Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA)
NAQCC 3535
K3-100 #508 / KX1  #1311


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[James Denneny]

Do not use a usb/serial adaptor with K3 Utility.  Dick N6KR suggested I
change to straight RS232 serial connection.  That largely cured problem.  I
still get an occasional failure of FPF or DSP1 with RS232 serial cable but a
repeat download always captures the file.

 

Jim

K7EG

 

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[AC7AC]

CONTENTS DELETED

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[Grant Youngman]

I'm using a Keyspan USB-Serial adaptor.  I have had no failures,  
glitches, stops, or problems of any kind through 21 firmware updates  
(Knock on wood).

Maybe it's because I'm using a Mac? :-)

gy


On Oct 30, 2009, at 12:23 PM, Jim & Nancy Denneny wrote:

> Do not use a usb/serial adaptor with K3 Utility.  Dick N6KR  
> suggested I
> change to straight RS232 serial connection.  That largely cured  
> problem.  I
> still get an occasional failure of FPF or DSP1 with RS232 serial  
> cable but a
> repeat download always captures the file.

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[Dick Dievendorff]

Just one minor correction:

Wayne Burdick, Elecraft's CTO, is N6KR.
Dick Dievendorff, a part-time Elecraft employee, is K6KR.

I think that's a good part of why I got the job with Elecraft...

Dick, K6KR


-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jim & Nancy Denneny
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:23 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Firmware Uploads

> Dick N6KR suggested I change to straight RS232 serial connection.  


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[Niel Skousen-2]

I used the Elecraft USB-Serial adapter for some time, then gradually  
(over about 4~5) firmware updates, various 'weirdness' began to  
appear.   Finally  i could no longer complete my firmware updates, and  
I had a K3-Brick.    I got IMMEDIATE input from David Fleming  
(K3Utility Mac developer) and Gary Surrency at Elecraft on the issues,  
and both recommended the KeySpan adapter for me.

It fixed it, and is working flawlessly...

Use the KeySpan 19HS adapter

Niel


On Oct 30, 2009, at 11:36 AM, Grant Youngman wrote:

> I'm using a Keyspan USB-Serial adaptor.  I have had no failures,
> glitches, stops, or problems of any kind through 21 firmware updates
> (Knock on wood).
>
> Maybe it's because I'm using a Mac? :-)
>
> gy
>
>
> On Oct 30, 2009, at 12:23 PM, Jim & Nancy Denneny wrote:
>
>> Do not use a usb/serial adaptor with K3 Utility.  Dick N6KR
>> suggested I
>> change to straight RS232 serial connection.  That largely cured
>> problem.  I
>> still get an occasional failure of FPF or DSP1 with RS232 serial
>> cable but a
>> repeat download always captures the file.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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[wayne burdick]

Dick Dievendorff wrote:

> Just one minor correction:
>
> Wayne Burdick, Elecraft's CTO, is N6KR.
> Dick Dievendorff, a part-time Elecraft employee, is K6KR.
>
> I think that's a good part of why I got the job with Elecraft...

Actually, it's because you have more hair than N6KR, WA6HHQ, and KK7P  
combined. We no longer get accused of discriminating against the  
hirsute.

Wayne
(the "real" N6KR)


>
> Dick, K6KR
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
>> Dick N6KR suggested I change to straight RS232 serial connection.


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[VE3NFK]

My real job is computers - macs and pc's since 1981..... and in the Ham world, Beta tester for TRX-Manager among others. After lots of trouble with USB-Serial; I have found that the FTDI chip is the solution - they are available easily everywhere - the software is updated by the company; and they work with macs. pc's, and linux boxes.  You can 'tweak' and change com ports easily from the device manager.  YMMV

73  John VE3NFK

J.A. Wolf, MD, K6JW wrote

   When I try to upload new firmware, I seem to get frequent failures during the FPF load. This has happened both with 3.44 and 3.52. The upload fails at different stages of the FPF load each time, seemingly with no consistency or predictability. With repeated tries, the process finally completes and the remainder of the upload goes without a hitch. Am I alone in this, or is this a problem others have seen?
--Jeff, K6JW
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