CIRCUITWERKES: Sicon-8 Firmware Updates

Web Servers cannot be field upgraded via a flash file. They can be upgraded by trading in older versions for newer ones. The hardware is the same, but the newer ones have different programming to match the latest main firnware. This requires a hardware swap. If your Web server is v1.3 to v1.5 AND you have a main firmware of 1.34 or newer, then you should be able to upgrade your main firmware to 1.36 (see notes below). If your Web server is 1.2 or earlier, then upgrading will require a hardware swap. We do not suggest upgrading past v1.36 unless you already have v1.38+ supplied by the factory.

Customers with main firmware version 1.38 can upgrade to version 1.39 without any hardware swapping. Customers with version 1.37 can also upgrade to version 1.39, however, v1.37 users will not receive the "uncrash-able" bootloader, so there is still a chance that your system could hang during a future upgrade. We suggest contacting us for a chip swap rather than perform the upgrade via a firmware flash.

General Notes:
The Sicontroller software includes the ability to update the Sicon-8's firmware when new features are added or when bugs are discovered. Generally, it is a good idea to update the firmware whenever a new version is released. Before upgrading, you should verify that your firmware is older than the upgrade. You can check your firmware revision via DTMF command 96 which will cause the Sicon-8 to speak its version number. From the software, you can click on the "Help" menu and then the "About" button to read the current firmware revision number. After verifying that your firmware is older, use the Sicontroller software to download your current configuration data from the Sicon-8 because it is sometimes necessary to reset the Sicon-8s to their factory default states after upgrading the firmware (see below). If you have used the software to save the configuration data locally, you can upload it back to the Sicon-8 in a few seconds, if necessary.

The "Site" Menu of the Sicontroller lets you start the update process to update the Sicon-8's firmware. In many cases, updating the firmware can be done without loosing any user defined programming, however, sometimes changes are made that require reprogramming your Sicon-8. As stated above, before starting a firmware update, It is always advisable to first download the current parameters from your Sicon-8 and store them as an export file from the Sicontroller software in case something happens during the update process that requires a reset of your Sicon-8 hardware.

Critical note for firmware version 1.22/1.23 users: If your Sicon-8 originally shipped with firmware version 1.22 or 1.23, it requires a chip swap, which is a free upgrade. Field upgrading of v1.22 or 1.23 firmware via the Sicontroller software may result in an unrecoverable lockup and should not be attempted unless you can be without your Sicon-8 while a new chip is mailed to you. Check your firmware via the "about" menu of the Sicontroller software's "help" section, or by dialing DTMF 96 while connected via telephone. If your Sicon-8 reports version 1.22 or 1.23, and you want to try the upgrade, you should first remove the top cover of your Sicon-8 and look at the hand written number on top of the 40 pin main CPU chip. If that number is 1.22 or 1.23, then the upgrade must be done via chip swap. If your firmware number is not 1.22 or 1.23, or if you have previously upgraded your firmware sucessfully, then it should be safe to try the upgrade. If you require a chip-swap, you can request a new chip and then return your old one to us after installing the new one.

Caveats:

When upgrading your Sicon-8 firmware, be aware that some of the early processor chipsets used in the Sicon-8 required slightly different firmware timing in order to work properly. If your Sicon-8 has firmware version 1.17 or higher, then your chips should continue to work with most upgrades, up to v1.36 and excluding v1.22 or 1.23. If your firmware is below 1.17, there is a chance that your Sicon-8 may not work properly after the upgrade. If you're not sure, or if your Sicon-8 does not function properly after an upgrade, we will have to send new processor chips to you rather than upgrade via the software. If your Sicon-8 has an older firmware version currently installed, please contact us before you do the upgrade. Current upgrades have been tested with various newer versions of the processors and have been found to work with all of them, however, if you experience any difficulty, please contact us for replacement chips. If you do require replacement chips, your Sicon-8 will be fully flash upgradable in the future.

We recommend against trying to perform any firmware upgrade via any Serial-to-Ethernet converters. We suggest that you perform the upgrade only when you can achieve a direct serial connection to the Sicon-8.

For proper functioning, your Sicon-8 will be reset to factory defaults after the upgrade. Before doing starting the upgrade, we suggest using your existing software to export your site files so that your operating parameters can be saved and easily re-uploaded after the upgrade (see below).

Upgrade Proceedure:

After installing the appropriate version of the SicontrollerYou should first do one of the two following actions:

1. Use the software to upload the current site file information (assuming that you had previously saved config data to a local file) to your Sicon-8 after the upgrade, or
2. Download the current setup information, from your Sicon-8 hardware, to your software and save that data, then later upload it after the upgrade.

You will also need to download and/or save any event schedules that you have previously uploaded to your Sicon-8.

After downloading / saving your current configuration data and also using the export function of the Sicontroller software to make a safe backup copy of your configuration data, you should install the very latest version of the Sicontroller software, if you had previously installed version 0.994 because you had an older firmware revision.

Next, use the new Sicontroller software's "Upgrade Firmware" function, found in the "Site" menu to update your Sicon-8's firmware to the latest version.

After upgrading, Your Sicon-8 will be reset to factory defaults and your configuration data will be destroyed. To avoid setting your unit up from scratch, be sure to save your configuration data in the software, first. We also advise that you use the export function of the software to make a backup copy of your site data.

Resetting your Sicon-8 to Defaults:

Your Sicon-8 should automatically return itself to factory defaults after an upgrade, however, it can alos be manually returned to factory default settings at power up by holding the remote/local button in for 15 seconds as power is first applied. Resetting the Sicon-8 will either erase or disable most user-defined programming that was in the Sicon-8. Things that are not erased include alarm limits values & phone numbers, but those are all disabled. All hardware access codes are reset to null except the super-admin password that is reset to 6736 for dial-up & 12345678 for data. Your Sicontroller software will not connect to the hardware until you, temporarily, change your super administrator access code, in the software's configuration menu to 12345678. Once connected, you can reprogram your own access code and re-upload it, then all codes to the Sicon-8 hardware. Stored words or sounds are not erased when the Sicon-8 is reset. They are overwritten only when re-recorded and therefore, cannot be restored to factory defaults. They can only be re-recorded or re-uploaded, if desired.

Uploading Your Configuration Data After a Reset:

Items that will need to be restored or reprogrammed after the upgrade are:

1. Access Codes (both telephone and serial will require reprogramming)
2. Configuration data
3. Meter calibrations may have to be redone
4. Event Schedules must be re-uploaded.

5. The internal clock should maintain its time, but should be checked.

Note: Event schedules, if any are used, must be re-uploaded after the upgrade. Events are saved/exported using the event scheduler and are not part of the normal configuration saves. The event scheduler is used to reboot the Web server periodically. We have found that refreshing the Web server once or twice a day helps it stay connected to some networks. We strognly suggest that you continue to reboot the Web server, periodically, using the event scheduler. A sample schedule fle can be downloaded by right clicking here.

Note that resetting the Sicon-8 to default will not require reprogramming any custom vocabulary, but in addition to re-uploading the configuration data to your Sicon-8, you will need to recalibrate your Sicon-8 because calibrations are not automatically restored during an upload. The calibration information should already be loaded into each channel's calibrate form. All you will need to do is check the value and upload the value to the Sicon-8 hardware when satisfied that the numbers are correct.