Echotrac MKIII Operator's Manual 4.06
Page 41 of 48
January 21, 2019
9 UPLOADING FIRMWARE
The Echotrac MKIII has 8 processors, 5 of which can be uploaded with new firmware through the serial ports. The
other 3 perform low-level tasks and require only infrequent upgrades. The firmware in the three modules use
Motorola processors. The Front Panel CPU, Printer CPU and Communication CPU are upgradeable through Com 1
on the MKIII. The Motorola processors are the main processors in the system. The version numbers of the three
processors must be the same. The firmware on the two DSP processors needs to be upgraded from the serial ports
on each of the DSPs. The firmware on both DSPs must be the same but not necessarily the three Motorola
processors.
This section refers to the Echotrac Control Program, but the sounder can also be controlled by Odom eChart, the
serial port, or third party applications.
9.1 Upgrading Motorola Processor Firmware
The flash upgrading program will run on computers running Windows 95/98, Win NT, Windows 2000 and
Windows XP. The other requirement is that the computer must have an on board serial port number 1 through 4.
We have had success using PC Card serial ports but not USB adaptor serial ports.
Care must also be taken to ensure the Echotrac MKIII does not lose power or the serial connection becomes
disconnected when performing the software upgrade.
The Echotrac must be functioning correctly and all version numbers valid in order for the flash upgrade to work.
The Printer Module must also be connected.
1. Install the Odom Flash Utility by Unzipping the OdomFlash.zip file in a directory. After the file is
uncompressed, run the setup.exe file to install the program. Follow the instructions.
2. To upgrade the Motorola processors you need the new binary files MK3FPNL.bin, MK3COMM.bin and
MK3PRINT.bin. These files must be obtained from Odom Hydrographic Systems Inc. The files are not on the
web site, but are forwarded by email or on a CD disk. Once these files have been obtained, put them in a
known folder in the computer with the Odom Flash Program.
3. Power the Echotrac MKIII to Standby, go to the System Menu and reset the unit. Go to the Communication
Menu and set the baud rate of Com1 to 19200.
4. Connect the serial port of the computer to Com1 on the back panel of the Echotrac MKIII.
5. Start the Odom Flash program. Under Select Model, make sure Echotrac MK3 is selected. Under the Bin
Folder, click on the Browse button and select the folder containing the MK3FPNL.bin, MK3COMM.bin and
MK3PRINT.bin files. Click on the Upload button.
6. The LCD display on the Echotrac MKIII panel should display a "Flash Mode" message and the Flash Program
will upgrade the firmware. Do not interrupt the process.
If the upgrading procedure fails and the Echotrac MKIII fails to display a version number for one of the modules after
cycling the power, the flash chips in that module must be replaced with a working set of flash chips.
9.2 Upgrading DSP Firmware and Transceiver Processor Firmware
Upgrading the firmware on the DSPs is a little more involved than upgrading the firmware on the three main
processors but should not need to be done to often. Upgrading of the firmware requires a special serial cable that
can be ordered from Odom Hydrographic Systems, Inc. The firmware for the DSPs is not on our web site so it
needs to be obtained by email or sent on a disk. There are two methods for upgrading the DSP: Serhost.exe and
OdomFlash. We recommend using OdomFlash and the DSP2407(A).hex file which would be the easiest way to
flash upgrade the DSP. The steps below explain using the serhost.exe or OdomFlash utility (2.1 or higher).
The flash upgrading software for the DSPs will run on a computer under Windows 95/98, Win NT and Windows
2000. We have had problems running the upgrade program with Windows XP. The computer must have a serial
port numbered 1 or 2.
Summary of Contents for Echotrac MKIII
Page 4: ......
