Comfort Automation/ Security System Forums

Now that the Flash parts are available for G2, I\'m intending to upgrade soon by purchasing a new UCM05 to replace one of my older UCM01\'s, and a new flash firmware module.

However, from what I\'ve read, and from discussions with other users, it appears that I may well not be able to achieve what I was hoping this new hardware would enable: namely, a straightforward \"software only\" process for upgrading firmware... By which I mean, not having to perform major hardware surgery every time, - which is the current situation...

As we know, with the current OTP part, firmware upgrade involves replacing the module. This in turn means removing the LEM from its normal mount stacked on the mainboard, right over the processor socket (and reset button BTW). This is fairly major surgery requiring complete power-down of the system, setting up some kind of siren hold-off for the duration etc... I was hoping that a comfort flash process would be as simple as doing a PC motherboard BIOS flash update is these days, and would (at the very least) remove the need to almost completely disassemble the system in order to do it.

It appears though, that this may not be the case, as certainly the docs that I\'ve seen for the flash parts still specify the removal of the module from the mainboard, before connecting the programming cable to the PP1 port. Clearly this still requires all the palaver mentioned above, and is in no way an improvement over what we have today. I\'d *REALLY* like to be able to fit the firmware module, connect the programming cable to the PP1 port, replace the LEM over the top of it, and never have to touch it again! - Is it really not possible to do an in-place flash? Further, I was hoping that I could also leave the programming cable connected to the UCM05 as well, so that all the components can be safely and conveniently locked away in their enclosures, however, it\'s been suggested that this isn\'t possible as it causes comms failures.

If it really isn\'t possible, then the LEM being mounted right over the top of it has got to go, as it just isn\'t workable to have to remove it every time a flash is required. Therefore, I\'d like to mount it beside the mainboard rather than on top of it, and I\'d appreciate any pointers on whether this is likely to cause any issues? Is the ribbon cable long enough for example?

It\'s got to be said, that as much as I like the Comfort system, the whole design of the hardware mounting arrangements doesn\'t appear to have been very well thought through....

Cheers.

Paul G.

You will not have to remove the LEM in order to upgrade the firmware if you do the following
1 - Make sure you have the latest UCM05 firmware 5.156. This does not require a login for firmware upgrade.
2 - Use Comfigurator 2.2.2 which does not ask for login when you upgrade firmware
3 - Plug in the MPU Flash module on the Comfort II PCB, and keep the UCM upgrade cable (supplied with UCM05) connected permanently at PP1 of the MPU board.  There is enough room above this for the LEM to sit on its standoffs.
4 - Keep the shunt at PP2 of the MPU board permanentely inserted. We recommend that it be removed after firmware download but Comfort will work with it there. (It is just a pullup resistor)
5 - When you need to do a firmware upgrade, connect the other ends of the UCM upgrade cable (with two connectors) to the UCM05.

When the upgrade cable is connected to Comfort, all RS485 communications is stopped. Hence the Keypads and Door stations will start beeping after about 10 seconds of lost communications. Just press any key on the keypad or Door station to stop the beeping.

6 - Go ahead with the firmware download
7 - Disconnect the programming cable from the UCM05 (no need to switch off Comfort)

We will update the procedure in UCM05

Otherwise, there is a longer ribbon cable available if you elect to mount the LEM on the enclosure base. There should be no problems as Comfort I LEM was mounted in this way

Excellent news, thanks Chiu. This will make life considerably easier.

Paul G.

What is home automation for if not to make our lives easier?

I just tried to upgrade the firmware on Comf 222.

 

I get the \"UCM Rejected Request\" error

Pulled the firmware upgrade chip off and tried the old way (flash connected to UCM05 but not to comfort) - same error

 

Put Comf 221 on another machine - that worked fine.

We have figured out the reasons for this.

Comfigurator 2.2.1 requres a user login code in order to do the firmware download.

This would not work for a download to a Comfort with Flash MPU plugged in,  because during firmware programming, that Comfort would not be working.  It would work if the MPU01 was by itself, ie not plugged in to Comfort.

In order for firmware download to work for MPU01 plugged in to Comfort (as it would be more convenient not to have to unplug the MPU01 for reprogramming), the login should not be required.

Comfigurator 2.2.2 did away with the login window. However the UCM still required it, hence the firmware download request is rejected (\"UCM rejected Request\")


We have changed the UCM Firmware to 5.156 which does not require a login code for Firmware download. Hence when you upgrade the UCM05 to this version you will not have this problem. (Note that you need anither UCM05 to do so)

With pre-5.156 UCM05 you can still use Comfigurator 2.2.2 to upgrade firmware
You need one more step. Before the firmwware download, do Transfer > System information. This will ask for a login. Enter your user code. This logs in the UCM, and allows the Firmware download to go ahead.

We will put in specific instructions for these circumstances.
Also we will provide information on the website as to the features of the new firmware that we release

OK, - first problem... the programming cable is only about 30cm long... - long enough in other words to only be able to reach a UCM05 mounted inside the main enclosure... mine is mounted in a seperate enclosure adjacent to the main box, but still way more than 30cm away...  Any suggestions as to how to get around that one? - please don\'t say put the UCM in the main enclosure, there is absolutely not sufficient room for that....

Is a longer programming cable available? - if not, is this for good reason? - i.e. would the data transfer become unreliable over a cable that is any longer? - otherwise, could the existing cable be cut & extended?

Why, oh why, does everything have to be such hard work!?!?!?

Cheers.

Paul G.

OK, given that I want to get this fitted and move on to the next job, I bit the bullet, did a *major* rejigging excercise, and I\'ve mounted the UCM05 inside the main panel, displacing a RIO which has had to be moved out to the auxilliary enclosure. - This wasn\'t easy since there\'s very little room in the main panel, and it was almost impossible to acommodate the UCM *with* the serial cable plugged into the RS232 socket, - this protrudes a good 3cm or so, and whatever way round I tried, it fouled with an adjacent module (or the mounting pillars thereof). Eventually I just managed to squeeze it in by using some shorter pillars scavenged from a PC motherboard. These allowed me to mount the UCM at a lower height than the adjacent modules, and the end of the RS232 plug just about slides beneath the main board, - it\'s actually touching the underside of the main board, just at the central join between the analog & digital sections... (only lightly though, & not stressing the join)

This appears to be OK, and now the programming cable can reach the UCM programming ports.. - it does of course mean that whenever I need to flash, I still have to take the cover off the main enclosure, - thereby setting off the tamper alarm - unless I disable the tamper for the case cover, which I suppose I\'ll have to do... (sigh) - because, as we know, the programming cable can\'t be left connected since it kills the RS485 comms... (sigh)

If a longer programming cable is available - or becomes available, I\'d like to revert to how I originally designed it so that all the UCMs are in the secondary enclosure...

Then I\'d like to ease the hassle by fitting a switch in the programming cable so that it doesn\'t have to be physically plugged & unplugged each time - again this should be fairly simple to do: a small board with a pair of PP1-style headers and a 4PST switch between them to make-or-break the connection...

Question: - can the 2-pin PP3 part of the cable be left connected to the UCM permanently?

I Still can\'t help thinking that by the standards of the day, this entire flash upgrade process is clunky, awkward, backwards, and not very well designed or implemented... - sorry, but it just is...

Paul G.