Downloads
Instructions on Using the Windows M500 UPDATE for Updating the Software in the M500 Class Modem
Overview:
M500 Update is a Windows program that allows easy firmware update for M500 class satellite modems. The M500 Class modems include the PSM-500, PSM-500L, ASM5800, OSM300, M500, M500L and several other private label model numbers of satellite modems, all manufactured by Datum Systems, Inc.
Note: The Text and Pictures below use the software version of 0.72 or earlier as an example. The actual version will be the latest available, for example 0.77.
Application Specific Software:
The M500 Update program and the USB driver are the only two files necessary to perform an Update. Note this section has been revised in September 2008 to reflect the latest M500 Update program version 2.13. This latest version has two significant new capabilities over previous 1.xx and 2.00 versions.
- It is standalone and can operate in any version of Windows including Vista.
- It is capable of accessing our private ftp site to download and decompress the latest firmware required. Therefore it is possible to download just the new M500Up_date program only (plus the required USB driver) and have it perform the firmware file downloads as required. We still however offer the ability to download both individual and complete firmware sets.
M500 Update 2.20.zip New Update Version 2.20 (1,333K Bytes) The Windows stand alone executable version that can download from the web itself. This program can operate without web access, but we not be able to check for newer updates without it.
M500 Modem USB Driver.ZIP Version 2.04 (2.1 MBytes) Windows specific.
You can also use a more brute force technique by downloading the individual Unit and FEC files from the download page and store them in the same folder as the Update program. This setup is usable where you do not later have internet access allowing the Update program to simply use those files already stored.
For future updates the simplest method is to use the M500Up_date programs button to check the web site for updates. You can select either all updates, just for the currently connected modem or for the M500Up_date program itself. For manual modem and FEC updates you can download the latest .FBF files from the DOWNLOADS section and place them in the SAME folder that contains the M500Up_date.exe program. Make sure to also Download the latest FEC Option Card .FBF files at the same time.
To perform an update follow the steps below exactly.
If you have never run the Update program on this computer, it is first necessary to run the USB Driver Install program. Go to the Automatic Install USB folder from the CD that comes with the modem and then click on CDM_Setup.exe. You can also download this program from the web links here or on the download page, saving and un-zipping it in any convenient download location. When run it does the rest of the install of the USB Driver. If you are not sure if the driver has ever been installed, do the install again. This does not hurt anything, and it makes certain the computer is ready to run the M500Up_date.exe program.
Connect the PC to the modem's USB Control connection at J10 on the rear panel. This connection is via a standard USB A to B interface cable.
- Create a folder (directory) on the PC named for example "M500Update" or M500Tools. This folder can be anywhere you chose, for example in the main C:\ directory or in "My Documents" or some sub-directory of these as shown in the folder dialog below where the program and files are contained in "My Documents\M500 Tools\M500 Update".
- In Windows use the "My Computer" desktop icon to go the "M500 Update" directory created above. Check that the : "M500 Up_date.exe" at a minimum is present in this directory. Other files such as and "M500U0.xx.yyy.fbf" and or "M500F0.xx.yyy.fbf" files may also be present in this same directory depending on previous usage. "0.xx" on a binary file ending in ".fbf" represents the software revision of the binary image file.
This folder example shows version 0.72 Unit files in this case and the bin file is named "M500U0.72.000.fbf" for the 70 MHz IF modem. The binary file for the L-Band modem is "M500U0.72.040.fbf" and the separate file for the type 001 FEC card is "M500F0.30.001.fbf. You really don't need to worry about this since the update program determines which files are needed by the modem.
- In Windows double click on the "M500 Up_date.exe" icon. If this is the first time the M500 Up_date program is run it will attempt to check on the web for a later version of itself, offering a download if one is found.
- The Update program will analyze the modem and the files in the current directory and determine if an update is required as shown below.
If you press the "Update M500 FLASH" button updating will start. But first you should read step 5 below on checking for newer updates available from the web.
- If you would like to check the internet for new updates then you would click the lower button named "Check Internet for Updates". This should bring up the dialog shown below, from which you can select to download all new updates for all M500 series units plus all new FEC files. "New" in this case means later than are in the current directory or in the modem. You can also cancel, taking you back to the previous screen.
- Assuming that you have obtained newer firmware by whatever means you can now use the "Update M500 Flash" button to perform the transfer of the new firmware to the modem. During the transfer/update the following screen is displayed showing progress. The update will take 1 to 3 minutes. Do not interrupt the update process!
Note: The M500 Up_date program will disable most of it’s controls while updating. This is to avoid the chance of accidentally interrupting the Update. When the Update is finished, the program will return to normal.
After a few moments the display will change to say "Loading Flash Please Wait...." The windows box shows the progress as number of bytes loaded into the modem. When finished the modem will restart itself.
- When successfully completed the program will confirm that the modem unit and the installed FECs have the latest versions of firmware available and display “End”.
Press the "End" button to leave the program. Alternately if you are in front of multiple modems that require updating you can simply unplug the USB cable from the current unit and plug into the next unit to be updated. Continue the process for each modem requiring update.
In case of problems! --- Check the cable.
Other Notes on using the M500 Update Program
1. The M500 Up_date program automatically sorts out and uses the latest update version. So for future updates, just place all of the .FBF files in the same directory and let the program figure things out. Since this is an automatic program which figures out which files to use, it is not necessary to remove downrev .FBF files. Just make sure the latest versions are in the folder. The "Check Internet" function automatically downloads zipped files and unpacks them into the current directory.
2. The program may detect the need to update the FEC option and, if it does, it will automatically do that after updating the main board Flash.
3. This update program can be run directly from the CD ROM. You only need to copy it to your hard disk if you want to add later versions of the .FBF files.
4. Whenever you manually download a new update for the modem, make certain to also download the FEC Option files as well.