Overview

This Technical Brief describes how to upload firmware into the RV-M7 transceiver.  The RV-M7 series transceivers utilize a Phillips ARM-based Microprocessor with internal FLASH memory.

All RV-M7-GX series transceiver use an LPC2136 processor, which has 256kB of flash memory.

Phillips Semiconductor provides a utility to upload firmware into the microprocessor. Their program is called “LPC2000 Flash Utility” This utility may be used in the field to upload new firmware into the RV-M7 series transceivers.

Firmware updating information and software revision implications is also available in Application Note AN136 which is in .pdf form. 

1.0 Uploading Firmware

1. Extract the .zip files if the firmware update was supplied in .zip format.

2. Open the Philips Flash Utility Installation.exe file inside the LPC21xx folder. The version must be V2.2.3 or higher. Version 2.2.3 is available <here>. Walk through the installation steps to install the Philips Flash Utility program. The Utility program should open when the installation is complete. The Utility program window is shown below.

3. Select the appropriate COM port from the Connected To Port pull-down menu.

4. Set the baud rate to 19200 from the Use Baud Rate pull-down menu.

5. Set the XTAL Freq (kHz) to 20000.

6. Select the appropriate file to upload to the modem. The file name will end in a .hex extension.

7. Remove the four Phillips panhead screws securing the modem’s rear panel to the housing. You don’t need to disconnect the SMA GPS cable from the rear panel.

8. Carefully remove the rear panel from the modem housing. The internal SMA GPS cable has a 2” service loop to allow access to the modem’s CONFIG button. The CONFIG button location is shown below.

9. Set a DC power supply for +12VDC. Set the power supply output OFF.

10. Connect the PC serial port to the modem’s DB9 front panel connector.

11. Connect the modem’s green 2-pin power connector to the power supply.

12. Press and hold the modem CONFIG button. Set the power supply output to ON, wait approximately 2 seconds, and release the CONFIG button. If these steps were performed correctly the modem’s current draw should be approximately 30mA.

13. Press the Read Device ID button on the Philips Utility program window to establish communication with the modem. A reset message saying “Please reset your LPC2000 board now and then press OK!” will appear. DO NOT RESET POWER TO THE MODEM. Press the OK button. A “Read Part ID Successfully” message will appear in the lower left corner of the Flash Utility program window.

Note: When the Read Device ID button is pressed the Utility program may display a “Cannot communicate with test board!” message. Disregard this message. Press the OK button and press the Read Device ID button again to establish communications with the modem.

14. Press the Upload to Flash button on the Philips Utility program window to upload the 2F700GXB5.hex file to the modem’s flash memory. The Utility program will display a “File Upload Successfully Completed” in the lower left corner when the file upload is completed.

15. Repeat steps 7 through 14 for any additional units.

2.0 Configuring the Modem

1. Close the Philips Flash Utility program.

2. Open a terminal program with port settings of 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and flow control off. The bps setting will depend on the previous modem configuration of the ATBD setting. For modem ID: 0001 and 0002 set the bps setting to 38400 and for modem ID: 0003 set the bps setting to 4800.

3. Set a DC power supply for +12VDC.

4. Connect the PC serial port to the modem’s DB9 front panel connector.

5. Connect the modem’s green 2-pin power connector to the power supply.

6. Type “+++” on the terminal program to enter the modem’s configuration mode.

7. Configure the product per the user manual and instructions in AN136.

3. Firmware Versions

In most cases, the firmware in an M7 must be udated at the factory because updated radio modems should be completely re-calibrated and all parameters initialized.  But, in certain cases it may be possible to perform the upgrade in the field.  AN136 lists the parameters which must be re-calibrated or initialed when doing a firmware upgrade. 

Below are links to firmware for the M7 data radio modem. 

Revsion C1 hex file

Revision C1 zipped