Challenger10 panels with any firmware versions prior to V10-02.3605 require an upgraded bootloader file before they can be upgraded to V10-02.3605 (or later).
Introduction
In order to upgrade a Challenger10 panel’s firmware to V10-02.3605 (or later) you need to upgrade a file referred to as “bootloader”. This upgrade must be
done locally by USB connection to a Windows PC running the Tecom Firmware Loader application.
After upgrading bootloader, you must then load Challenger10 panel firmware
.
WARNING: This process will default (erase) the panel’s programming.
Procedure
To upgrade the bootloader and firmware you need the following:
• A powered and functioning Challenger10 panel
• A Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port
• Access to the Challenger10 panel’s printed circuit board (PCB)
• A USB cable (Type A Male to Type B Mini Male) to connect the Windows computer to the Challenger panel’s PCB
• Tecom Firmware Loader V02.05.03523 (or later)
• Bootloader upgrade file (blupg_pcb1020-V02-03-3433.srec).
• Firmware upgrade file in the *.SREC format NOT *.ZIP
Firmware Loader.
See file attached at bottom of page.
You will need to backup or record any custom programming that you want to use
after upgrading the bootloader and firmware.
Upload the Challenger panel’s database to the management software computer.
After updating the firmware you will need to reconnect to the panel and then
download the Challenger panel’s database.
Note: Refer to the Challenger10 Installation and Quick Programming Manual for
the locations of any items referred to in this section.
Part 1—To upgrade bootloader: (If required)
See file attached at bottom of page.
1. Disconnect the panel’s power supply.
2. Fit test links 1 and 2 on the PCB.
3. Reconnect power to the panel. LED L1 will blink rapidly.
4. Use the USB cable to connect the computer to the Challenger panel’s USB
port at J18.
The first time you connect a Challenger panel to the computer’s USB port, the
Found New Hardware Wizard may display. If the Found New Hardware
Wizard does not display, go directly to step 8.
5. If the wizard asks “Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for
software?”, click to select the “No, not this time” radio button, and then click
Next.
6. If the wizard asks “What do you want the wizard to do?”, click to select the “Install from a list or specific location” radio button, and then click Next.
7. Click to select the “Search for the best driver in these locations” radio button, and then browse to include the location of the Tecom Firmware Loader
application in the search (for example, C:\Program Files\Tecom Firmware
Loader\inf_driver).
8. Run Tecom Firmware Loader (for example, double-click the file C:\Program Files\Tecom Firmware Loader\tecom-fw-loader_Vn.n.exe).
9. Click Select File… and then browse to the location of the bootloader upgrade file on your computer. Select the file and then click Open
10. Click Program File… to update the bootloader. The process will take several minutes. When finished, a “Programming is complete” message displays.
11. Disconnect the panel’s power supply.
12. Remove test links 1 and 2.
13. Reconnect power to the panel. LED L1 will flash for a time, and then begin to cycle to indicate that the bootloader has been upgraded and the firmware has
been erased.
Part 2—To upgrade firmware:
1. Disconnect the panel’s power supply.
2. Fit test links 1 and 2 on the PCB.
3. Reconnect power to the panel. LED L1 will blink rapidly.
4. Check the bootloader version displayed in Tecom Firmware Loader to ensure that the version corresponds to the bootloader upgrade file. (If it doesn’t match, then you need to repeat part 1 of this procedure.)
5. In Tecom Firmware Loader click Select File… and then browse to the location of the Challenger 10 panel firmware upgrade file on your computer (for
example, Challenger10_pcb1020_V10-02-3605.srec). Select the file and then click Open.
6. Click Program File… to update the panel firmware. The process will take several minutes. When finished, a “Programming is complete” message
displays.
7. Remove the USB cable from the Challenger panel.
8. Disconnect the panel’s power supply.
9. Remove test links 1 and 2.
10. Reconnect power to the panel. The panel should reboot and connect with RAS 1 on LAN 1. If the panel does not reboot, repeat the process from step 5.
11. Use Install menu option 11 Version, option 1, to display the Challenger version number. It should display the new version number.
12. If you uploaded the Challenger panel’s database to the management software computer, then you must reconnect to the panel and then download the
Challenger panel’s database. After updating the bootloader and firmware, then Titan Management Software
(version 3.1 or later) can be used for firmware updates.
Updating the firmware via Titan does not default the panel’s programming, and may be done remotely.
Note: Updating the firmware via Titan requires a special .zip file instead of an .srec file used by Tecom Firmware Loader.
See attached firmware loader software (tecom-fw-loader_V02.05.03523) and bootloader file (blupg_pcb1020-V02-03-3433.SREC)