Here is how you can load the latest software version of the NUE-PSK Digital Modem ... version 1.20.  We'll describe how to use the "field programming" feature of the modem to load up this latest release containing a few bug fixes and new features ...

 

     Important ... View the version 1.20 Release Notes to understand the changes presented in this latest release of modem software.

 

How To Load the New Modem Software

The technique is described in the NUE-PSK modem manual on page 10.  We'll provide some additional detail to help you along.  In general, the process is simply to power up the modem in a special way with the serial adapter connected, and then run a program called prog on your PC.

 

     Important ... If you haven't yet proved out your serial adapter connection between your PC and modem, you should first follow the steps outlined on the web page Serial Interface Checkout.  If you cannot do the operation specified there, you will not be successful trying to load new software into the modem here.

 

First, you'll need to "get ready" by first doing a couple of things ...

1) Determine what COM port number your USB or RS-232 serial port is -- You can find this out by clicking START and then right-clicking My Computer.  Select Properties and then the Hardware tab.  Click Device Manager and find the Ports line item in the list.  Expand that line item and see that the Communications Port will have a COM number shown.  That is the serial COM port number that you'll use.

 

2) Get the PROG program onto your local computer -- You can download prog from here.  Save the file in a convenient place, like at the root of your C drive.  (When your computer prompts for the save location, enter C:\  )
 

3) Download the latest modem software to your computer -- You can download the software file modem1_20FPE.zip, unzip the file, and place it in the same location as you did the prog program above.

So, now that you are ready, next perform the following steps to connect the PC to your modem using your serial port ...

4) Connect the serial interface between the NUE-PSK modem programming port and the PC -- You will typically need to connect your serial adapter to a serial port cable that is plugged into your computer, and then connect the adapter to the 4-position "Field Programming" pinheader (P4) located on the bottom side of the modem pc board, as accessed form the battery compartment. 

5) Open a Command Window on the PC -- You can bring up this window by clicking in START, Run ... and enter Command.  Navigate to where you saved the prog.exe program.  If this was at the root of the C drive, just enter CD \  .

6) Enter command to run the "prog" program -- From the prompt inside the Command Prompt window, type the following command line ... but do not yet press <Enter>.  For example, on my system that uses COM1 serial port, I would type ....  prog  -i  com1  modem1_20FPE.hex

7) Power up the modem in a special way -- Hold down the "Select" button on the Modem, while turning on the power switch.  This commands the modem to look to the serial port for about 10 seconds before it continues powering on normally.  Then quickly, within these 10 seconds of turning on the modem, press the "Enter" key on the PC keyboard to execute the command you previously entered.

8) See the PC screen start displaying the downloading indicators  -- See the PC screen show a series of "periods" as the software gets downloaded to the modem and burned into flash.  You will see about 3 rows of the periods and then it will stop.  At that point the modem will automatically restart and you'll see the splash screen display the new version number "1.20".

Note:  Occasionally, due to some timing problems we believe in Windows, an error may be reported in the Command Prompt window when attempting to run the prog program.  The error may say something about a "Visual C++" problem, or a "buffer overrun" problem.  Most often just clicking "abort" and re-executing our command line again from the same Command Prompt window will work.  (Many systems automatically re-enter the same command line as previously entered by merely hitting the <up arrow>.)

9) Remove the serial adaptor/cable and you're ready to enjoy the new modem capabilities!

 

 

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