Plena Voice Alarm System Firmware update 1. Introduction It is advised to update a Bosch Plena Voice Alarm System with the latest released firmware. This Application Note describes how a firmware update of a system can be done. Note that all units present in one system must have the same firmware version. For each unit specific firmware is available. 2. General A firmware update is performed by connecting a RS 232 cable from a PC to a Plena Voice Alarm System unit. In case a PC doesn t have a dedicated RS 232 connection a USB to RS 232 converter can be used. Note that there is another Application Note called Plena USB and USB to RS-232 convertor matters in case you encounter problems with this type of connection. A direct RS 232 connection is the preferred way of connecting your PC to a Plena Voice Alarm System unit. When using a laptop without a RS 232 connection a docking station with a RS 232 connection can be used. 3. Definitions, acronyms and abbreviations AN Application note HW Hardware SW Software COM1 Com port 1 19-Sep-13 Plena application note 1-7
4. Software download Software and tools are available on the Plena Voice Alarm System CD which can be downloaded via the Bosch Product Catalog on the internet. Go to http://products.boschsecuritysystems.eu/ Select Public Address (PA) and Voice alarm. In the next screen click on PA, Commercial Sound and Emergency Sound. Choose Plena Public Address and Voice Alarm and select LBB 1990/00 Plena Voice Alarm Controller. Click on the tab Software(1). A Bosch Security Systems License Agreement for Software will pop up. Click on OK and the window below will appear. A file called PlenaVAS [zip] can be downloaded here by clicking >en. Save the file on your computer and unzip it. A directory with a number of subfolders will be extracted. One of the folders is called Tools. Select that folder and go to the folder called Firmware. Here the available firmware versions will be available. 19-Sep-13 Plena application note 2-7
5. Firmware upgrade All units present in one system must have the same firmware version. For each unit specific firmware is available. In the example below we will describe how to perform a firmware update of the wave player in the Plena Voice Alarm System. 1. Connect a PC with RS 232 cable (direct of via USB converter) to the LBB 1990/00, see example below: Full wired straight RS-232 Connect to the lower RS-232 port 2. Go to the folder on your PC with the firmware version you want to update. Look for an executable called Firmware-update.exe and click on it. A window as in the screenshot below will open. 19-Sep-13 Plena application note 3-7
3. Make sure the COM port is correct. Depending on the type of connection you are using the com port has to set accordingly. Check with the Device Manager on your computer which port you are connected to (serial Communications Port or USB-to-Serial Comm Port). 4. Below the Com port drop down selection there are three main units listed: LBB 1990 Plena Voice Alarm Controller LBB 1992 Plena Voice Alarm Router LBB 1996 Plena Voice Alarm Remote Control Note that for the Plena Voice Alarm Remote Control three types of equipment are listed: LBB 1996 Remote Control Panel (also for kit, LBB 1998) LBB 1997 Remote Control Panel Extension (also for kit, LBB 1999) LBB 1995 Fireman s Panel All these units must be updated individually. Each unit has a RS 232 connection and a switch on the back of the unit that will enable a firmware update. Make sure to select the proper firmware update button for each specific unit in case a remote control panel or extension must be updated. 5. The Plena Voice Alarm Controller contains three parts that must be updated: LBB 1990 Main Controller LBB 1990 Internal Router LBB 1990 Wave Player When updating a Plena Voice Alarm Controller all three parts must be updated individually. 19-Sep-13 Plena application note 4-7
In the example below we will update the LBB 1990 Wave Player: Click on LBB 1990 Wave Player and follow the instructions on screen. The window below will pop up: Make sure that the DIP switches are in the exact position as shown on screen. These DIP switches are located on the back of the controller somewhere in the middle, see picture below: When the DIP switches are put in the proper position press OK. A command window will open, see example below: 19-Sep-13 Plena application note 5-7
The firmware update is now started. In the command window text lines will start scrolling. At the end of some lines you will notice the following: error: 0. This means that the update up to that point is OK. If an error occurs the update will stop and you will be notified in the command window. The controller at that point will be in a fault state which is visible at the front fault indication: Processor reset. It is advised to start the update again when this occurs. When the update has completed successfully a notification will be displayed in the command window. Press any key to finish the update and follow the instruction on the screen as in the screenshot below: It is important to return the DIP switches to their default setting as shown in the screenshot. This will put the controller back into its normal operation mode. In order to complete the full update of the LBB 1990 make sure that all three parts of the LBB 1990 as already mentioned are updated by repeating this procedure for each part. 6. Configuration In order to be able to configure the Plena Voice Alarm system Bosch provides configuration software that matches the firmware release. This means that when a system is updated also the configuration must be updated as well by using the Plena Voice Alarm System Configuration which has the same version as the firmware itself. For instance when the system firmware version is 3.00.03 also the configuration software version 3.00.03 must be used. Or when the system firmware version is 2.16.08 also the configuration software version 2.16.08 must be used. The Plena Voice Alarm System Configuration software is also available on the Plena Voice Alarm System CD. In the folder called Tools there is a subfolder called PC Software. The folder VAS Config Software contains the executable for the Plena Voice Alarm System Configuration software installation. The configuration software allows you to check the system version of the complete system with exception of the Remote Control Panel Extensions. It will identify the following details of the Plena Voice Alarm System: Connected units (routers, call stations, remote control panels) Hardware version Software version 19-Sep-13 Plena application note 6-7
When you open the Plena Voice Alarm System Configuration software click on Help in the taskbar on the top left corner, see picture below: Click on Check System Version and the Version information as shown in the picture on the right will appear. Note that the router with identification 0 is the internal router of the controller, LBB 1990. On the top right of this window there are three radio buttons available. With these buttons you can check the version of: Routers Call stations Remote control panels By default the version of the main controller is displayed and the Version of routers is selected and displayed. In case more than 9 routers are defined in a system press the button. This will display the version of router 10 to 19. If there is any mismatch in a Firmware version you must update that particular unit with the same firmware version as the other units present in the system. 19-Sep-13 Plena application note 7-7