AMPLIFIER ARCHITECTURE Tseries amplifiers are based on a flexible architecture that was developed for being expandable. The minimum configuration is based on two boards, named KFRONT and KCNTRL. The first handles the front panel display and the smart card reader/writer, the latter one supervises the amplifier and the power supply and performs the remote control thru RS485 port. Each board has its own microcontroller and its own firmware. In the amplifier can be installed as well a DSP board. This board is named KDSP and hosts two processors (and two firmware): a powerful SHARC DSP supported by a microcontroller. In the amplifier can be installed as well an Ethernet remote control board, called KAESOP. This board carries also 2 streams of AES3 digital audio. Here is another microcontroller along with its own firmware. The possible TSeries amplifier configurations are: Basic amplifier: KFRONT + KCNTRL DSP amplifier: KFRONT + KCNTRL + KDSP microcontroller + KDSP SHARC processor AESOP amplifier: KFRONT + KCNTRL + KAESOP (without KDSP!) DSP+AESOP amplifier: KFRONT + KCNTRL + KDSP microcontroller & SHARC processor + KAESOP The fully populated configuration is formed by a total of 5 CPUs (and 5 firmware). Firmware versions for the microcontrollers are expressed by the series name and a X.Y.Z-B string, where X.Y.Z is the version, and B the build count (useless for end users). The SHARC processor instead has a progressive version number (for example 2000). Firmware upgrades consists of: 1) one smartcard for the KFRONT, KCNTRL, KDSP microcontroller and the SHARC processor, labelled with the firmware version of microcontrollers (i.e. 5.3.4) and SHARC firmware version (3034) 2) one kaesop_x.y.z.bin file for the KAESOP microcontroller, where X.Y.Z is the version. KFRONT+KCNTRL+KDSP FIRMWARE UPGRADE PROCEDURE OVERVIEW This procedure will update the firmware of the KFRONT, KCNTRL and KDSP board (if installed). Before starting firmware update check if amplifier is connected to a reliable power source, an UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is suggested (never use the Powersoft Hub for powering the amplifier during firmware updates procedure!). In case of mains failure during firmware update the procedure needs to be re-started, switching off and back on the amplifier, anyway no damage will occur to the amplifier if firmware update fails for any reason. Do not remove firmware smart card during update procedure, always wait until amplifier has completed the update. FIRST STEP Check current firmware versions to avoid downgrading the unit. Go to Menu=>Setup=>Hardware Info, scrolls screens pressing the more pushbutton, write down versions and compare them against those of smartcard and KAESOP file (it's the same for TSeries and Duecanali). SECOND STEP Only if KAESOP board is installed: be sure to get the smartcard and the KAESOP firmware file with exactly the same version. Update the KAESOP firmware by using the FW Updater software and a PC with Ethernet connection (see next paragraph). Turn off the amplifier only when the update procedure is completed. 1/8
THIRD STEP Turn off the amplifier, insert the FW smart card (electric contacts facing down) into the slot. While keeping pressed the first and second buttons on the left of the front panel turn on the amplifier and wait about 3 to 6 seconds. After the fan test (full throttle blow), wait for 5 seconds that the yellow leds on the panel will stop blinking, then is possible to release the two front panel buttons, KFRONT firmware update will start automatically. Please note that during KFRONT update the yellow leds will continue to blink for about another minute. During this period the LCD display will remain blank because the KFRONT is under update and is unable to write on the LCD display. If KDSP (DSP optional board) is installed: KDSP update will begin after KFRONT update will be completed, showing Updating KDSP with a progress bar. After a few minutes, the KDSP update will be completed. If KDSP is not installed: a warning message ( START ERROR or KDSP board not present ) is displayed, requiring a button press confirmation to proceed. Wait about 3 minutes (10 minutes if KDSP is installed), the time necessary for the KFRONT, KCNTRL and KDSP microcontrollers update. FOURTH STEP When the message Do you want to update SHARC DSP? is displayed, press YES pushbutton. Only if KDSP board is installed, the SHARC processor firmware update will be activated and it will last about 20 minutes. At the end a message Firmware update completed, press OK to restart will indicate that the procedure has been successfully completed, before restarting the amplifier please remove the firmware card. LAST STEP Verify the result of the firmware update procedure. Turn on the amplifier, go to Menu=>Setup=>Hardware Info and read the version numbers. All installed boards must have the same version number, and the SHARC firmware version must be the same written on the smartcard label. For example: KFRONT: 5.3.2-706 KCNTRL: 5.3.2-706 KDSP: 5.3.2-3034 KAESOP: 5.3.2D- 1804 FW version is 5.3.2. The last number on each line (after the hyphen) is the build count (meaningless) except for the KDSP board. For the KDSP the last 4 digit number after the hyphen represents the SHARC firmware version (here it is 3034). If something is mismatching, please check the smartcard version and the KAESOP file version matching, then retry the entire procedure from the beginning. Please remember that if firmware update process stops before completion (for mains drop or any other problem), it is necessary to start it again from the beginning (switching the amplifier off and back on), as it could happen that 2 different firmware versions are present in the amplifier different boards, causing possible problems to the amplifier itself. 2/8
KAESOP BOARD FIRMWARE UPDATE WITH FIRMWARE UPDATER SOFTWARE The KAESOP board firmware update must be performed using the Powersoft Firmware Updater software that can be requested to Powersoft The software installer is zipped so it is necessary to unzip and install it following these steps: 3/8
The Firmware Updater utility can be used to update the KAESOP board firmware with an easy guided procedure. The six steps are shown in the following screenshots. The software can perform the update of an unlimited number of amplifiers in a parallel manner, taking just a couple of minutes for completing the operation. Connect the PC to all the amplifiers with an Ethernet network cable. Launch the Firmware updater software, and follow the steps. 4/8
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WRITING A FIRMWARE UPDATE SMART CARD USING A POWERSOFT AMPLIFIER It's possible to use the Firmware Updater software to write the firmware for Outline amplifiers on a Smart Card using a TSeries amplifier as a smart card writer. The smart card with the firmware written from the amplifier can be used to update other Outline amplifiers firmware. After installing the Firmware Updater software and after following the steps described in the previous chapter named KAESOP board firmware update with Firmware Updater software it is necessary to connect the computer to one or more amplifiers by Ethernet using a RJ45 CAT5 cable (if the amplifier has KAESOP board installed) or by RS485 using the Powersoft USB to RS485 converter. Please note that using more amplifiers, all connected through Ethernet or RS485, it is possible to write at the same time more firmware Smart Card. Please remember to ask to Outline for the last firmware file available, firmware file is the outline_x.y.z.pff for the TSeries amplifiers. Remember as well to use just Outline formatted smart card or previously written preset cards or Firmware cards after V.3.26.4. Before inserting the smart card in the amplifier it is necessary to press menu most right button on the amplifier front panel or the amplifier will not detect the smart card! Please follow these steps, clicking every time on the left green arrow to advance and write a smart card with Outline firmware, if you need to update a TSeries amplifier select the file named outline_x.y.z.pff. If the software does not find any amplifier please wait some more, the recognizing process can be quite slow even with an Ethernet connection. Please consider as well that the Smart Card writing process is pretty long, on an Ethernet connection will need about 40 minutes, on a RS485 connection about 1 hour. 6/8
If the software will pop up the message down here please remember to press menu, most right button on amplifier front panel before inserting the smart card or the amplifier will not detect the smart card. 7/8
When the firmware card is ready you can remove it from the amplifier and use to update the firmware of any other Tseries amplifier. 8/8