Updater
Free software for uploading firmware updates to the RC210
The RC210 Uploader will allow you use a simple Windows® program to upload firmware updates to your RC210 without the need for the Bascom program. Once installed, Updater will eliminate unreliable uploads often seen when using a laptop or other certain computers and is many times faster.
In order to use Updater, you must first install a "bootloader" program into your RC210 using Bascom. Once this is successfully done, you will no longer need Bascom nor worry about the special programming cable for it. From that point on, all updates will be loaded into your RC210 using a standard RS-232 connection between the RC210 and your computer.
Below are the step by step instructions for installing everything you need (these instructions are also included in the download file in MicroSoft Word® format. You may find it useful to print it out before proceeding with the conversion).
If your RC210 has Version 4.22 or later already installed, or Port 3's green COS LED flashes rapidly when you first power up your RC210, you already have the bootloader installed. You should not do the following steps but rather refer to your Operations and Programming Manual for the proper steps necessary to install a firmware update.
Click here to download the zip file containing the files you will need.
Step By Step Instructions
1) Extract the files contained in the Bootloader.zip file you downloaded from the website. Place them in any directory (folder) you prefer. Note: FirstTimeInitialize.hex is included to make sure you have all the latest updates. Do not use it unless you want to overwrite all the RC210's custom configurations and set everything back to factory defaults.
2) Doubleclick on UpdaterInstaller.exe within the zip file to install the new Updater program on your computer. Close Updater if you launched it after the install is complete.
3) Open Bascom and make sure you have it connected to the 210's programming port. Open any current update you want, it doesn't matter.
4) Click on the toolbar button that is 2 places to the left of the RESET one (the red circle with the line through it). That is the Run Program button. Click it then select Manual Program. A new window should open named "Sample Electronics Programmer"
5) There are 3 tabs - "FlashROM". "EEPROM" and "Lock and Fuse Bits". Click on the FlashROM tab.
6) Click on the menu item "Chip", then select "Erase". This will erase the program memory section of the CPU but will not erase your custom configuration (ID's, timers etc will not be erased).
7) Click on the menu item "Buffer" and then select" Load from file". You want to load in bootload.bin that was part of the zip file you downloaded.
8) Click on the menu item "Chip" and select "Write buffer into chip". This is slow and may take a while to do. P3's COS (green) LED may or may not flash at this point. It does not matter if any other LEDs are lit.
9) Once the new bootloader loads into the RC210 and verifies, you are ready to continue. If you receive a verify error, simply repeat Step 8 above.
10) Click on the Lock and Fuse Bits tab and scroll down to the Fusebits section.
In the following steps, change a setting simply click anywhere on the field and a down arrow will appear to the right of that field. Click on the downarrow to select the correct setting from the drop down menu. Note: Only make the changes listed below. Take great care to ONLY CHANGE THE SETTINGS LISTED BELOW.
The field labeled "Fusebit 98" should read "11:SUT = 11 Start uptime". Click the "Write FS" button on the right.
11) Scroll down to the Fusebits High section.
12) At this point Port 3's COS (green) LED should be rapidly flashing (it may have been since step 8 above). If you made it this far, you are done with Bascom forever!
13) Close Bascom and disconnect the programming cable from the 210. Make sure the serial cable is connected to the 210 (and your computer of course).
Open the Updater program. Check the Update File box and click browse to locate the rc210.hex file that you extracted from the zip file you downloaded. Load it in and click "Wait for Controller then download".
14) Updater should start uploading the firmware into the RC210. If it doesn't, reset the controller (power down and up is fine) and the upload should start. You'll see a line counter counting down the number of lines left in the file. When it is done, the 210 should reset and speak its usual signon message (the version you loaded is still 4.21)
From now on, whenever you turn on the RC210, Port 3's COS LED will flash rapidly for about 5 seconds, then the controller will begin it's start up sequence. Other LEDs may or may not be on during this 5 second period. During this time, the RC210 will be waiting for a firmware update. If none is started, the RC210 will then simply start executing its program.
All future firmware loads into the RC210 will now be done with Updater