Apr 7, 2010 Application Note Page 1 of 7
NovAtel Inc. 1120 – 68th Avenue N.E. Calgary, AB, Canada T2E 8S5
Tel: (403) 295-4500 Fax: (403) 295-4501 Internet: http://www.novatel.com Email: gps@novatel.com
Loading Firmware on SPAN-SE
This application note provides procedures for using WinLoad to load or reload firmware on individual SPAN-SE
components.
1 Overview
The SPAN-SE requires different firmware for each card inside the unit. Authorization codes and firmware can be
obtained from NovAtel Customer Service. The contact information for Customer Service is in the last section of this
application note. Authorization codes are generated based on receiver serial number and firmware version, so you
will need to provide NovAtel Customer Service with this information to obtain the proper authorization code. The
latest firmware versions are posted on the NovAtel website at: http://www.novatel.com/support/fwswupdates.htm.
Refer to the SPAN-SE User Manual for information about the hardware referred to in this application note. User
manuals are available from our website at: http://www.novatel.com/support/docupdates.htm.
2 Loading Procedure
There are three different firmware builds, one for each card in the SPAN-SE:
FPGA
SPPC
OEMV3
If the FPGA firmware on your SPAN-SE receiver needs to be updated, first upload the FPGA firmware onto the
SPAN-SE receiver then upload the SPPC firmware. When uploading firmware, make sure you are using the latest
version of WinLoad software that is included in the firmware download zip file. If you have an older version of
Winload, replace it with the newer version. Check the version of WinLoad by selecting the Help menu and clicking
About…
2.1 FPGA Firmware Loading
The FPGA card in the SPAN-SE can be accessed directly via the SPAN-SE yellow cable. Use the SPAN-SE serial
DB9 COM port labeled COM1 to load this card. Ensure this end is connected to the serial COM port on the computer
from which you are loading.
1. Select the firmware file you want to load.
a. On the Winload File menu click File Open…
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b. Browse to the required location then select the FPGA firmware file.
c. Click Open.
2. Ensure Com Port Setup is set correctly for your computer.
a. On the Settings menu click COM Settings…
b. Select the PC COM port to which your yellow cable SPAN-SE serial COM1 is connected.
Updating through a USB port is currently not supported, so you must use one of the SPAN-SE
serial COM ports for reloading firmware.
c. Ensure Download Baudrate is not set higher than the maximum rate the PC COM port can handle.
d. Set Connect Baudrate to 9600.
3. Make sure power is available, but do not apply it to the SPAN-SE yet.
4. Click the Write Flash button on Winload.
5. Power on the SPAN-SE about three seconds after the status screen displays “Searching for card… timeout
in: 30 secs”. Once Winload detects the SPAN-SE receiver, the loading process begins.
6. If WinLoad prompts you to insert an Authorization Code, click Skip.
7. Loading will finish automatically.
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8. Once loading has been completed, power cycle the SPAN-SE receiver.
9. Establish communication with the SPAN-SE serial COM1 port on CDU or HyperTerminal and check the
SPANFPGA field in the VERSION log (see Section 3).
10. Send a FRESET command to complete the loading process and restore factory default settings.
2.2 SPPC Firmware Loading
The procedure for loading the SPPC firmware is similar to the procedure for loading the FPGA firmware. One major
difference is that the SPPC card requires a valid authorization code to operate. Contact NovAtel Customer Service to
obtain the proper authorization code. The SPPC card in the SPAN-SE can be accessed directly via the SPAN-SE
yellow cable. Use the SPAN-SE serial DB9 COM port labeled COM1 to load this card. Ensure this end is connected
to the serial COM port on the computer from which you are loading.
1. Select the firmware file to load.
a. On the Winload File menu click File Open…
b. Browse to the required location then select the SPPC firmware file.
c. Click Open.
2. Ensure Com Port Setup is set correctly for your computer.
a. On the Settings menu click COM Settings…
b. Select the PC COM port to which your yellow cable SPAN-SE serial COM1 is connected.
Updating through a USB port is currently not supported, so you must use one of the SPAN-SE
serial COM ports for reloading firmware.
c. Ensure Download Baudrate is not set higher than the maximum rate the PC COM port can handle.
d. Set Connect Baudrate to 9600.
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3. Make sure power is available, but do not apply it to the SPAN-SE yet.
4. Click the Write Flash button on Winload.
5. Power on the SPAN-SE about three seconds after the status screen says “Searching for card… timeout in:
30 secs”.
6. Once Winload detects the SPAN-SE receiver the loading process begins.
7. When the Authorization Code screen appears, input the SPPC authorization code.
8. Click OK. Loading finishes automatically.
9. Once loading is complete, power cycle the SPAN-SE receiver.
10. Establish communication with the SPAN-SE serial COM1 port on CDU or HyperTerminal and check the
SPANCARD field in the VERSION log (see Section 3).
11. Send a FRESET command to complete the loading process and restore factory default settings.
2.3 OEMV3 Firmware Loading
The procedure for loading the OEMV3 is similar to the procedure for loading the SPPC firmware with one key
difference. The OEMV3 card in the SPAN-SE can be accessed directly through the green cable; therefore, the user
will need to use the green cable SPAN-SE serial COM port labeled OEMV3 to load the OEMV3 card.
If the OEMV3 inside the SPAN-SE receiver responds after power up (i.e., if the GPS1 LED lights continuously and
you can establish communication with the OEMV3 card directly via the OEMV3 port), go to Procedure A. If the
OEMV3 does not respond after power up (i.e., if the GPS1 LED does not light up or if you cannot establish
communication with the OEMV3 card directly via the OEMV3 port), go to Procedure B.
2.3.1 Procedure A
1. Connect PC COM port to the green cable SPAN-SE serial DB9 COM port labeled OEMV3.
2. Select the firmware file you want to load.
a. On the Winload File menu click File Open…
b. Browse to the required location then select the OEMV3 firmware file.
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c. Click Open.
3. Ensure COM Port Setup is set correctly for your computer.
a. On the Settings menu select COM Settings…
b. Choose the PC COM port to which the green cable SPAN-SE serial OEMV3 port is connected.
c. Ensure Download Baudrate is not set higher than the maximum rate the PC COM port can handle.
d. Set Connect Baudrate to BREAK.
4. Power on the SPAN-SE receiver and wait until the GPS1 LED lights up.
5. Click the Write Flash button on Winload. The status screen displays “Searching for card… timeout in: 30
secs”.
6. Once Winload detects the OEMV3 card the loading process begins.
7. When the Authorization Code screen displays, enter the OEMV3 authorization code provided by Customer
Service.
8. Click OK. Loading finishes automatically.
9. Once loading has been completed, power cycle the SPAN-SE receiver.
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10. Establish communication with the yellow cable SPAN-SE serial COM1 port on CDU or HyperTerminal and
check the GPSCARD field in the VERSION log (see Section 3). If you cannot establish communication
with the OEMV3 card, go to Procedure B.
2.3.2 Procedure B
1. Connect PC COM port to the yellow cable SPAN-SE serial DB9 COM port labeled COM1.
2. Click the firmware file that you want to load.
a. On the Winload File menu click File Open…
b. Browse to the required location then select the OEMV3 firmware file.
c. Click Open.
3. Ensure Com Port Setup is set correctly for your computer.
a. On the Select Settings menu click COM Settings…
b. Select the PC COM port to which the yellow cable SPAN-SE serial COM1 is connected.
c. Ensure Download Baudrate is not set higher than the maximum rate the PC COM port can handle.
d. Set Connect Baudrate to BREAK.
4. Click the Write Flash button on Winload.
5. Power on the SPAN-SE about three seconds after the status screen displays “Searching for card… timeout
in: 30 secs”.
6. When the countdown to 0 seconds shows “Card not found!”, change the connection from the yellow cable
SPAN-SE serial COM1 port to the green cable SPAN-SE serial OE MV3 port. Click Abort then click Write
Flash. The loading process will continue.
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7. When the Authorization Code screen displays, input the code provided by Customer Service.
8. Click OK. Loading finishes automatically.
9. Once loading has been completed, power cycle the SPAN-SE receiver.
10. Establish communication with the yellow cable SPAN-SE serial COM1 port on CDU or HyperTerminal and
check the GPSCARD field in the VERSION log (see Section 3).
3 VERSION log
If the firmware reloading is done properly, the VERSION log will be similar to that shown in the following example:
From the SPAN-SE receiver COM1, COM2, COM3 or COM4 port:
VERSION COM1 0 99.0 UNKNOWN 0 23.559 00000000 0000 243
< 3
< SPANCARD "SJ" "DDV09080014" "SPANPPC-3.00-A" "SCS000200RN0000" "1.100" "Feb
4 2010" "14:14:37"
< SPANFPGA "" "" "" "SCF000100RN0014" "" "" ""
< GPSCARD "L12LRVQ" "DAB09120165" "OEMV3G-4.00-X2T" "3.700" "3.000"
"2009/Sep/18" "15:09:31"
To confirm communication with OEMV3, the GPSCARD component must be in the above Log VERSION string.
4 Contact Information
If you require further information regarding the topics covered in this application note, please contact:
NovAtel Customer Service
1120 – 68 Ave. N.E.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2E 8S5
Phone: 1-800-NOVATEL (in Canada or the U.S.) or +1-403-295-4500
Fax: 403-295-4501
E-mail: support@novatel.ca
Website: www.novatel.com
