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MiniPlex-3 WiFi Firmware V1.5
Date: September 10, 2019
Please read this document carefully!
Introduction
This update contains two firmware files: MiniPlex-3 V2.3.x firmware and WiFi V1.5 firmware.
The MiniPlex-3 firmware is what makes your multiplexer tick and it is present in every MiniPlex-3
series multiplexer. We developed this firmware.
The MiniPlex-3Wi(-N2K) also contains a WiFi interface which is a self-contained module running its
own firmware. The manufacturer of the WiFi module is the supplier the WiFi firmware.
What’s new
WiFi V1.5
This update contains many improvements in the stability of the connections.
MiniPlex-3 V2.3.x (included with WiFi firmware download)
A MiniPlex firmware higher than V2.3.0 is necessary to support the new WiFi firmware V1.5. The
firmware updates must be loaded using the latest version of MPX-Config3.
Updating the Firmware
First the MiniPlex firmware needs to be updated. This procedure is discribed in the manual of the
MiniPlex but it will be explained in the following steps too.
If you have navigation data visible in MPX-Config3, its best to either shut down all navigation
equipment or to temporary set the speed of the NMEA inputs of the MiniPlex to non-standard
values. This will effectively mute the inputs and ensures that all messages during the firmware
update can be seen. Don’t forget to restore the original settings after the update procedure is
completed.
It is necessary to connect your computer to the MiniPlex-3Wi with a USB cable. Your computer also
needs to join the MiniPlex access point at the same time. The MiniPlex firmware is updated over
USB and the WiFi firmware is updated using the web interface of the MiniPlex’ WiFi module.
Preparation
In order to successfully update the WiFi firmware, a few preparations must be made:
1.
You must be using MPX-Config3 V2.4.x or higher.
2.
The zip file containing the firmware files must be unpacked into a folder on your computer.
3.
Your computer must be connected to the MiniPlex with a USB cable and to the MiniPlex access
point. The update process uses both the USB connection and the WiFi connection.
Update Procedure
In the following steps, you will be asked to enter specific commands. These commands must be
entered in the Manual NMEA Sentence Input section of MPX-Config3. All resulting responses are
visible in the NMEA viewer on the top half of the window.
1.
Start MPX-Config3 and connect to the USB COM port.
2.
From the File menu choose “Update MiniPlex Firmware…”, select the
miniplex-3_2.3.x
file
from the folder where you unzipped the firmware to and click “Open” to start the update.
Wait until the update is completed. If the update fails for some reason, retry until the update
completed successfully.
3.
Now check the current WiFi firmware version by entering the following command:
PSMDWI,V
Updating the WiFi firmware is a complicated process which requires carefull planning and a
number of steps that need to be executed in exactly the right order. Many problem reports we
receive regarding this update can be traced back to not having read these instructions carefully!
