Model 214A User Guide
Issue Preliminary 1, October 2022
Studio Technologies, Inc.
Page 23
Model 214A
ANNOUNCER’S CONSOLE
The update process begins by preparing a USB flash drive.
The flash drive doesn’t have to be empty (blank) but must
be in the personal-computer-standard FAT32 format. The
USB interface in the Model 214A is compatible with USB
2.0-, USB 3.0-, and USB 3.1-compliant flash drives. Save
the new application firmware file in the root directory of the
flash drive with a name of
M214AvXrXX.stm
where the
XrXX
is the actual version number. Studio Technologies will
supply the application firmware file inside of a .zip archive
file. The name of the zip file will reflect the application file’s
version number and will contain two files. One file will be
the actual application file and the other a readme (.txt) text
file. It’s recommended that the readme (.txt) file be reviewed
as it will contain details about the associated application
firmware. The application firmware file inside of the zip file
will adhere to the required naming convention so that it can
be directly copied to the flash drive. Once ready, the USB
flash drive should be inserted into the USB host interface
by way of the USB type A receptacle that is located on the
Model 214A’s back panel. The unit must then be power
cycled; first powered off and then again powered on. At
this point, the application file located in the root folder of
the USB flash drive will automatically load. The precise
steps required will be highlighted in the next paragraphs.
To install the firmware file, follow these steps:
1. Remove power from the Model 214A. This will entail
removing the Ethernet connection if it is providing PoE
power and/or removing the external source of 12 volts
DC if that is being used.
2. Insert the prepared USB flash drive into the Model
214A’s USB receptacle, located on the back panel of
the unit.
3. Apply power to the Model 214A. Power can be provided
by Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) associated with a con-
nected Ethernet signal or can be from an external 12
volts DC source.
4. The Model 214A will run a “boot loader” program that
will immediately load the new application (
M214AvXrXX.
stm
) file. The loading process typically takes approxi
-
mately 10 seconds. During this time period, the LED,
located below the USB receptacle, will slowly flash
green. Once the entire loading process is over, the
Model 214A will restart using the newly loaded appli-
cation firmware.
5. At this time, the Model 214A will be functioning with
the newly loaded application firmware and the USB
flash drive can be removed. But to be conservative,
remove the PoE Ethernet connection or 12 volts DC
power source first and then remove the USB flash drive.
Re-connect the PoE Ethernet connection or the 12 volts
DC power source to restart the unit.
6. Using STcontroller, confirm that the desired application
firmware version has been correctly loaded.
Note that upon power being applied to the Model 214A,
if a connected USB flash drive doesn’t have the correct
application file (
M214AvXrXX.stm
) in its root folder no
harm will occur. Upon power up the LED, located below
the USB receptacle on the back panel, will rapidly flash
green for a few seconds to indicate this condition and
then normal operation using the unit’s existing application
firmware will begin.
Ultimo Firmware Update
As previously discussed, the Model 214A implements
its Dante connectivity using the Ultimo integrated circuit
from Audinate. The STcontroller or Dante Controller soft-
ware applications can be used to determine the version
of Dante firmware (embedded software) that resides in
this integrated circuit. The Dante firmware (embedded
software) residing in the Ultimo can be updated by way
of the Model 214A’s Ethernet port. Performing this update
process is easily accomplished using an automated method
called Dante Updater that’s included as part of the Dante
Controller application. This application is available, free of
charge, from the Audinate website (audinate.com). The
latest Model 214A firmware file should be available as part
of Audiante’s product library database. The Dante file will
also be available on the Studio Technologies’ website with
a name in the form of
M214AvXrXrX.dnt
. By being avail-
able on Audinate’s database will allow the Dante Updater
software application that is included with Dante Controller
to automatically query and, if required, update the Model
214A’s Dante interface.
Restoring Factory Defaults
A command within the STcontroller application will allow
the Model 214A’s configuration selection to be reset to its
factory default values. From within STcontroller select the
specific Model 214A unit for which you want to restore its
defaults. Select the
Device
tab and then select the
Fac-
tory Defaults
feature. Then click on the
OK
box. Refer to
Appendix A for a list of the Model 214A’s factory default
values.
