new very important orbit reader20 feature!
Hello, forum Members.Orbit Research is pleased to announce a much-awaited new feature – the ability to upgrade the Orbit Reader 20’s firmware from the SD card, instead of requiring a Windows PC! This enables Mac and Linux users and those without direct access to a computer to easily upgrade the unit. We would like to thank RNIB for supporting the development of this feature. In order to use this feature, you will first have to update the bootloader, which is a mechanism to facilitate upgrading the system’s software. Please note that upgrading the bootloader is required only in units that are currently in the field and is a one-time process. New units from the factory will come with the new bootloader. To perform the one-time upgrade of the bootloader, you will need to use a separate (Windows PC based) program which is similar to the firmware upgrade program that is used to upgrade the firmware. Once you have the new bootloader in place, you will be able to perform future firmware upgrades through the SD card or the current method of using the Windows program. Upgrading the bootloader is NOT necessary if you prefer to only use the existing method of upgrading the software using the Windows program. Please download the software package titled “OR-20 - Bootloader Upgrade Package Setup vB0.00.00.05r02” from the Orbit Research website: https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/o … e-package/ The package contains the following: 1. Instructions to perform the bootloader upgrade: OR-20 - Bootloader Upgrade Procedure v1.0.pdf2. Software Installation file: OR-20 - Bootloader Upgrade Package Setup vB0.00.00.05r02.exe3. A file containing release notes: OR-20 Bootloader Upgrade Utility vB0.00.00.05r02 Release Notes.txt Important notes:1. Please read the instructions carefully before you start the upgrade2. Prior to starting the process, we strongly recommend that you confirm that your OR-20 unit is running software version B0.00.00.55r02 or later. If it is running an earlier version, please upgrade it to the latest version B0.00.00.60r03 first. This will ensure that the messages that are displayed during the first upgrade using the SD card will match the messages described in the user guide.3. All settings on the Orbit Reader 20 will be reset to defaults after the bootloader upgrade4. If you have applied localization, you should download and use the latest localization package (version B0.00.00.26r01) from the website at https://www.orbitresearch.com/orbit-rea … -download/ The procedure to upgrade the bootloader is as follows: 1. Install the OR-20 Bootloader Upgrade program by following the simple steps as is the case with any Windows installer.2. Once installed, run the Bootloader upgrade program.3. You can keep the OR-20 ON or OFF. It will not affect anything in the bootloader upgrade procedure.4. Connect the OR-20 to the PC using the supplied micro-B USB cable.5. Press and hold the Right Panning forward button (the lower part of the Right Panning button) and the Dot 6 key together.6. Now, press and release the Dot 8 key. The other keys can be released after this. 7. The program will now begin preparing the device for upgrade. This might take up to 10 seconds.8. When the preparation is complete, the program will show the message “The device is ready for upgrade”.9. Again, press and hold the Right Panning forward button and the Dot 6 key together10. Now, press and release the Dot 8 key. The other keys can be released after this. 11. The program will begin the upgrade process and will take about 30 seconds to complete. 12. The program will show the message “The device successfully upgraded to bootloader version vB0.00.00.xxyzz” after a successful upgrade. For further details, please refer to the user guide at https://www.orbitresearch.com/wp-conten … v1.0-2.pdf Once you have successfully upgraded the bootloader, your OR-20 is all set to perform future firmware upgrades from the SD card or using the traditional method. The bootloader upgrade also updated your firmware to the latest version (vB0.00.00.61r01) and you do not need to reload any firmware for now, but If you wish to give the new method a try, you can download the standard firmware upgrade package from the website and perform the following steps: Procedure to upgrade the firmware from SD card: 1. Copy the binary file “Orbit Reader 20 - Target Software vB0.00.00.XXrYY.bin” from the download package to the root folder of the SD card. Use either the Orbit Reader Mass Storage Mode or remove the SD card and put it in a card reader on a computer. When completed, insert the SD card into the Orbit Reader 20.2. Turn off the OR-20. The unit should be turned off before the upgrade is started.3. Press and hold the Right Panning forward button (the lower part of the Right Panning button) and Dot 4 together, then turn on the Orbit Reader 20; it will show the message “Preparing…”. Now you can release all the keys
