New firmware for Lacuna Sat Meter

**digiguy** · 22-06-2005

Hi all

I want to update my lacuna sat meter with uptodate sat files, but alas the firmware in the meter is to old to accept the new files V. 4.05 meter dated 2002

Does anyone know how to update the firmware or where to find it? The lacuna site doesnt have the relevant files.

Hope someone can help

Thanks

dundeebloke · 13-07-2005

Hi, i recently purchased a Wolsey satellite meter, and am have difficulty updating the sat files to it. I have the download lead and sat files and using satloader, and when trying to download datasets to it i get a Send new line (0) failed error come up on screen. Has anyone else had this problem and found a means to do it successfully. Many thanks. P.S. Firmware of meter is 5.1.3 Uk Multi V4.U15

**rolfw** · 13-07-2005

No idea I'm afraid, not many members have these, have you tried the help address on the Wolsey site?

***remlap*** · 27-08-2005

found this loader program I have not used it myself as yet.
http://www.ssi-iraq.com/software/satmeter3.zip
run up ok sofTware version 4.0.6 data set UK Multi V4.U17

***remlap*** · 17-09-2005

Originally Posted by remlap

found this loader program I have not used it myself as yet.
http://www.ssi-iraq.com/software/satmeter3.zip

this is a link to the Wolsey meter support site.
http://www.metersupport.co.uk/data.htm

***remlap*** · 17-09-2005

Just a thought have you set up the right coms port?
click below

Mac_UK · 06-02-2006

Originally Posted by dundeebloke

Hi, i recently purchased a Wolsey satellite meter, and am have difficulty updating the sat files to it. I have the download lead and sat files and using satloader, and when trying to download datasets to it i get a Send new line (0) failed error come up on screen. Has anyone else had this problem and found a means to do it successfully. Many thanks. P.S. Firmware of meter is 5.1.3 Uk Multi V4.U15

If this info is still required......
This may have happened if the meter was not powered on when you attempted the update , turn on the meter, run the update with Satloader, when complete disconnect from the pc & reboot the meter.

Regards Mac

zac2613 · 04-07-2008

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN

Wolsey and Lacuna are the same meters
I had the same problem (Send new line 0) and fixed it myself (not complicated to do) JUST A RESISTOR
If you have the tool to take the back off the meter and know how to use a soldering iron.
Contact me
IF I THINK YOUR UP TO IT ILL EXPLAIN HOW TO DO IT (AT YOUR OWN RISK)

zac2613 · 04-07-2008

Originally Posted by dundeebloke

Hi, i recently purchased a Wolsey satellite meter, and am have difficulty updating the sat files to it. I have the download lead and sat files and using satloader, and when trying to download datasets to it i get a Send new line (0) failed error come up on screen. Has anyone else had this problem and found a means to do it successfully. Many thanks. P.S. Firmware of meter is 5.1.3 Uk Multi V4.U15

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN
Wolsey and Lacuna are the same meters
I had the same problem (Send new line 0) and fixed it myself (not complicated to do) JUST A RESISTOR
If you have the tool to take the back off the meter and know how to use a soldering iron.
Contact me
IF I THINK YOUR UP TO IT ILL EXPLAIN HOW TO DO IT (AT YOUR OWN RISK)

**Topper** · 04-07-2008

If you want people to contact you fill out your Vcard details. Do not post your Email address on the forum it is against the rules.

LarryGB · 3 Weeks Ago

Originally Posted by zac2613

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN
Wolsey and Lacuna are the same meters
I had the same problem (Send new line 0) and fixed it myself (not complicated to do) JUST A RESISTOR
If you have the tool to take the back off the meter and know how to use a soldering iron.
Contact me
IF I THINK YOUR UP TO IT ILL EXPLAIN HOW TO DO IT (AT YOUR OWN RISK)

Yes, please. Have had the issue with my meter for the last year, and now the Canadian support site seems to have disappeared. Any help would be appreciated. PM me please with your email address. Thanks...

zac2613 · 3 Weeks Ago

Hi LarryGB
It didn't work in the end. but i did find a way, have you made the lead yourself, can you take the D serial plug apart, if so let me know and i'll explaine Here what i did to get the dataset into the meter.

zac2613

LarryGB · 3 Weeks Ago

Originally Posted by zac2613

Hi LarryGB
It didn't work in the end. but i did find a way, have you made the lead yourself, can you take the D serial plug apart, if so let me know and i'll explaine Here what i did to get the dataset into the meter.

zac2613

When we purchased our Lacuna, it came with a factory made cable, one end serial, other mini din. Here is a picture of the cable pinout as provided by the manufactuer's website. I'm prepared to rebuild this cable if necessary, or make the mod right on the board's din socket connections if that's possible. [BTW I spent 27 years in radio/tv service so I'm not afraid to work on this unit.]

Download_pinout.gif

Thanks....

zac2613 · 3 Weeks Ago

Hi LarryGB
If you look at your meter's din connector, not the din plug, rotate the meter till it looks like the diagram below, it should look like this.

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb *--*-----------------Flying lead
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb * ----*
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb *---*----------------Flying lead

Where I've drawn 2 lines you need to locate those pin connections on the circuit board, and solder 2 flying leads that can come out of the gap to the side of the power connector/or somewhere, they don't need to be long, i used alarm/telephone type cable for this, and put the meter back together.

Get the latest dataset from lacuna, and start the loader program,make sure you've set the com port correctly, turn on meter, strip back a little insulation off the end of the flying leads, and without directly shorting the wires, squeeze them between your finger and thumb, and try to send the data to the meter, if you see the loading bar loading to the meter, don't let go of the wires, or you will break the download, if it still comes up with (Send new line 0) then you will have to keep trying till you get it.

To those of you reading this you may well think I've lost the plot, but in fact i haven't.

By squeezing the wires together, your putting a resistance across the flying leads, and HarryGB, I've found that when my hands are sweaty, worked best for me, but wetting my fingers, then drying them did not have the same effect.

It worked for me , so should work for you, let me know how you got on Mate, it may work first time, but if not keep trying, keep trying, till you get it, once done tape the wires to the side of the meter, and write down what you did, and keep it in a safe place, for the next dreaded time.

zac2613

Ps Ill be monitoring the thread today, so if you got any questions then please ask. And just for you HarryGB if you attach a glass diode to one of the flying leads, you may even pick up a radio signal. LoL

zac2613 · 3 Weeks Ago

Sorry Harry, but i tried editing the diagram, but it wont stay were i put it, look at the meter so the power socket is to the right of the data connection, when looking at the meter, also look at the diagram as if its a circle, you should get my drift.

zac2613

LarryGB · 3 Weeks Ago

Originally Posted by zac2613

Sorry Harry, but i tried editing the diagram, but it wont stay were i put it, look at the meter so the power socket is to the right of the data connection, when looking at the meter, also look at the diagram as if its a circle, you should get my drift.

zac2613

Hey, Thanks....

I will try this later today, and I will see if I can get some digital shots to upload here, and do some editing and experimenting. I'll try and trace back the connection functions from the D connector, so we can see what is actually going on. Possibly a capacitor or open resistor is causing this affect. Of course I cringe at SMT's and poor eyesite...

Later....

Larry

zac2613 · 3 Weeks Ago

Hi HarryGB
If your meter probes won't fit into the holes, just use a needle.

Ive tried to locate the problem but cant/won't touch the Smt's, with a normal iron, so having to read components in situ, and is not the best way.

If you look at your diagram, the fly leads are connected to pin 1 & 5 of the din plug, which is the same as looking at the meter.
zac2613

zac2613 · 3 Weeks Ago

Ha Ha Ha
I can see what you mean about bad eyesite, HarryGB ??????
Sorry LarryGB.....What a Plonker LOL

LarryGB · 3 Weeks Ago

Originally Posted by zac2613

Ha Ha Ha
I can see what you mean about bad eyesite, HarryGB ??????
Sorry LarryGB.....What a Plonker LOL

Actually, I was referring to my bad eyesite

, but I have to "share that wealth" with you.

So, I've traced the 9Pin D Sub back to the PC board throught the Mini-Din Male and Female. The pin's in question according to the RS232 functions are Pin 1 [upper in your diagram] on Mini-Din is the RX lead, Pin 5 [lower in your diagram] is the Xmit lead. Of course the function on the meter will be reverse of that, i.e. RX to TX and TX to RX.
It may have something to do with the bias voltage on those pins, and how your skin resistance is pulling up or down the terminal voltages there.
I'm going to take a few voltage readings, and then play around with the scope and see if I can see anything unusual. Time to get out the resistance substitution box and experiment. Taking pictures as we go, so will post them when I have time....

LarryGB · 3 Weeks Ago

Well,
I've tried various ways of simulating the load/coupling/injection etc of the programming input, and still no downloading of dataset. I've scoped the serial data from the PC through the immediate input circuit on the meter, including two Toshiba P181GB SMT SOP4 photo-couplers, right up to the main PIC 16F877 micro-processor chip, and everything seems normal. There does not seem to be any output from the PIC, ie as a response to the serial port request, and possibly there is a PIC chip fault, or support circuitry. [Although other functions of the chip seem normal, power-on, data selection, LCD drive, RF/channel/Freq selections].
I've looked at the RST line, and seems to be functioning, so we may not have a low part-count-repair, short of system replacement.
Already wasted too much time on this, unless we have someone else's insight on this, this one's going back on the shelf.

Guys???

Thanks for help anyway, Zac....

zac2613 · 2 Weeks Ago

Hi LarryGB

I hoped that it would work for you.

Ill say one thing recently i tried downloading an altered dataset in to the meter, and it would not go, it didn't mater what, so i left it, then one day i tried it again and it worked, more than once ?????? the only thing i could think of that was different than before, was that my fingers were slightly sweaty due to the central heating being on,

The only thing i can think of, is i equaled the Resistance needed to switch a transistor in some way shape or form.

But sadly not in this case. but do try again one day you never know...

This is not a wind up, if someone does have this problem do try the above and if it work's for you, please post a reply so others may follow

Ps, LarryGB i know you'll be the first to post if anything comes to light.

Good Luck
zac2613

wickedcid · 1 Week Ago

hey guys gonna jump in on this one, i have a sat meter and it never had problems loading updates,went to update it a few days ago and my cable is gone. Is it possible to cut the end of a straight through rs232 cable and solder on a 6 din to the pinout that was posted, cause i tried it and this home made jobby is not working. thanks in advance if you have any info to offer.

Wickedcid

zac2613 · 1 Week Ago

Hi Wickedcid
If you followed the diagram instructions, you should have no problems, however as you don't upload to the meter often, did you make sure you set the com port correctly.

zac2613

wickedcid · 1 Week Ago

Originally Posted by zac2613

Hi Wickedcid
If you followed the diagram instructions, you should have no problems, however as you don't upload to the meter often, did you make sure you set the com port correctly.

zac2613

Yes sir my com is set ok and i did use a multimeter to make sure pin from rs232 was same on 6 din,i only use 4 wires from the rs232 to the 6 din correct. Thanks in advance as i would love to get this fixed....

Cheers wickedcid

wickedcid · 1 Week Ago

Originally Posted by zac2613

Hi Wickedcid
If you followed the diagram instructions, you should have no problems, however as you don't upload to the meter often, did you make sure you set the com port correctly.

zac2613

Hey bro i went back and checked to see if i went wrong somewhere as you feel pretty sure that diagram is right,now you were 100% on the money as i messed up . I was looking at everything and tracing from front view's not back,meter loaded first time and i cannot Thank You enough as i could not find this info anywhere.

Cheers Wickedcid

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