EA4TX – ARS-USB Manual – June. 2024 Page 18
2.3 Special Keypad options
If some buttons (individual or combined) are pressed meanwhile the ARS-USB is
powered on, we can get some extra functions.
A.- Bootloader – F1
Some time ago, the only option for upgrade a microcontroller with a new firmware
(code) was to request a new chip from the manufacturer. As you can imagine this is a
slow and expensive method. A bootloader is an option for loading a new firmware
into the microcontroller and the ARS-USB includes it.
You can enable the bootloader code, by pressing F1 button during the power on.
Note: When the bootloader is enable, the LCD will not work (no information is
displayed) and the green led of the back panel will blink (4 peer second).
Now you need a program that helps you to send the new firmware (hex file) into the
microcontroller. You can use HyperTerminal (send the firmware as a text file) or use
the RCI_Load program, included on the CD-ROM. So locate inside the CD-ROM the
directory Teleloader, and run the setup.exe, and the RCI_Load will be installed on
your computer.
B.- Absolute Mode – F2
The Absolute mode is enabled if F2 button is pressed during the power on of the
ARS-USB.
The absolute mode allows to:
Disabled the watchdog limits
Display on the LCD the ADC value (0-1022)
By default, the ARS-USB includes a watchdog and if it detects that the rotator has
reach one of their limits (CCW/Left or CW/Right on Azimuth; Up or Down on
Elevation) the relay which control the movement in that direction is disabled. Imagine
that the ARS-USB reads ADC = 0, so it suppose that the motor is at the CCW/Left
limit. So the CCW Relay will be disabled.
The Absolute mode disables this feature, so you can move any relay.
This option is useful when you have done a wrong calibration and you don’t want a
factory default configuration.
C.- Factory default configuration – F3 + F4
If you want to load the default configuration, you must press F3 and F4 (both buttons
at the same time) and power on the unit.
Immediately the default configuration will be restore.
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