Tower LCC Boot Fix.

Boot Loader Upgrade

Note: This Boot Loader upgrade is ONLY required for nodes that experience (or may experience) problems with slow rising power supplies (node comes up in bootloader mode with flashing yellow led).

Download the TowerBootfixer_V20.hex file to your normal default file space. Also download the latest Signal LCC firmware update (e.g. TowerLCC_C7e1_UPDATE.hex) to the same location.

• Start JMRI V4.8 or later and select "LCC" (or "OpenLCB").
• Select ‘Firmware Update’ from the LCC drop down list.
• From the 'Target Node ID' drop down box, select the Tower LCC node to be upgraded.
• Click [Select] to pick a firmware file.

• From the file menu, select this file: 'TowerBootfixer_V20.hex'.

• Click [Open] and leave 'Address Space' at '239'; do not check 'Lock Node'.
• Click [Load] to download the new boot loader V2.0.
• During the download the Gold led will blink to show that the node is in 'Boot Loader State'.
• The progress bar on screen will now fill up to 100%, on the node the Blue and Red led show bus activity.
• After some time the message "Operation Complete" should appear near the bottom of the window.
• The Gold led will continue to blink, because the node will remain in 'Boot Loader State'.
• Do not close the 'Firmware Downloader' window at this time, leave it open.
• From the OpenLCB menu, click 'Configure Nodes' and select the (partially) updated node.
• It should now show 'Mod: Tower-LCC Bootloader' and 'Software: v2.0'.
• Do not close the 'OpenLCB Network Tree' window at this time, leave it open and proceed to Firmware Upgrade step #3 below.

Firmware Upgrade

If an update to your Signal LCC firmware is needed, a program such as "Firmware Update" in JMRI version 4.80 or later is required. Download the latest firmware version to your local JMRI User Files folder.

To enter Firmware upgrade mode:

1. Start JMRI and select "LCC". (or "OpenLCB")
2. Select ‘Firmware Update’ from the LCC drop down list.
3. Select your 'Target Node ID'. If you have just completed the boot loader upgrade it should still be selected.
4. Click [Select] to pick a firmware file.
5. From the file menu, select: 'TowerLCC_C7e1_UPDATE.hex' (or the latest upgrade available.)
6. Optionally you may check the ‘Lock Node’ check box to take it off line during the upgrade.
7. Click the [Load] button to initiate the upgrade to TowerLCC_C7e1_UPDATE.hex. (or later)
   
8. Wait till you see "Operation Complete" at the bottom of the window.
9. Switch back to the OpenLCB Network Tree window.
10. Close the map container of the updated node by clicking it.
11. Re-open (refresh) it by clicking it again.
12. It should now show 'Mod: Tower-LCC' and 'Software: rev-C7e1'.
13. Any errors will be shown in the lower window ticker tape display.

Note: If the node does not automatically enter boot mode and start the upgrade it may be forced into boot mode by un-powering it, then holding down the ‘Gold’ button as you power it up again. The gold LED should start blinking to indicate that it is in forced boot mode. This will also likely be required after a failed upgrade attempt.

Normally upgrades to the Tower LCC node may be accomplished without physical access to the board itself. However if the node does not automatically enter boot mode and start the upgrade it may be forced into boot mode by un-powering it, then holding down the ‘Gold’ button as you power it up again. The gold LED should start flashing to indicate that it is now in forced boot mode. This will also likely be required after a failed upgrade attempt.