FieldFox Firmware Downgrade Guidelines

FieldFox Firmware Downgrade Guidelines

Updated on 1 Oct 2015 

*NOTE: Only supported for:

1. N9912A,
2. N9923A,
3. N9913A, N9914A, N9915A, N9916A, N9917A, N9918A,
4. N9925A, N9926A, N9927A, N9928A,
5. N9935A, N9936A, N9937A, N9938A

There are three categories of FieldFox firmware: A.02.xx/A.03.xx, A.04.xx/A.05.xx, and A.06.xx.

Firmware may be upgraded and downgraded within a category without restriction as long as the model supports the desired firmware revision. For these types of downgrades, the downgrade process is the same as the upgrade process. See FieldFox Handheld Analyzer Firmware Archive for possible firmware revisions.

Downgrading from A.04.xx/A.05.xx to A.02.xx/A.03.xx may be accomplished if the FieldFox was originally shipped with A.02.xx/A.03.xx firmware.

Downgrading from A.06.xx to A.04.xx/A.05.xx requires the following process:

1. Check the firmware release revision is A.06.00 or later. Press System (7), press Service Diagnostics, then press System Information. Confirm that the firmware revision is A.06.00 or later.
2. Prepare the USB flash drive. Clear the root directory of all individual files.
3. Download the FieldFox_DOWNGRADE.ZIP file to a PC and copy it to the USB flash drive.
4. Right click on the FieldFox_DOWNGRADE.ZIP file and make the appropriate menu selection to extract the compressed files to the root directory of the USB flash drive. Remove the FieldFox_DOWNGRADE.ZIP file from the USB flash drive.
5. Check the results of the upzip operation - If the USB flash drive is G: then check that the following file exists: G:\FieldFox\FieldFoxFW_DOWNGRADE
6. Go to the FieldFox Handheld Analyzer Firmware Archive page and download the desired .zip file to a PC. (Do not copy the zip file to the USB flash drive.)
7. Right click on the .zip file and make the appropriate menu selection to extract the single compressed file to the USB flash drive. Copy the file to the root directory on the USB flash drive.
8. Connect the AC/DC power adapter or confirm that the battery power is greater than 30%.
9. Press and hold the FieldFox white power button to turn the unit OFF (not Stand By mode).
10. Insert the USB flash drive in one of the FieldFox USB connectors. Note: insert only one USB flash drive when updating firmware.
11. Eventually the FieldFox Package Installer screen will be displayed.
12. If multiple install packages are listed on the screen, select the FieldFoxFW_DOWNGRADE package.
13. Press Start Install to load the firmware update from the USB flash drive. Eventually a Firmware Update screen will be displayed.
14. Press Start to load the firmware update from the USB flash drive. Checkboxes appear on the screen as the update progresses. Important: Do not power OFF during the firmware update process. Use the AC/DC adapter if battery power is low.
15. If prompted to remove the USB flash drive, do so. If there is no prompt to remove the USB flash drive and a new Firmware Update screen is displayed then press the Cancel key. The FieldFox application will start to load. The FieldFox may shut down and restart automatically. If the FieldFox shuts down and does not restart automatically, restart manually.
16. Wait for the FieldFox to enter normal operation in its default measurement mode before pressing any keys.
17. To check the firmware release revision, press System (7), press Service Diagnostics, then press System Information.