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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Using Impero and Birger

I was having similar problems, and never was able to update it with Zterms. So I realized that you can update it with the Birger BEI software. I used the BEI at the end. I don't know if it helps. In the instructions it didn't say anything, or I didn't read anywhere that you could update it using the BEI software, which is so much better. I think I found it one day reading the forum. There is so much information scatter in this forum that it is getting hard to keep updated.

I hope it helps.

Ivan C.

ericyoung said:
Hi all, have been trying to update the Impero firmware from v1.5 to v2.1 via ZTerm and the Birger mount. Two issues.

ZTerm seems to put all my commands and its replies on one line at the top of the window, overwriting the previous command or reply. Makes it difficult to see what's going on as a longer or multiline reply overwrites everything before, and short ones have the un-overwritten letters of the previous longer line still showing - don't know enough about Terminal use to know if this is a option preference I can change in the app.

Two, following the instructions in Birger's "Manually Updating Impero.pdf", I get to Step 8, and instead of "OK", I get an "Err12". I don't see "xe" as one of the commands in the Bootloader command list either - is there a typo?

"Err12" seems to be "XModem unlock code incorrect." Do I need to do an "xm" command - I used command "sn" to get a unlock code "0001-00117ger/viewfactor", do I have to enter all of that after the "xm" command?
Click to expand...
 
ericyoung said:
Two, following the instructions in Birger's "Manually Updating Impero.pdf", I get to Step 8, and instead of "OK", I get an "Err12". I don't see "xe" as one of the commands in the Bootloader command list either - is there a typo?

"Err12" seems to be "XModem unlock code incorrect." Do I need to do an "xm" command - I used command "sn" to get a unlock code "0001-00117ger/viewfactor", do I have to enter all of that after the "xm" command?
Click to expand...

xe00117 will initiate the download on your impero. Only use the last five digits of serial number. The impero has two download commands "xm" (unencrypted) and "xe" (encrypted) download. The lens mount only has one option "xm" (encrypted). All birger software is encrypted.

Mac app will do a download automatically. PC app will not.
 
Erik Widding said:
xe00117 will initiate the download on your impero. Only use the last five digits of serial number. The impero has two download commands "xm" (unencrypted) and "xe" (encrypted) download. The lens mount only has one option "xm" (encrypted). All birger software is encrypted.

Mac app will do a download automatically. PC app will not.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info for Terminal ignoramuses like myself! Using xe with the serial number gets an "OK" from the Impero and onto Step 9 of the "Manually Updating Impero.pdf". Think this serial number requirement needs to be added to those instructions!

Also for ZTerm on Mac, selecting "Local Echo" in Settings>Connection menu shows me what I've typed, and turning on "Auto Line feed" in Settings>Terminal starts a new line for each command and reply so there's no longer any confusing overwriting of previous commands and replies.

Now I need help with more detail on how to set up ZTerm on a Mac to do the XModem download to Impero, as whatever I have tried so far gets me an ERR30
or
"### Send (X) Impero Controller A#2F1B23.ebin: Timeout on sector ACK"
or
"### Send (X) Impero Controller A#2F1B23.ebin: Got burst for sector ACK"
or eventually
"### Send (X) Impero Controller A#2F1B23.ebin: Retry Count Exceeded"

A window titled "XModem Send" opens with progress bar at top and a Cancel button and following text.
File: Impero Controller
Folder: Birger Impero
Type: / (MacBinary II)
File Size: 123136
Bytes Sent: 0
Efficiency:
Time elap/left:
Status:
Retries: 0
CRC-16

The CRC-16 seems to be there no matter what settings I have tried changing in the ZTerm menus.

Where do I select 128 byte blocks, which setting makes it simple checksumming? What baud rate? Assume I should be using XModem and not XModem-1K?
 
Ivan Cortazar said:
I was having similar problems, and never was able to update it with Zterms. So I realized that you can update it with the Birger BEI software. I used the BEI at the end. I don't know if it helps. In the instructions it didn't say anything, or I didn't read anywhere that you could update it using the BEI software, which is so much better. I think I found it one day reading the forum. There is so much information scatter in this forum that it is getting hard to keep updated.

I hope it helps.

Ivan C.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ivan. Yes, I read that in the forum too, but can't seem to get it to see or automatically update the Impero, although it does update the mount and the BEI software.
 
Bump.
 
is your impero plugged into the mount? if i recall correctly you'll want to update it via the cable.
 
paul engstrom said:
is your impero plugged into the mount? if i recall correctly you'll want to update it via the cable.
Click to expand...

Yes it is connected to the middle Birger Mount Lemo socket as specified in the instructions. The ZTerm software is able to communicate with the Impero via the Birger Mount, but it just won't download firmware to it - I'm doing something wrong with the ZTerm & XModem settings I think.
 
ericyoung said:
Yes it is connected to the middle Birger Mount Lemo socket as specified in the instructions. The ZTerm software is able to communicate with the Impero via the Birger Mount, but it just won't download firmware to it - I'm doing something wrong with the ZTerm & XModem settings I think.
Click to expand...

forget zterm. i initially tried that with some connection success but i could never get through all the written steps without it failing. a helpful reduser (joel kaye) sent me a quick walkthrough that worked painlessly for me. here's his message to me...


"I've never used Zterm. I've always gotten the BEI App to work one way or another.

If your firmware is 1.4 or 1.5 you need to be in bootloader mode before you launch the BEI app on a MAC. (PC's have to use Zterm as far as I know). I typically have the Impero OFF and often remove the batteries.

Your Mac's bluetooth control panel should be connect to the Birger mount and NOT the Impero before you launch the BEI app.

From the Update instructions -
If you're having trouble updating the Impero using the Mac application:
- Make sure the Impero is connected to the Birger mount using the supplied Lemo-to-
Lemo cable. Do not use a View Factor Lemo-to-Lemo or any other cable you are
unsure of, as they are not compatible and may cause damage.

- If the Impero contains version 1.5 firmware or earlier, make sure it is in bootloader
mode; to place it in bootloader mode, hold down the Auto 1 and Auto 2 buttons
while turning it on. Alternatively, make sure the Birger mount is powered and one
end of the Lemo-to-Lemo cable is connected to the mount. With the Impero
turned off, hold down the Auto 1 and Auto 2 buttons while connecting the other
end of the Lemo-to-Lemo cable to the Impero. If you are successful the Impero
will have the bottom LED on the REC button lit, and nothing else.

- Make sure the app is connected wirelessly to the mount – NOT TO THE IMPERO.
- Try using fresh batteries.
I can't update the Impero using the PC application:
- That's right. It's not supported yet in the PC application. PC users should use the manual method.

With v1.8 or a later you should be able to use the update option from the pulldown menu which will update you to the latest version (not to be confused the update BUTTON - that's used for selecting the firmware from your drive). If the pulldown menu doesn't work then try the button and select the Impero firmware you want to update to. I've updated that way too."
 
Craig Schober said:
..."I've never used Zterm. I've always gotten the BEI App to work one way or another.

If your firmware is 1.4 or 1.5 you need to be in bootloader mode before you launch the BEI app on a MAC. (PC's have to use Zterm as far as I know). I typically have the Impero OFF and often remove the batteries.

Your Mac's bluetooth control panel should be connect to the Birger mount and NOT the Impero before you launch the BEI app...
Click to expand...

Hi Craig

Thanks for the advice.

Have tried the BEI App route according to the yours and Birger's notes, and it only intermittently detects the Impero is connected (yes it is in Bootloader mode in firmware v1.5, and connected by Birger lemo-lemo cable to mount). When it does detect it, and offers the option to update from v1.5 to v2.1, it starts downloading from the Birger website, but strangely it downloads the Impero quicknotes pdf instead of the v2.1 firmware and then get a "Firmware Download Error There was a problem trying to enter the bootloader." message. I assume this is because it's expecting v2.1 ebin file but getting a pdf! Erik - have you moved file locations such that the BEI app "Check for Updates" looks for the wrong file?

This is driving me nuts! :cry:
 
Bump
 
Has anyone experienced using Birger/Impero in very cold conditions?.. and any performance issues?

Thanks
 
Erik Widding said:
This should be set to "Binary" not "MacBinary".
Click to expand...

I think that was it - something else to add to the "Manually updating Impero" PDF!

Once upgraded to v2.1, the BEI app seems to detect the Impero much more reliably than on v1.5

I've got a second spare mount and Impero, so will repeat and check the procedure.

Thanks everyone for the help.

Eric
 
Manfrotto makes a variety of those different studs and you should be able to get one from the bigger stores that carry Manfrotto. For example, almost for sure Filmtools has them.
 
You could always just get a 1/4", 20 pitch screw from a hardware store, and a couple of nuts to fit. You can cut or file the screw to size, and use a nut in between as a spacer.

Having two nuts makes it easy to remove the screw if it gets stuck in one of the two pieces, as you can just tighten the two nuts against each other with wrenches and then unscrew the screw with them.
 
Jon B. said:
Has anyone experienced using Birger/Impero in very cold conditions?.. and any performance issues?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi,
left the camera full mounted in a cold and slightly humid wharehouse (no dramatic temperatures), just a cover on it, the mount was not starting immediately, some heat needed to start working, one day a lamp on it, next day 10 minutes camera on
 
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