Q.station & Q.monixx Controller
      Back to home
      1. GI.knowledgebase
      2. Data Acquisition Hardware
      3. Q.station & Q.monixx Controller

      How to update the Q.station controller firmware

      This article provides procedures for updating the firmware that resides on the Q.station controller

      Table of contents

      1. Update firmware using GI.bench
      2. Update firmware using the Firmware Manager
      3. Special procedure for firmware update from v2.11/2.12 to v2.15
      4. Update firmware using test.commander

      Update firmware using GI.bench

      1. Run GI.bench, go to the GI icon in the PC system tray > Scan for Devices
      2. Right-click the connected controller > Check for firmwares online
      3. Right-click the controller again > Firmware update
      4. In the next window select the latest firmware version and click OK again.
      5. Click Yes when asked if it is okay to interrupt to measurement mode of the controller.
      6. Wait until the firmware has been written to the controller. To finish the update process restart the controller by disconnecting and reconnecting the power supply.

      Update firmware using the Firmware Manager

      The Firmware Manager may be used to update the controller firmware in case GI.bench is not available.

      1. Download the latest v2.15 Q.station firmware.
      2. Download GInsFirmwareManager.exe.
      3. Start GInsFirmwareManager.exe and enter the IP address of the controller. The port number should be set to 1200 (default). Click Connect. A Successfully connected to Device: IP address message confirms a successful connection.
        👉 If there is an active DHCP server in the network, click Request DHCP to ensure that the device will get the correct IP address.
      4. Enable Update Firmware and click Select Firmware to select the firmware package that you want to install (for example MK175#CT_V3-32#FN_Standard#_2.15.xx.ZIP).
      5. Select Update Firmware from the drop-down list and click Start Action. Wait until finished. A 'Device firmware update successfully finished!' message confirms a successful firmware update.

      Special procedure for firmware update from v2.11/2.12 to v2.15

      Due to the switch from a package-based update to an image-based update, the internal drive on the Q.station controller has to be re-partitioned. A USB drive containing a service system has to be booted which brings the device to maintenance mode. The following steps are needed to bring the Q.station controller into maintenance mode:

      Preparation

      Download Login

      user: support

      pw: gins

      1. Download gins-boot-image-service.iso.
      2. Download the latest Q.station firmware.
      3. Download GInsFirmwareManager.exe.
      4. Download and run Rufus to create a bootable USB drive using an ISO Image. Select gins-boot-image-service.iso and click Start.

      Set the controller to MAINTENANCE mode

      1. Switch OFF the Q.station controller.
      2. Plug the USB drive into one of the controller's USB ports (check that no SD card is installed).
      3. Connect a USB keyboard to the other USB port.
      4. Switch ON the Q.station and immediately start pressing F10 and F11 alternating for at least 10 seconds.
      5. Press 2x the up arrow key (↑).
      6. Press Enter.

      Installing the firmware

      1. Start GInsFirmwareManager.exe and click Device Scan and check if the controller is found in MAINTENANCE mode.
        👉 device Scan only works if GI.bench is installed, if there is no version of GI.bench installed please enter the IP address of the controller manually.
        👉 If there is an active DHCP server in the network, click Request DHCP to ensure that the device will get the correct IP address.
      2. Click Connect. Successfully connected should be shown at the bottom.
      3. Enable Update Firmware and click Select Firmware to select the firmware that you want to install (for example MK175#CT_V3-32#FN_Standard#_2.15.xx.ZIP).
      4. Select Initialize Device and click Start Action. Wait until finished. Remove the USB drive only when asked for and follow the instructions carefully.

      If the firmware update does not continue, please check if the device got an identical IP address after a reboot. If not, use GI.monitor to search for the controller, then go to the IPv6 Multicast tab and right-click on the controller to set the correct address. The update will then continue.

      Update firmware using test.commander

      Updating the controller with newer firmware versions (> v1.12 B12 / 2.12 B12 / 2.14 B07) must be done with GI.bench.

      1. Go to Utilities > Controller Firmware Update. The DLL Scanning Network window will appear and display all connected controllers. The firmware version of the controller is displayed under the Name column. In the example below, the Q.gate IP T has a firmware of V0.64.



      2. Highlight the controller and click OK.

      3. The Controller Update Tool window will appear, showing the same connected controller. Again, the firmware version of the controller is displayed under the Name column. Highlight the controller and click on the Update button.



      4. test.commander will display all available firmware for the type of connected controller. If you update to the most up-to-date version of test.commander, you will have the most up-to-date version of the firmware available. If the firmware version displayed is the same as the firmware already loaded, click the Cancel button (the controller’s firmware doesn’t need to be updated). Otherwise, select the firmware and click on the Open button.



      5. After clicking the Open button, test.commander will update the firmware to the controller. After the process is complete, proceed as normal.