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CR Toolbox Manual 0118

CR Toolbox Overview and Installation What is it? Where to get it? What does it do?

CR Toolbox is a universal application designed for compatible Contemporary Research products. CR Toolbox can be downloaded from the software tools section of contemporaryresearch.com at no charge. It is a Windows application, compatible with versions XP SP3 through Windows 10.

When launched, it will automatically search for connected Contemporary Research devices. CR Toolbox has the capability to locate all Contem-porary Research devices and browse each onboard webpage. It can also update firmware for individual, selected, or all devices. Currently, the supported products include QMOD HDTV Modulator-IPTV Encoders, QIP IPTV Encoders, ATSC-series HDTV Tuners, and the ICE-HE-DXL Display Control Center.

The current options specific to each product are as follows:

Locate

• All QMOD HDTV Modulator-IPTV Encoders

• All QIP IPTV Encoders

• All ATSC-series HDTV Tuners

• All ICE-HE-DXL Display Control Centers

(If a network is not available, the PC may be connected directly to each device through a USB or serial port.)

Browse

• All onboard web pages by selecting the device name in the list

Update

• QMOD HDTV Modulator-IPTV Encoders – Firmware may be downloaded and installed through the app

• QIP IPTV Encoders – Firmware may be downloaded and installed through the app

• ATSC-series HDTV Tuners – Firmware may be downloaded through the app (updating is manual at this time)

• ICE-HE-DXL Display Control Centers – Firmware may be downloaded and installed through the app

• CR Toolbox – Update to latest version


QMOD HDTV Modulator-IPTV Encoders and QIP IPTV EncodersQMOD and QIP devices can be located and updated through CR Toolbox in two ways: via the network or by direct USB connection to a single device.

• Network - Connect a PC to the network and launch CR Toolbox. The application will scan the network for all supported Contemporary Research devices.

• Direct Connection - Connect a PC to the front panel USB port of the QMOD/QIP.

The first three tabs across the top represent the supported Contemporary Research device types (QMODs/QIPs, Tuners, DXLs). Use the tabs to toggle between device types. Double-clicking on a specific device will open the unit’s webpage.

Internet LAN

The appropriate network adapter will need to be selected form the dropdown menu. For a front panel USB connection to a QMOD or QIP device, select Ethernet/RNDIS Gadget from Network Adapters. The Use indicator will automatically switch from Ethernet to QMOD/QIP Front Panel USB.

Debug Tab

The Debug tab is used to create a file that can be sent to Contemporary Research Support.

• Enter a problem description, including your contact information.

• Select the specific QMOD/QIP unit from the Device pull-down menu.

• Click on Create Package to save the debug information in a folder labeled “debug_<date>_<time>”. The location is noted in Package Folder. The files on your PC may be viewed by clicking Open Folder or View Debug File.

QMOD/QIP Update Tab

CR Toolbox can update single or multiple units by clicking on the check box to the left of any or all devices.

• When launched, CR Toolbox will check for firmware updates. If the Download button is red, then a newer version is available for download. Press Download to get the new version.

• If several versions of QMOD/QIP firmware are on your PC, you can se-lect which version to update to by choosing from the dropdown list.

• Select Start to begin the update process. The status bar shows the download progress. If multiple devices are selected, they will be updat-ed in sequence.

• Cancel will stop the current update. If an update fails, repeat the up-date process for that unit.


Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab allows the user to copy settings from one QMOD/QIP to another. Contemporary Research’s Support Staff is available for assistance.

Clone Data can be used to copy configuration data from one device to others of the SAME type (i.e., QMOD-HDMI2 to other QMOD-HDMI2s).

• Select a device from the Read Data From dropdown list from which to read cloned data.

• Select Create & Read. This creates a file on the selected device and transfers the file from the device to the PC.

• Select a device of the same type from the Write Data To drop-down list.

• ALMOST ALWAYS, you will want to check the Leave Out IP Info box. When checked, IP addresses, gateways, and ports will NOT be copied when sending the data file.

• Click on Write to write the file to the selected device.

• This process may be repeated for other devices of like type by selecting them from the Write Data To dropdown list and selecting Write.

If a clone file has already been created on a device (by using the QMOD/QIP Advanced web page), the Read button may be used instead of Cre-ate & Read.

If a clone file already exists on the PC, Select File may be used to browse for the .clo file.

Send Cmd Tab

Send Command may be used to get information from and change settings for the QMOD/QIP. Type “?” at the prompt, and a list of com-mands will be shown. Click on Clear to clear out text previously sent and received.


ManualsTab

Use this tab to download and open manuals and release notes. A double-click on a manual will open it. If the manual is not yet on the PC, it will be downloaded to the \CR Data\Tool-box\Manuals folder.

To download several manuals, check the box next to each manual and then click Download. The manuals will be down-loaded sequentially.


ATSC-Series HDTV TunersThe first three tabs across the top represent the supported Contemporary Research device type (QMODs/QIPs, Tuners, DXLs). Click on the Tuners tab to view a list of ATSC-series tuners connected to the network.

Internet LAN

Select Internet LAN if this is the connection method. The appropriate network adapter will need to be selected from the dropdown menu. When Internet LAN is selected, double-clicking on a specific device will open the unit’s webpage.

Serial

Select Serial if the tuner is connected via the front panel USB or to the rear panel RS-232 port through an external USB-to-serial converter.

Updating Tuners

While CR Toolbox cannot directly update current ATSC-series tuners, the application can find and download the latest firmware package for each tuner type. If the Download button is red, a new firmware version is available.

• Make sure that the PC is connected to the Internet.

• Select a folder in which to copy the files.

• Select a tuner type.

• Click on the Download button. Note that there are two firmware version numbers for each tuner type. The first number is the version of the S37 Firmware (ex: 2.26), and the second number is the version of the HD firmware (ex: 6.41).

• Click on Open Folder to open the folder that contains the download package and follow the included instructions at the bottom of the Tuner FW Pack page.


Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab allows the user to select baud rates for serial con-nection, as well as to install the CR device driver needed when using front-panel USB. Contemporary Research’s Support Staff is available for assistance.

Use These Baud Rates for Serial COM Connection specifies the baud rates used when trying to connect to serial ports on the PC.

• Check each baud rate used at your site and uncheck those that are not used.

• Click Refresh so that Toolbox will search using the selected baud rates.

If Install under Send Install Device Driver for Front Panel Serial USB is red, then the CR device driver for the front-panel USB needs to be installed.

• Click Install.

• A Windows dialog will pop up. Click on Install this driver software anyway.

• Installing the driver will take a few moments.

• Plug the USB cable into the front panel. Wait for Windows to find the CR driver.

• Click on Serial at the top, then click on Refresh to display devices in the list.

For Windows XP, manual installation is necessary. See the instructions at the bottom of the Advanced tab.


Send Cmd Tab

Send Command may be used to get information from and change settings for the checked device in the list.

Commands can be sent using either Internet LAN or Serial connection.

The list of commands can be found in the manual for the device. See the Manuals tab to download and open manuals.

Click on Clear to clear out text sent and received.

Manuals Tab

Use this tab to download and open manuals and release notes. A double-click on a manual will open it. If the manual is not yet on the PC, it will be downloaded to the \CR Data\Toolbox\Manuals folder.

To download several manuals, check the box next to each manual and then click Download. The manuals will be downloaded sequentially.


ICE-HE-DXL Display Control CenterThe first three tabs across the top represent the supported Contemporary Research device type (QMODs/QIPs, Tuners, DXLs). Click on the DXLs tab to view a list of ICE-HE-DXLs connected to the network.

Internet LAN

Select Internet LAN if this is the connection method. The appropriate network adapter will need to be selected from the dropdown menu. When Internet LAN is selected, double-clicking on a specific device will open the unit’s webpage.

Serial

Select Serial if the tuner is connected via the front panel USB, the rear panel USB or the rear panel RS-232 port through an external USB-to-serial converter. Note: This is the only device CR Toolbox can update via RS-232.

DXL Update Tab

When launched, CR Toolbox will check for firmware updates. If the Download button is red, a new firmware version is available for download.

• Select Folder to specify where on the PC to copy the downloaded firmware files.

• Click on the Download button.

• To update, select Application, Bootloader or both. Note: In most cases, only the Application firmware will need updating.

• If several versions of DXL firmware are on your PC, you can select which version to update to by choosing from the dropdown lists.

• Click Start.


Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab allows the user to select baud rates for serial con-nection, as well as to install the CR device driver needed when using front-panel USB. Contemporary Research’s Support Staff is available for assistance.

Use These Baud Rates for Serial COM Connection specifies the baud rates used when trying to connect to serial ports on the PC.

• Check each baud rate used at your site and uncheck those that are not used.

• Click Refresh so that Toolbox will search using the selected baud rates.

If Install under Send Install Device Driver for Front Panel Serial USB is red, then the CR device driver for the front-panel USB needs to be installed.

• Click Install.

• A Windows dialog will pop up. Click on Install this driver soft-ware anyway.

• Installing the driver will take a few moments.

• Plug the USB cable into the front panel. Wait for Windows to find the CR driver.

• Click on Serial at the top, then click on Refresh to display devic-es in the list.

For Windows XP, manual installation is necessary. See the instructions at the bottom of the Advanced tab.


Send Cmd Tab

Send Command may be used to get information from and change settings for the checked device in the list.

Commands can be sent using either Internet LAN or Serial connection.

The list of commands can be found in the manual for the device. See the Manuals tab to download and open manuals.

Click on Clear to clear out text sent and received.

Manuals Tab

Use this tab to download and open manuals and release notes. A double-click on a manual will open it. If the manual is not yet on the PC, it will be down-loaded to the \CR Data\Toolbox\Manuals folder.

To download several manuals, check the box next to each manual and then click Download. The manuals will be downloaded sequentially.


CR Toolbox Servers

The last tab at the top is the Servers tab, which has status information for the two servers used by CR Toolbox. The SFTP Server downloads files from CR to the PC. The TFTP Server transfers files to and from the PC and the various devices.

File Transfer

This tab shows the status of the TFTP Server.

CR Toolbox automatically sets the folder on the PC used for file transfer. Occasionally it may be useful to manually set the TFTP Server’s folder, and this can be done by clicking Change Folder.

File Download

This tab shows the status of the SFTP Server.

When first launched, CR Toolbox checks for the newest download versions. Click Refresh Download Versions, and CR Toolbox will look up the newest again.


Updating CR Toolbox

Once CR Toolbox has been installed, it can be updated to the latest version by selecting Update at the top of the page. (Update will be red when an update is available online.)

CR Toolbox checks for updates every time it is launched if there is an Ethernet connection available.

972.931.2728 | 888.972.2728 | · • ice-he-dxl display control ... if the tuner is connected via...

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