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Elecraft XG3 RF User Manual

Page 18

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18

Updating Firmware

From time to time updated and improved firmware may become available for the XG3. The latest firmware
may be downloaded from Elecraft and installed using the computer interface and the XG3Utility program.

Connect your XG3 to your computer and launch the XG3Utility program (see Computer Controlled
Operation
, page 8). Updated firmware may be obtained in two ways.

1. Click on

Firmware

tab and then the Click on

Copy Firmware Files from Elecraft

to download the

latest production released firmware or,

2. Download the new file from the Elecraft web site manually and place it in a local folder, then click

on

Browse…

to locate the folder on your computer. This is the way to access the latest Beta

firmware available from Elecraft.

i

If the XG3 does not respond properly to the firmware download, be sure the

interface cable connector is inserted all the way into the jack on the top of the XG3.

To install new firmware in your XG3, click on the utility

Send Firmware to the XG3

button to start the

transfer and follow the on-screen instructions. The 0 dBm LED will flash rapidly in bursts while the
firmware is being transferred. The XG3 will return to its normal power on state when the transfer is
completed.

XG3 Remote Control Commands

You can control your XG3 using the XG3 Utility Program or, if you wish, you can write your own software
to produce a custom control program. The following is a list of the control commands:

Serial Port Settings

9600 bits/s 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.

Boot

 During a normal boot, the XG3 serial port will not display anything; however it will echo the ‘;’

character.

Transmission Protocol

 Commands can be terminated by either a semicolon ‘;’ or CR.
 If the command is entered so that it will return a value, only then will the command be echoed

back along with the displayed value. See examples below:

Examples:

Host sends: Y;

XG3 sends: nothing