Comfort G1 upgrade from quite old firmware

[John W]

Hi all,

I have a comfort system thats been fitted for a number of years. Its all wired in and has been working quite happily. Still is infact.
In an effort to finally make use of all its features (e.g. x10 for exteroir lights, gates, etc), I thought now might be the time to upgrade the software.
I have no need to upgrade to a G2 motherboard, so wish to retain my current board.

The current version is (wait for it...) \'Outside\' 4.114.

My questions are:

•  what is the latest version of firmware I should be buying (U1) - O4.226 ?
  (comfort home controls offer this one, yet the version table on their site suggests O4.227 is the latest...)
  
• is there an Ultra (Action) stable version available ?
  (I can\'t see anyone offering one for sale, despite the table on comfort home controls showing there to be a A4.232)
  
• do I need to upgrade the NVM chip (U4) for the latest O4 version, or only if I buy an A4 version ?
  
• Is the NVM chip blank when supplied ?
  (I use these elsewhere, so if they are blank I already have some, and have no need to go buy one at 10x what they cost from the likes of RS)
  
• I am assuming I need to upgrade the voice (possibly via Comfigurator). Is this correct ?
  
• I am using a RS232 \'Outside\' UCM. Can I upgrade the firmware on this, or do I need to replace it ?
  
• Do I need to buy a licence for the latest Comfigurator or will the UCM software upgrade include it?
  
• Can I fit the Ethernet ETH01 to this board ?
  (it says it can/will support UCM CWI if that is any help)
  
• Should I still be playing around with Comfigurator software, or upgrading to something else ?

I\'m real happy with the current arrangement, so don\'t really want to spend for the sake of it. If I can simply change the U1, U4 and UCM firmware to get to the latest version, that is my aim (plus maybe the ETH01 module too).

My appologies for so many questions.
Its been a while since I\'ve looked at any of this and its all moved on a great deal.

Many thanks in advance for all your help,
    John.

p.s. i\'m new here but was a member on the yahoo group for ages, just it seems to be redundant now.

[slychiu]

Glad to hear from an old customer. From our records Outside 4.114 was sold in 2001

To answer your questions;

•  what is the latest version of firmware I should be buying (U1) - O4.226 ?
  (comfort home controls offer this one, yet the version table on their site suggests O4.227 is the latest...)
  

• is there an Ultra (Action) stable version available ?
  (I can\'t see anyone offering one for sale, despite the table on comfort home controls showing there to be a A4.232)

Action (ULtra I) 4.234 is the latest firmware for Comfort I. All upgraders for Comfort I firmware can upgrade to Ultra instead of PRO (Outside)
Please note that Comfort Home Controls is no longer a distributor for Comfort, and is not related to the Comfort product in any way. Our distributors and installers can be found on the Cytech Europe Installers Page http://www.cytech-europe.co.uk/cms/installers.php

• do I need to upgrade the NVM chip (U4) for the latest O4 version, or only if I buy an A4 version ?
• Is the NVM chip blank when supplied ?
  (I use these elsewhere, so if they are blank I already have some, and have no need to go buy one at 10x what they cost from the likes of RS)

Ultra firmware requires a new higher memory capacity U4 (256 Kbits instead of 64 Kbits). They are supplied with the default file so it can work directly when plugged in. You can also buy blank ones at RS, Comfort will not start up with an unprogrammed U4 but it will allow the UCM to program it via Comfigurator

• I am assuming I need to upgrade the voice (possibly via Comfigurator). Is this correct ?

Correct. You may need a later UCM01 to get best results for vocab download. The last UCM01 firmware is 5.92. Comfigurator 2.23 is the latest software

• I am using a RS232 \'Outside\' UCM. Can I upgrade the firmware on this, or do I need to replace it ?

Upgrade by buying a UCM U1 IC 5.92

• Do I need to buy a licence for the latest Comfigurator or will the UCM software upgrade include it?

No we did away with the licence long ago.

• Can I fit the Ethernet ETH01 to this board ?
  (it says it can/will support UCM CWI if that is any help)

No, the old UCM01s do not have the jumper selection to allow the Eth01 to be inserted

• Should I still be playing around with Comfigurator software, or upgrading to something else ?

Comfigurator is still the software used, but there is a new.NET based software on beta test now, see http://www.comfortforums.com/forum64/

The Yahoo group was administered by a third party who did not make much effort to administer it, hence we started this one. Most members of the old group should have switched by now This platform is very much better, as you can see.

You may have difficulty buying Comfort I upgrade ICs in the UK, as our distributors stock Comfort II, but we can supply these for old customers, if you will send me a Private Message
My suggestion, though I may be biased, is to upgrade to Comfort II, as this will allow you to take advantage of all the new features including the ability to upgrade firmware uszsing the UCM05, so you wil not be stuck with firmware IC replacements. We have a program for upgrading from Comfort I including the Comfort II PCB which will fit into your existing metal casing, KP04, UCM05 for just £261 excluding VAT. We would like to convert all our customers to comfort II
We hope to keep you as an active customer whichever way you go

[John W]

Hi,

thanks for such a rapid reply.
Currently I can\'t see the need to go for the Comfort 2 Upgrade.
So to summarise I need a new U1, U4, and UCM chip.
I guess that is ~£80.

And if I want ethernet access I need a new UCM and ethernet module which is a further ~£170, so not too far off the upgrade cost. Does the UCM05 in the upgrade have the ethernet module on it, or is it extra ?

Hmm. I\'ll have to have a think and a look at the new features.
I will send you a PM.

many thanks,
John.

[slychiu]

No, Ethernet is extra for the upgrade