KOR Software
January 2014 Release
1-21-2014
The 1.0.8 KOR software update provides major enhancements to the handheld and minor updates to the
desktop version of KOR. Instructions for updating (and using) your KOR software and sonde/sensor firmware
are attached. Once installed, users can expect to see:
EXO Handheld enhancements
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KOR Desktop improvements
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NOTE: Firmware updates require
all instrumentation (Handheld, sonde,
sensors, and desktop software) be
updated to function properly.
Start/Stop Sampling on Run>Dashboard (append data
capabilities) to match handheld
Site support functionality
Added averaging/filtering options to match handheld
General improvements to firmware update process
Improved GPS resolution on data exports
Minor bug fixes
Sensors
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Start/Stop Sampling on Run>Dashboard (append data
capabilities)
Added options for data averaging/filtering (optimized
performance for specific applications)
Site support (sites now listed in export metadata)
General user interface enhancements to Dashboard,
menus, selections
General enhancements to Bluetooth/wired connectivity
Minor bug fixes
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Vertical position parameter added for Depth
Corrected communication delay found when CT wakes
from sleep mode
Added user programmable averaging modes and
improved robustness of firmware update process
(especially with Handheld)
Corrected QC scoring flash Yellow/Red scores, and
extended setpoint ranges of 3 point calibrations
for ISEs
Firewall
If you experience difficulty downloading files from
the EXOwater.com web site, please check with your IT
department to see if firewall restrictions are implemented
in your organization.
See also the Troubleshooting section in this document.
Update KOR Software
Updating KOR software is a simple process using EXOwater.com. The process will take approximately 15-30
minutes depending on your internet connection and computer speed.
To update, close KOR software on your computer and follow these directions:
1 Log on to EXOwater.com.
Log on to the EXO web site at
www.exowater.com/login/user-login.php.
• If you do not already have a registered account, click
the “Sign up” link on the web page.
• Fill out the registration form, including the serial
number of your EXO sonde. (The serial number of the
sonde is located on the sonde label, inside the window
and below the bar code.)
• After registering you will receive an e-mail with your
user login information.
2 Download KOR software upgrade.
Once logged in, click the Download Manuals and Software
link in the middle of the window. On the following page,
download the latest KOR software by clicking the link.
The download time will vary depending on the speed of
your internet connection. Once the download completes,
open the file folder and click on the Setup application.
A
Windows may prompt users with a caution to discard
the KOR software file due to an unknown publisher. Ignore
this prompt and select the Run button.
3 Install and run upgrade.
Follow the on-screen prompts and directions to finish
installation.
Once installed, start KOR software. On the start-up menu,
click About KOR-EXO and check that your version is 1.0.8.
If so, you have successfully updated your KOR software. If
this number is not correct, retry the steps above or contact
our Technical Support team for assistance.
Once KOR has been updated, users can then update both
their sonde firmware and handheld software/firmware.
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Sonde and Sensors
Update Firmware
Users can check and update sensor or sonde firmware through the KOR interface software. This process may
take up to 30 minutes depending on the number of sensors that will be updated.
Note: For best power management, update firmware while a device is connected via USB, as this will provide
power to the device. However, if you use Bluetooth, we recommend installing fully charged batteries in
the sonde.
1 Connect to sonde.
Each device must be connected to a computer running
the Desktop version of KOR, and the computer must have
internet access.
2 Open firmware submenu in KOR.
Navigate to the Options menu in KOR, then to the
Firmware submenu. Immediately after clicking the
Firmware submenu button, KOR begins to search for
connected sondes and sensors and loads the table with
names, serial numbers, and current firmware versions.
3 Update sonde and sensor network.
Click the update network button.
KOR then updates the device’s firmware, which could
take several minutes. If you experience problems with
automatically downloading the latest firmware, please see
the Troubleshooting section in this document.
The sonde should be updated to version 1.0.12.
All sensors should be updated to version 2.0.0.
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NOTE: Firmware updates require all instrumentation (Handheld, sonde, sensors, and desktop software) be updated to function properly.
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Handheld
Update Firmware & KOR Software
To update the instrument firmware and KOR software on the EXO Handheld, use the Desktop version of
KOR on a computer with internet access. KOR Desktop will go online and pull updated files for the Handheld,
which are then transferred to the Handheld.
1 Connect handheld to computer.
Plug the small end of the USB cable into the port on the
top side of the EXO Handheld. Plug the other end of the
USB cable into a port on your computer. Wait for Windows
to recognize the Handheld as a removable drive before the
Handheld shows up in KOR software. This may take
several minutes.
2 Update handheld.
When the Handheld is connected to the PC, go to the
Options | Firmware menu in KOR Desktop software. Select
the Update Handheld button from the bottom-right corner
of the menu.
Handheld information will be displayed in this box when
successfully connected. Follow the prompts for completing
the update process and rebooting the Handheld.
The Handheld should be updated to version 1.4.7.1071.
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NOTE: Firmware updates require all instrumentation (Handheld, sonde, sensors, and desktop software) be updated to function properly.
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Troubleshooting
Update Firmware
If you experience problems with automatically downloading the latest firmware versions for your EXO
equipment, we recommend you attempt the following manual process before contacting our technical support
department. You might also check with your IT department to see if firewall restrictions are implemented
in your organization.
1 Download firmware.
Log on to EXOwater.com and go to the Support section.
Click on the Software tab. Then download the
firmware package.
2 Extract files and move to hard drive.
Once downloaded, extract the files from the .zip
package. Move the unzipped folder “Firmware-UpdatePackage-012114” into the firmware update folder on your
hard drive (usually C:\Program Files\KOR-EXO\FirmwareUpdate-Packages).
NOTE: Unzip this file and ensure it is NOT placed in a
subfolder of the same name.
3 Launch KOR.
After the firmware package is on your hard drive, launch
KOR software.
Follow instructions on page 3 for updating sonde/sensor
firmware, and page 4 for the Handheld. When KOR asks
if you want to use an update package already on your PC,
click Yes.
The update process should now complete as intended.
If you attempt the above troubleshooting process and still
require assistance, YSI technical support is available to
answer questions related to the EXO product line and
KOR software.
Contact us at [email protected]
+1 937-767-7241 or +1 800-765-4974 (US)
www.EXOwater.com
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New Features
Handheld
With the latest release, the EXO Handheld has received a makeover. The dashboard has been enhanced for
readability, and there is also a new Capture Data menu that provides the ability to record live readings, add
them to a new or existing data file, and tag them under different site names.
1 Dashboard.
The Dashboard under the Run menu has a redesigned
interface. In addition to visual improvements, more
parameters can now fit on a single screen. At the bottom
right, there is also a new Capture Data menu, added to
improve the ability for the handheld to collect and
manage data.
2 Capture Data menu.
With previous versions of the handheld, the Dashboard’s
Capture button recorded one data point (or a cache of the
last 100 points) into an individual file.
This process has been reworked to provide additional
options, including the ability to log collected data to
existing files, continuously collect data over a userdetermined timeframe, and the ability to tag data to a
particular site.
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Managing Sites
Handheld
Site functionality has been included in this KOR Release. The new desktop software and handheld firmware
will now allow you to create/delete sites, as well as tag data files with these site names.
1 Creating sites.
A new Create Site option exists under the Handheld’s Run
menu. Selecting this option will allow you to generate a
new site using the Handheld’s alpha-numeric keypad.
Note: To tag files with site information or to delete sites on
the Handheld, you must be connected to an EXO sonde.
Tip: If entering a longer list of sites into the handheld it is
easier to utilize KOR Desktops equivalent feature. When
creating files on the desktop be sure to sync with the
handheld.
2 Tagging sites to sampling data.
On the Capture Data menu (Run>Dashboard>Capture
Data), all files will be tagged with whichever site is active
while you record data.
To change the active site, press 6 on the Handheld keypad,
and select any of the sites you have created. Your active site
will be shown on the rotating header.
3 Deleting sites.
To delete a site on the Handheld, go to the Change active
site menu, select the site you wish to delete and press the
tab button on the keypad.
Tip: You can also create/delete sites on desktop KOR
(Sites menu) and then sync this list with your Handheld
(Options>Sync With Handheld). This is helpful when
generating longer site lists..
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Collecting Data
Handheld
Collecting sampling data on the EXO Handheld is easier than ever due to the array of logging options now
available via the Capture Data menu (Run>Dashboard>Capture Data).
1 Logging data.
Upon navigating to the Capture Data menu for the first
time (and each time you reconnect to a sonde), you will
need to set a logging file or start logging with a new file
(options 3 or 4).
Logging to a new file will automatically generate and set a
Current Logging File to which future data points will
be appended.
2 Appending data.
Once a logging file is set, you can append future data points
to it. Use the keypad to select options 1 or 2 to add data
points to the Current Logging File.
To append data to a different location, press 5 on the
keypad. This will bring up a list of available files currently
saved on the handheld that can be set instead.
Note: You can press 1 or 2 while on the dashboard to
quickly append data to an existing file, avoiding the need to
navigate to the Capture Data menu for each reading.
3 Continuous sampling.
Green header notification
confirms data capture.
Selecting options 2 or 4 on the Capture Data menu will
cause the sonde to begin recording data continuously at
the sampling interval set in the Run Settings (Run>Run
Settings). To stop logging data, press Stop Capture.
4 File nomenclature.
With the addition of sites, options for file naming have
been added in the Run Settings menu of the Handheld
(Run>Run Settings). EXO data files are generated with the
following naming structure by default:
FilePrefix_HandheldSerialNumber_MonthDateYear_
HourMinuteSecond.bin
You can modify the File Prefix in the Run Settings menu
using the Handheld’s alpha-numeric keypad. Additionally,
you can also include sites within file names by using the
directional keys to select “Site Name” under Capture File
Name. This naming structure is:
FilePrefix_SiteName_MonthDateYear_
HourMinuteSecond.bin.
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Setting Averaging Modes
Desktop and Handheld
Data filtering options are now included in the handheld and desktop versions of KOR. These settings can
be modified within the Sonde Options menu(Options>Sonde) as well as within the deployment template
settings. Note: Making any changes to data filtering options will stop a deployment.
What are averaging modes?
As a sonde takes measurements, it compares new readings to those taken in the previous 2-30 seconds
(depending on the selected option).
• If the new reading is not significantly different than past measurements, then it merely factors into the
rolling average with older data points to create a smooth curve.
• If the new reading is significantly different than past measurements, then it restarts the rolling average
of data points.
1 Averaging options.
Default – This mode provides optimum data filtering for all
sensors. Provides the highest accuracy, automatic averaging
during unattended monitoring or fixed mooring. Note: This
is the mode all sensors ship in and how sensors filtered data
prior to this update.
Accelerated* – This mode should be used for spot sampling
and slow (or paused) depth profiles. The sensors are
averaging 5-10 seconds of data in a rolling window, unless
there are any outliers. Rapid* – This mode should be used where the sonde is
moving quickly through the water, such as with rapid
profiling and unique applications like auvs, gliders, or
towed applications. The data will be noisy and will never
settle on a single steady number. This mode has 2-3 second
filtering on the sensors.
*Tip: Enable the Vertical Position parameter in the Depth
unit options to view the real-time position of the sonde in
the water column. This is helpful in profiling applications
to ensure the sonde is lowered to the desired depth without
waiting for the Depth data to stabilize.
2 Confirm averaging settings.
To quickly check a sonde’s data filtering options, examine
the summary information at the top of either the desktop
or handheld versions of KOR.
On the desktop software, the word Default, Accelerated, or
Rapid will be adjacent to the sonde’s serial number.
Similarly, on the handheld, the letter D, A, or R will be
listed at the top right of the screen.
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