Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

SkiDoo55

Just downloaded and installed new firmware for the ComBox
150-0279-01-03-BN450.bdl. Dated 11-08-2013

Do not have all of what it fixed or changed. But it did fix ability to access using latest version of IE in Win 8.1, some versions of FireFox etc.

mike95490

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Did long "logging in, please be patient" times improve ? What connection did you use to do the flash with ?
Do you loose custom logging options?

SkiDoo55

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Logging in times seems good, but i am on local WiFi.
tried to do it over web but kept timing out, so went to USB drive inserted into ComBox after clearing firmware in memory. Worked fine from that method. It retained all of the previous settings. There is a rev "D" of the user manual also, previous version I had was "B"

this is morning have a fault light showing, "System initializing Fault" and I have tried rebooting 3 times with out clearing. Last time this appeared I had to reset to defaults and re-enter all of the settings manually?

logging with previously setting appears to be working and all the information is being displayed correctly.

n4wff

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

I also tried updating via local wifi and it did not work.. USB thumb drive to the rescue. I really can't tell much has changed, other than there is a language selection at the login screen now. The custom logging settings are unaffected.

mike95490

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Where do you get the download ? Their product website does not list anything.
http://www.schneider-electric.com/products/us/en/53000-solar/53010-off-the-grid/62089-conext-combox-communication-device/
No records found !!

--

And the android app, is not compatible with my Samsung phone, but will work with a no-name headless plug android:
This app is compatible with some of your devices.
x Verizon Samsung SCH-I405
ok Rockchip Rk30sdk
ARGHHH !!

n4wff

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

With the Combox browser window opened, click on the Schneider Electric logo at the top of the page. It will bring you to this link:
http://www.schneider-electric.com/products/ww/en/7000-solar-off-grid-and-back-up/7030-monitoring/62089-conext-combox/
Then click on the Documents and Downloads on the left side of the page. Next scroll down and click on the Firmware - Released (2 ) link. So far I haven't found much changes except for the language selector.

n4wff

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Actually that might be a another change in the firmware. In your firmware, does clicking on the logo bring you to the link you posted?

mike95490

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

n4wff wrote: »

With the Combox browser window opened, click on the Schneider Electric logo at the top of the page. It will bring you to this link:
http://www.schneider-electric.com/products/ww/en/7000-solar-off-grid-and-back-up/7030-monitoring/62089-conext-combox/
Then click on the Documents and Downloads on the left side of the page. Next scroll down and click on the Firmware - Released (2 ) link. So far I haven't found much changes except for the language selector.

Ah ha ! thanks, page looks like the one google found for me, but this one has the links for the firmware. Now, how do I want to
proceed ??? Better read the manual and see how to do it from the USB stick.

I'm really bummed I can't use my android, and will have to buy another one to try this with.

SkiDoo55

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

It's a bummer that it doesn't work with phones yet. Haven't tried Chrome on phone yet to see if that works. It does just say Android Tablets. Get it thru safari or chrome on IPad

mike95490

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

mike95490 wrote: »

And the android app, is not compatible with my Samsung phone, but will work with a no-name headless plug android:
This app is compatible with some of your devices.
x Verizon Samsung SCH-I405
ok Rockchip Rk30sdk

Minimum platform:

Only Tablets with minimum Android version: 3.0 (Honeycomb)
are supported, the following were tested to work.

1) Google Nexus 7
2) Acer Iconia Tab A100
3) Acer Iconia Tab A500
4) Asus Transformer Pad TF700T
5) Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0
6) Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Smart phones and any device with a screen less than 7" will
not work.

mlebeau

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

I just upgraded one this morning. It took using the usb stick. It seemed to work fine on my local network and the very annoying need to clear the browser cache seemed to be gone. So I tried logging in remotely over the internet and it hung the device. This has been an ongoing problem for me. Sometimes it works and other times it gets me to the login screen, I enter my creds and it hangs. It hangs the Combox. Most of the time it will clear on it's own after awhile.

This morning, after the upgrade, I tried to log in via a remote internet connection and it hung. I was bummed that they didn't fix that bug. This time however it not only did not clear itself but I can't get it to reboot manually. Power cycled it many times and just tried to reset it to factory defaults with the reset button. It gets through most of the boot process but the power light never quits flashing. Nobody home. There it sits, next to my abandoned XW Gateway...

Not happy.

mike95490

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

There it sits, next to my abandoned XW Gateway...

I still keep my Gateway active, and since I don't know what the improvements to the sw do, I'm sticking with the factory load. Sadly, too many tales of upgrade not working per spec.

n4wff

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

I think you have a bad flash. Try downloading the firmware again from the web to USB drive, and reboot the Combox with the USB drive plugged in. Just to be on the safe side, take any micro SD card out. Mine has been flawless since the upgrade. Keep us posted.

mlebeau

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Thanks. I think it might be worse than that. No response from the unit no matter what I tried. I deleted the firmware and downloaded a new copy from Schneide'rs site. No way to load it however since it would not finish booting.

I had another Combox in stock and unpacked it to give it a try. It booted fine and looked good. I plugged it into my Xanbus network and it got ill even before upgrading. Now it has the same symptoms. It starts to boot and then hangs with the power led flashing and the status led lit. I can make it act like it is resetting to factory defaults or erasing the firmware but it ends up back brain dead without finishing the boot sequence. I have a sinking feeling that my Xanbus network picked up an intruder of some sort in the upgrade that takes out the linux kernel I assume resides in the combox. I'm going to have to have a conversation with tech support on monday to figure out what to do next.

Thanks for your ideas.

mlebeau

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

A quick update on my upgrade problems. It looks like there is something Combox doesn't like about one of my usb memory sticks. it works fine otherwise and was formatted properly. Using a different one however and getting the timing just right we got it to come back and take an upgrade. Also, although I had reset to factory default settings several times all of my original settings were intact once I got it revived. My IT guys take on the things after hours of playing was that they are pretty fragile.

halfcrazy

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

How long does it typically take for it to grab the firmware off the thumb drive?

SkiDoo55

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Don't think mine took over five minutes for the whole cycle.Last reflash of upgrade I just put stick in and removed Zanbus and Wall power and then reconnected power to start cycle. Didn't reset to defaults or clear memory first. Right - Wrong? but it cleared the fault I was getting from first attempt and retained all settings.

halfcrazy

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Yeah I think it was my USB stick I copied the file to another and walla

mike95490

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

heading back out to try to resuscitate my combox. Loaded the new firmware via USB. rebooted. attempted to log in via browser.
got simple text homepage for user & password. blank screen after that, Firefox shows blank screen, IE 8 errors below.
I've got a fresh download in a different flash drive, will try to install.


Webpage error details

Timestamp: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 19:36:50 UTC
Message: Invalid character
Line: 1
Char: 1
Code: 0
URI: http://192.168.1.105/frameworks/Frameworks.js
Message: Invalid character
Line: 1
Char: 1
Code: 0
URI: http://192.168.1.105/js/CoreServices.js
Message: Invalid character
Line: 1
Char: 1
Code: 0
URI: http://192.168.1.105/js/Utilities.js
Message: Invalid character
Line: 1
Char: 1
Code: 0
URI: http://192.168.1.105/js/index.js

mike95490

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Finally got it to stick with the original USB drive (512Mb) Had to load the factory .bdl and it worked, tried the update, and finally got it to work. Each one took close to 10 min to complete loading, after the USB was removed.
And what do I get - a language choice menu ? No improvement on Lost Connections. (still get them)
Application Version Ver01.03BN0450

Well, anyway, it was a slow day in the drizzle, something to do, and it's working now.

SkiDoo55

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Yes wish they published what it fixed or made better. Only thing I know it did was alow it to work with internet explorer in Windows 8. And later revisions. Was having to use Firefoxetc to get my data from it' logs.

glad to hear you have it working!

SkiDoo55

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Here are release notes for Firmware updates for ComBox
Release Notes For Conext Combox/Conext Modbus ConverterVersion: 01.03 Build 463 [9 Dec, 2013]
New Features
Added support for new hardware revision (Rev H).
Version: 01.03 Build 450 [1 Nov, 2013]New Features
Modbus map update to include configuration refresh counter
AGS programming support
Custom data logging data type selection on the web user interface uses device instance numbers instead of device unique identification numbers
Automatic daily log file purging when internal storage has only 5MB remaining
Support for execution of LUX applications from an external thumb drive
Multi-language translations
Added support to change GT device instance numbers
Added support for more USB thumb-drive vendors
Improved performance of web pages
Improved IE browser supportBug Fixes
Changed mail sender configuration to prevent mail rejection by server
Allowed underscore in FTP password
Allow last charge time report to persist over a combox reboot
Updated boot loader to minimize bus corruption on Modbus RS485
Modbus protocol compliance improvements
New one out on 9 Dec 2013 but just added support for New Hardware

Cheers

DMJ72

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Anyone noticing their combox looses NET connection for a few minutes and then reboots spontaneously ?

SkiDoo55

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Yes have had that issue occasionally. Support is working on it, have tried some different setting on router etc. No real go do this type of recommendation to fix it.

DMJ72

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

SkiDoo55 wrote: »

Yes have had that issue occasionally. Support is working on it, have tried some different setting on router etc. No real go do this type of recommendation to fix it.

Thank you SkiDoo

I notice it reboots itself every 3am, something the manual says it will do for "self maintenance". Otherwise, it appears the TCP/IP stack just takes a dump, I notice it happens more frequently with high latency WAN connections.

DMJ72

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

It rebooted 3 times for today, this is not acceptable!

2014/07/10 09:44:00 Login: admin
2014/07/10 09:40:59 Created Xanbus Device: SCP ( 732631 )
2014/07/10 09:40:53 Created Xanbus Device: CSW ( 954087 )
2014/07/10 09:40:53 Created Xanbus Device: MPPT ( 1208819 )
2014/07/10 09:40:49 System Startup - Application Version: Ver01.03BN0463
2014/07/10 09:40:49 Network Cable Connected
2014/07/10 09:13:19 Created Xanbus Device: CSW ( 954087 )
2014/07/10 09:13:14 Created Xanbus Device: MPPT ( 1208819 )
2014/07/10 09:13:14 Created Xanbus Device: SCP ( 732631 )
2014/07/10 09:13:09 System Startup - Application Version: Ver01.03BN0463
2014/07/10 09:13:09 Network Cable Connected
2014/07/10 06:20:47 Created Xanbus Device: SCP ( 732631 )
2014/07/10 06:20:43 Created Xanbus Device: CSW ( 954087 )
2014/07/10 06:20:42 Created Xanbus Device: MPPT ( 1208819 )
2014/07/10 06:20:36 System Startup - Application Version: Ver01.03BN0463
2014/07/10 06:20:36 Network Cable Connected
2014/07/10 06:18:55 System Reboot requested by reboot command - rebooting in 5 seconds

DMJ72

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

I noticed the > 400 series firmwares were pulled from the Global Schneider website. Only v362 is listed. I reverted to that, will report how it performs.

SkiDoo55

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Mine was doing it on v362 so I updated, still same issue. They keep trying to infer there is too much activity on home network but late last night it did it and only thing running was storage drive, desktop pc and ComBox. If you look in Events I think you will see a reboot command request by Watchdog, that gets logged on mine. I have a Linksys AC1900 router and my WiFi speeds are greatly improved. GB network. Even assigned ComBox as priority in router, no change in resets. I only get normally 1 in the evening or some days none. Yesterday I had 2? Will see what they come up with.
my new XW4024 and MPPT 60-150 system doing great and operating as advertised. Set for Grid/support/sell and being buss connected to controller it follows MPPT settings so that it only sells when surplus from that array. Batteries charge cycle gets completed everyday.
great system.

just checked Schneider site and v463 is still there?

Dave Angelini

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

If you need an e-mail contact at schneider I can PM you. What is the main issue with the problem? PITA? Did they give you a case number? The unit I had seemed OK but I only had it for a week. I would not mind having one again but really do not need it offgrid. Congrats on your install!

SkiDoo55 wrote: »

Mine was doing it on v362 so I updated, still same issue. They keep trying to infer there is too much activity on home network but late last night it did it and only thing running was storage drive, desktop pc and ComBox. If you look in Events I think you will see a reboot command request by Watchdog, that gets logged on mine. I have a Linksys AC1900 router and my WiFi speeds are greatly improved. GB network. Even assigned ComBox as priority in router, no change in resets. I only get normally 1 in the evening or some days none. Yesterday I had 2? Will see what they come up with.
my new XW4024 and MPPT 60-150 system doing great and operating as advertised. Set for Grid/support/sell and being buss connected to controller it follows MPPT settings so that it only sells when surplus from that array. Batteries charge cycle gets completed everyday.
great system.

just checked Schneider site and v463 is still there?

SkiDoo55

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

Yes have case number, Jason has been working on issues, short comings in firmware, besides the resetting problem. Have retested all of Cat5e cables for ZanBus, have about 110 ft between XW and ComBox. Route XW, MPPT, TX, GT, ComBox. Supplied terminators on both ends. 6 ft from router to ComBox. ComBox set as priority and assigned fixed IP in router. No other network issues. 13 MB+ cable connection.

firmware issues are no selection for "Enhanced Interactive Grid/sell to MPPT". He reminded me just needed to set GSV to +4 volts higher than Bulk setting which I had read in Ops manual- brain lapse! On my part. Next is "GenPlus" selection, I don't really need it, but it does appear it's a glitch that it's not there. Another is that the ComBox doesn't pull lifetime history from device, like my serial program does on both TX/GT grid inverters. My son built an enhanced monitoring version of Solar Guppy's SG View. Will display 2 inverters is same window with all parameters displayed plus show system numbers, with all of the logging, can set auto or manual screen capture. Lifetime production numbers are in devices but just not pulled into ComBox display or totals. They tried to tell me there weren't there but got proven wrong on that.

appreciate the offer for help and will keep it in mind. I would love to have my son beagle to get into firmware and fix it!

After installing my XW system if I were off grid I think I would want the monitoring, ease of setting devices from one control and ability too do it local or remotely? But I like gadgets!

Thanks

DMJ72

Re: Conext ComBox - Firmware update released

SkiDoo55 wrote: »

just checked Schneider site and v463 is still there?

Both v463 and v362 are on their new RE site sesolar.com, but on the Global Schneider site for the combox (the link that the SE logo on the combox menu takes you to) the only firmware listed as of this writing is v362. v463 used to be there.

I downgraded last night and I can tell you so far the combox is more responsive and I have not logged a single reboot except for the 3am housecleaning reboot the manual speaks of. I think I am going to keep it at v362 for now until the new Grid-Interactive features for my SW come out in August/Sept.