Updating m-pod’s Firmware

Version History

The microcontroller inside m-pod contains firmware (embedded software) that is occasionally updated to add new features or fix bugs.

Version

Changes and Additions

Release Date

2.1.0

Initial firmware when m-pod first shipped

Aug 2017

2.1.1

Support for StimTracker Duo and Quad, provides better default values

Nov 11, 2017

2.1.2

Stability improvements, adds minor new features

Dec 21, 2017

2.1.3

Fixes a minor edge case issue

Jan 17, 2018

2.1.4

Fixes bug where pin mapping was not being saved to flash

Jan 28, 2018

2.2.1

Minor bugs fixed

Nov 10, 2018

2.2.2

Adds memory integrity features and the ‘au’ command

Mar 8, 2019

2.2.7

Added the Set Output Logic ‘al’ command

Apr 11, 2022

2.2.8

Added support for new Analog m-pod

Dec 15, 2022

2.3.0

Updated support for revised Analog m-pod hardware

Dec 11, 2023

Updating the firmware consists of three main steps:

Downloading the necessary files
Running the software to update the firmware
Setting m-pod’s internal ID

Step 1 – Downloading the Necessary Files

The update can be performed on a Windows computer only. Two files will need to be downloaded. We recommend that you save both of them on the desktop to make them easier to find later on.

The first file is the firmware itself:

This is a compressed file in the .HEX format. Some browsers will automatically convert it to a .HEX file, others won’t. To be sure, find your “Downloads” folder. If you see a file named pod_231109_402N1_BL_v2.3.0.zip”, then right-click on it. From the menu that appears, choose Extract All….

Download m-pod firmware (23KB)

Next, you need to download Xidon 2 (pronounced Zydon) if you don’t have it already.

Step 2 – Updating the Firmware

These instructions require a Riponda or RB-x40 response pad, StimTracker, or Lumina 3G controller. They also assume that you have previously used the response pad (or StimTracker, or Lumina), and therefore the USB driver is installed. If not, please install it first.

Important: if using a response pad or Lumina, make sure that it is not in keyboard mode.

Connect m-pod to the response pad or Lumina controller via the supplied cable. If using StimTracker, plug the cable into the “m-pod 1” connector.

In the Xidon 2 folder, double-click on the “Xidon” application to run it.

In Xidon, click on the Search for Device button; Xidon will detect your device if the USB driver is installed.

From the Device menu, choose Update m-pod Firmware. Xidon will:

Set m-pod in a special mode that allows it to be reprogrammed. The power LED (🁢) will start flashing.
Xidon will disconnect from m-pod and the RB or StimTracker that it’s connected to.
Launch “PIC32 Bootloader”, the chip manufacturer’s application that will actually update the firmware.

Use the Windows’ Device Manager to determine which COM port the device is connected to. You can run the Device Manager by clicking on the Start icon in Windows and typing “device manager” in the search box.

Once opened, expand the section “Ports (COM & LPT)”. The device will be listed in that section, named “USB Serial Port” and followed by the COM port number.

Back in the PIC32 Bootloader application, click on the “Com Port” menu and select the COM port, COM3 in this example.

Click on the “Baud Rate” menu and select “19200”.

Click on the Connect button; you will see a “Device connected” message.

Click on the Load Hex File button. When the application prompts you to locate the file, select the file that was downloaded earlier.

10.

Click on the Erase-Program-Verify button. This will start the firmware updating process and takes about a minute. The updating is complete with the application displays “Verification successful”.

Note: On occasion, the PIC32 Bootloader application will show a message indicating that the process failed. This is usually not true. If you get this message and m-pod fails to run afterwards, please contact Cedrus.

11.

At this point, m-pod and the response pad (or StimTracker, or Lumina) need to be restarted. Xidon also needs to be restarted.

Step 3 – Setting m-pod’s Internal ID

When shipped, m-pod contains an internal product model number that allows software such as SuperLab to determine the exact model, e.g. “m-pod for Parallel Port” or “m-pod for Tobii”. When the firmware is updated, this internal model gets erased and needs to be set again. It’s quick:

12.

Double-click on the “Xidon” application to run it.

13.

In Xidon, click on the Search for Device button; Xidon will detect your device.

14.

From the Device menu, choose Set m-pod Model; a dialog will open.

15.

In the dialog, select the correct m-pod model and click on the OK button.

Your m-pod is now ready to use.

Back to m-pod Support main page
Last revision: Feb 6, 2024

Support ‣ m-pod ‣ Updating m-pod’s Firmware

Version History

Step 1 – Downloading the Necessary Files

Step 2 – Updating the Firmware

Step 3 – Setting m-pod’s Internal ID