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USING THE COM PORT (RS-232)
The RS-232 port can be used to connect the SD3 to a personal computer to do memory
backups, software updates and to load fixture profiles. You will need to get a 9 pin null modem
cable. Use this cable to connect the RS-232 port on the Show Designer 3 to the COM port on
your PC. If you don’t have a COM port on your PC, you will have to get a USB to COM port
conversion cable. Follow the instructions that come with the cable to set it up as COM 1 or 2.
CONFIGURING YOUR COMPUTER
Elation offers a program that can be downloaded from www.elationlighting.com called “SD
Backup” that is designed to handle communication between a PC and the Show Designer
lighting controllers. You will have to determine which COM port you are connected to on your
PC. The SD Backup program supports COM 1 or COM 2. After you have installed the SD
Backup program, follow the directions on the help file included with the program.
MEMORY BACKUP USING THE COMPUTER PORT
In the SD Backup help file, follow the instructions for “Receive File. It will explain how to
name the memory backup file and how to get the program ready to receive. Next, go to the
menu on the Show Designer 3 “Save memory file to COM port” and press the enter switch. An
encoded copy of the entire memory will be transmitted to your PC. This will take several
minutes to complete.
MEMORY RESTORE USING THE COMPUTER PORT
To copy a memory file from your PC back to the Show Designer 3, first go to the menu in
Show Designer 3 “Load memory file from COM port”. Press “enter” and the display will read,
“Waiting for file from COM port”. Show Designer 3 is now ready to receive the file from your
PC. If you decide to abort the process, the only way to exit this screen is to turn off the SD3.
Follow the “Send File” instructions in the SD Backup help file. When you start the transmission,
the SD3 display will show the message “receiving file”. After the file has been sent, the SD3 will
reboot. If any errors have been detected you will be prompted to retry. It can take several
minutes to complete the transfer.
UPDATING THE SD3 FIRMWARE
To copy new firmware from your PC to your SD3 using the COM port, go to the SD3 menu
“update software”. Press “enter” and the SD3 display will read, “Download new software or
insert card”. The SD3 is now ready to receive the file from your PC. As an alternative you can
access this menu by holding down the menu and erase switch while powering up the SD3.
Follow the “Send File” instructions in the SD Backup help file. Find the drive and folder where
the new firmware file is located, select the file and click “Open”. The SD3 display will read,
“receiving new program”. After the file has been sent, The SD3 will reboot. If any errors have
been detected you will be prompted to retry. It will take several minutes to transfer the file.
LOAD FIXTURE PROFILE
Go to the SD3 menu item “Load fixture profile from CF”. The message “Ready to receive fixture
profile, press enter to cancel” will appear on the display. Use the “Send File” function on the
SD Backup program to send a fixture profile to the SD3. The SD3 will wait until you send the
file or until you press the enter switch to cancel.