Note: This upgrade is only applicable to units with XT hardware. Please refer to the upgrade instructions provided later in this document for more information about firmware updates for units with non-XT hardware.

Release Notes

DSAM 4.0 firmware offers a significant new set of features and options that can speed technical operations to decrease operations expense. The following options can be enabled when a DSAM XT is configured with version 4.0 firmware.

• Field View QAM™ – Works with PathTrak™ WebView 3.0™ to give techs new troubleshooting insight into upstream problems that directly impact customer satisfaction. Protects revenue by lowering risk of customer churn due to repeat fault finding or repairs. More info here.
• SmartID™ - The most innovative solution to date tackling the weakest link, home wiring, and reducing repeat calls for improved customer experience. More info here.
• WiFi Survey and Sync – Enables testing home wireless installations and provides a continuous link to support systems and data. More info here.
• Fiber optic power meter support – eliminates the need to carry a separate meter. More info here.

As utilization of upstream spectrum increases to maximum capacity, the network becomes more challenging to troubleshoot with instruments that provide only spectrum information. As the upstream becomes crowded with wider, higher order QAM signals that are more susceptible to impairments, new tools that can analyze live modem performance improve troubleshooting effectiveness.  Additionally, as home networking evolves new challenges are introduced, as with MoCA technologies.

Version 4.0 firmware provides support for multiple new software options that address a range of issues. Building on the strong base of PathTrak™ QAMTrak™ and MACTrak™ technologies, Field View QAM™ makes troubleshooting modem issues a one-person job, reducing find and fix time and manpower overhead while improving and streamlining field operations. Innovations with home network testing enable the DSAM to speed the time it takes to troubleshoot and validate inside wiring connectivity and quality with SmartID™ advanced coax probes. This system quickly maps connectivity, losses, and impairments to verify that the network can support new services, including MoCA.

The v4.0 release also provides option support for WiFi with a USB 802.11 a,b,g,n dongle that performs a wireless survey or communicates home certification data to Test Productivity Pack (TPP). The firmware upgrade also supports a fiber optic power meter option (JDSU MP-60A and MP-80A) to verify the optic handoff at HFC nodes and FTTX ONTs.
v4.0 also includes the capability to configure the DSAM with two separate MAC addresses, which enables simpler testing of multi-tier data services and switching between DOCSIS 2.0 and DOCSIS 3.0. The BPI+ certificates are linked to the MAC address chosen. DOCSIS version and BPI+ mode are configured by channel in the channel plan. IPv6 is also supported in version 4.0 on the cable modem only. It is not supported on the Ethernet port.

Issues Addressed in this Update

1. Fixed an issue where the BPI+ certificate could be accidentally deleted if the certificate was redeployed to a DSAM that already had the BPI+ certificate present.
2. Fixed an issue for Secure Sync, where the DSAM could enter an indefinite wait state for a response from TPP, taking no action.
3. Fixed an issue where the DOCSIS 3.0 Downstream Service Group Discovery process could result in bad channel data included in the results.  This shows itself by appearing that the DSAM is bonding one or more excess channels and failing a Home Certification or DOCSIS test.
4. Fixed an issue to enable bonding eight (8) channels where two groups are set up with frequency separation.
5. Fixed a firmware upgrade issue caused when the user set up a static IP address, and left the subnet mask and gateway to 0.0.0.0.
6. Fixed an issue causing a TFTP timeout for DOCSIS 3.0 modems if registering as an IPv6 cable modem when the TFTP parameters indicate a bad file name or server, or if the TFTP server is down.  This is only applicable to DSAMs with DOCSIS 3.0.
7. Fixed an “HTTP get” command issue related to throughput testing.
8. Fixed an issue where there was a discrepancy in the C/N reading between Level mode and AutoTest modes (including Home Certification).
9. Fixed an issue in Home Certification where if the user chose to view work folder property, (the unit could lock up and?) they would have to restart the Home Certification test.
10. The folder that was last opened becomes the default selection.  This eases the choosing of a file for viewing and reference.
11. Eliminated the ability to start a Ping session within the DOCSIS test mode without a destination IP address.
12. Fixed an issue in Ethernet test mode where in a Ping session the dropdown box becomes unresponsive.
13. Enhancement for Home Certification – upon leaving the mode a screen will be shown to remind the user to save the results.
14. MER headroom – for Home Certification, Cable Modem AutoTest, and Combo AutoTest headroom is now displayed as “--.-“ when the limit is set to the “Off” state.
15. It is now clearly visible which quadrant is zoomed-in on the Constellation display.
16. Fixed a frequency rounding issue in Cable Modem AutoTest.
17. Fixed an issue where entering the DOCSIS test from Field View could cause a non-XT DSAM to become unresponsive.
18. The DOCSIS 3.0 chip now handles Annex A DAVIC correctly.

Upgrade Instructions

Attention DSAM users and Test Productivity Pack (TPP) administrators: Before you proceed, please ensure that you are upgrading an XT model DSAM.  This firmware upgrade is for DSAMXT meters only.  If you have a non-XT DSAM, please refer to version 3.7.3 upgrade instructions on this page instead.  If your DSAM is an XT version, it will be indicated on the brow label above the DSAM screen (see circled portion of label shown below).

Important:  

1. TPP V4.7 is required in order to deploy DSAM firmware release V4.0.  Before upgrading your DSAMXT be sure to upgrade your TPP server to TPP V4.7 first.  Please visit the TechComplete™ Test Productivity Pack (TPP) Software Upgrade website for TPP upgrade information. 
2. DSAM firmware release V4.0 is for DSAMXT only.  For latest firmware support for non-XT DSAM meters, follow instructions on this page.

To maximize upgrade reliability, please upgrade your DSAM on networks that have reliable connections, minimal network congestion, and no restricting firewalls. In the case where you feel the IP or RF networks have intermittent reliability or you have experienced upgrade failures, we recommend that a direct laptop connection or Ethernet connection be used.
Please read the following instructions and follow them step-by-step.

1. Connect your DSAM to the charger to provide a consistent power supply during the upgrade.
2. Synchronize each DSAM to be upgraded to TPP via the Ethernet port to verify proper configuration and communications. Firmware upgrades require the DSAM to be connected through the Ethernet port.
3. Avoid upgrading more than 10 meters at a time per TPP server. If your server is connected via a connection less than 10 Mbps, for example to a cable modem with a 384k upstream, you should limit your DSAM upgrades/synchronizations to 4 at a time.
4. Download the file below. Save these files by right clicking on them and Select "Save Target as..." or "Save Link as..."
   
   Firmware file: 4.0.zip
   
   Important: Starting from v4.0, the license file (.xml) is no longer required.

5. Launch TPP client and go to "manage meter assets" page.
6. Ensure the DSAM(s) you are upgrading appear in the Meter Assets list, specified by serial number. If they are not on the list, you must add the DSAM(s) and synchronize them before you proceed to the next step.
7. In the "meter management tasks" sidebar on the left of the manage meter assets page, click on "upgrade meters".
8. On the upgrade meters page, click "browse" in step one and select the downloaded firmware file from the location you saved it to, in step 4 of this list. Then click "open".
9. The list of meter(s) that can be upgraded should now be displayed on this page. If there is no list, please review the previous steps or contact Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at the number below for further assistance. Ensure that only the meter(s) that you wish to upgrade are checked. De-select those meters you do not wish to upgrade.
10. Click the "done" button in the bottom right corner.
11. Synchronize the DSAM(s) with TPP.
12. After the meter has rebooted, verify the upgrade is successful. Check the "manage meter assets" page, sync "Status" column, and ensure the most recent sync is OK, and check the "FW Version" to see that it is V4.0.
13. If the meter reboots to a screen that says “Upgrade was not completed, press soft key 1 to retry the upgrade” you should repeat steps 8 and 9 and re-deploy the upgrade BEFORE pressing the key to re-synchronize.
14. If you have any issues after re-trying to synchronize, please contact TAC at the number below.
15. Congratulations! The latest DSAM firmware has now been installed!

For Languages other than English, Spanish, French and German you may choose to update your meter with any of the languages listed below:

• Euro: v4_0_euro.zip
• Chinese: v4_0_chinese_upgrade.zip
• Polish: v4_0_polish_upgrade.zip
• Hungarian: v4_0_hungarian_upgrade.zip
• Japanese: v4_0_japanese_upgrade.zip
• Korean: v4_0_korean_upgrade.zip
• Brazilian Portuguese: v4_0_portuguese_upgrade.zip