Introduction
This document details the use of the Iridium 9555 firmware upgrade tool and lists the feature changes contained within the version HT21001 release. (December 2021)
The primary purpose of this release is to provide a number of improvements and fixes.
Note - If you are unsure of your devices Firmware, please check using our How to Check Firmware Version article.
Upgrade Tool OS Compatibility
The upgrade tool that accompanies this release has been tested with Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 x64. The instructions that follow in this document assume the use of this version of Microsoft Windows.
Upgrade Warnings
Phonebook
When upgrading an Iridium 9555 handset from software versions earlier than release candidate HT14004 all phonebook entries will be lost.
Note that the previous public release was HT19002. This section is not applicable to handsets that have already been upgraded to HT15002 or later and had the phonebook reformatted as described below.
After the upgrade from HT14004 or earlier is complete the user must reformat the phonebook file system to make it compatible with HT18001 or later. To do this, the user must navigate to the idle screen and enter the short code *#323#<green>. The handset will then reboot.
If a user tries to access the phonebook without performing the steps presented above they will be presented with an error stating “My Phonebook failed to initialize. Contact service center.” The phonebook file system must be reformatted using the instructions above.
Inability to Downgrade
It is not possible to downgrade to a software version prior to HT15002 once an upgrade to HT15002 or later is performed.
Performing the Upgrade
The following steps should be used to upgrade an Iridium 9555 handset from version HT11001 or later.
Download and Run the upgrade installer application
- Download the Iridium 9555 Firmware Upgrade Tool (also attached to these instructions for your convenience)
- Unzip the folder.
- The application is named “Iridium 9555 Software Upgrade HT21001 Installer"
- This will place the upgrade tool and USB drivers into the C:\ProgramFiles\Iridium\9555 directory
Prior to performing the upgrade complete the following:
- Disable Bluetooth on the PC running the upgrade
- Remove the SIM card from the handset and install the handset battery
- Turn the handset on
- Ensure that the battery is fully charged or a charger is connected to the handset
Connect the handset to the PC using a USB cable
- If the handset is being connected to this PC for the first time, or to a USB port that has not been used before, the driver will be installed automatically. If this is the case, wait for Windows to show the "New Hardware Installed" notification before proceeding.
- If Windows is unable to automatically locate the USB driver, it can be found at C:\Program Files\Iridium\9555\USB\VCOMPORT
Run the Iridium 9555 Software Upgrade tool
- A shortcut to this application should be available in the Start Menu in the Iridium 9555 Software Upgrade folder
- The target of the shortcut is C:\Program Files\Iridium\9555\Upgrade_Tool\Iridium 9555 Software Upgrade HT21001.exe
Follow instructions presented by the upgrade tool user interface.
- During the upgrade process the handset will display various information on the screen, including “Upgrading…”
- At times the handset screen may go completely blank
- Do not disconnect the handset or press any keys while the upgrade is in progress
- At times the handset may display “Inconsistent firmware. Please run upgrade tool.”
- The upgrade process may take 20 minutes or more to complete
Troubleshooting USB Drivers
If the PC being used to drive the upgrade process has been used previously to update Iridium 9555 handsets there is a possibility that it may have an incompatible DFU driver already installed.
This condition may present itself with the following observable; when running the Iridium HT21001 Software Upgrade Tool the upgrade will stop when the handset switches to DFU mode. The handset will report “Upgrade in progress”. The upgrade tool will report “Error –cannot locate handset.” Viewing the handset in the device manager will show that the driver appears to be installed appropriately.
To recover from this condition follow the procedure below.
Reinstall the USB drivers
- Having run the upgrade tool and gotten to the error condition reported in the previous section, do not remove the USB connection between the PC and the handset
- Exit the Iridium 9555 Software Upgrade Tool
- Launch “Device Manager” in Windows by clicking the Start menu and searching for the same name in “Search programs and files”
- Expand “Universal Serial Bus controllers” if not already expanded
- Right-click on “Iridium 9555 Handset in DFU Mode” and select Properties
- If not logged in as an administrator, select “Change settings” on the General tab and enter the administrator credentials
- On the Driver tab, select “Uninstall”
- In the “Confirm Device Uninstall” window that appears, click the checkbox beside “Delete the driver software for this device.” and click OK
- Disconnect the USB cable between the handset and the PC, wait 5 seconds for the PC to recognize the disconnection, and then reconnect the cable
- When PC recognizes the handset it will show up in the Device Manager in “Other devices”
- Right-click on “Iridium 9555 Handset” and select Properties
- If not logged in as an administrator, select “Change settings” on the General tab and enter the administrator credentials
- On the General tab, select “Update Driver...”
- Select “Browse my computer for driver software”
- Search for driver software in this location: “C:\ProgramFiles\Iridium\9555\USB\DFU” and select “Next”
- Windows will report that it has successfully updated your driver software for Iridium 9555 Handset in DFU Mode
- Click Close
- Attempt the upgrade process as detailed above
Hardware Compatibility
This software release has been tested to be compatible with the following hardware models;
Iridium may produce and distribute hardware models loaded with software version HT21001 that are not indicated on this list at its sole discretion and without notice.
Change List
The following table lists the changes made in HT21001 that may affect the product user. The table lists only the changes made since the previous release, HT19002.
Additional Help
If you feel you still need additional help, do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, or are not able to do this yourself, please visit the following site:
http://www.satphonestore.com/firmware-upgrade-service.html
and have one of our professionals install the firmware for you.
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