Failure during backup on D-180--now what??

[lancef53]

I was trying to update my firmware from 5.2 to 5.3, and when I got to the step where it asked me if I would like a backup, I chose yes.  During the process, when info was coming across the screen saying how the progress was going, it would occasionaly say error--trying again.  After a while, it said it lost connection with the 180.  It would not respond to the prompts it gave, so I called in to support.  After leaving a message and waiting for a call back, a very rude tech called back and treated me like an idiot, and acted like he had no time to spend with me.

He told me to unhook the power and backup battery, and maybe it would come back.  Of course it didn't, and is now just a black screen when I power it up.  In the meanwhile, tech is now closed for the day.

Is there anything I can do?  The screen won't light up, and the computer cannot find it.

I updated it in the middle of March with the same computer, cable, and everything.  The only difference was the first time, my 496 was not installed in the gizmo dock.  This time it was, (with the blue garmin wire connected to the yellow-green wire in the DB 25 efis connector)  When I turned on the avionics master, the 496 started up with the dynon.  I shut it off to save battery power during the update.

Any thoughts??  Thanks

 

[dynonsupport]

First, sorry if you felt slighted by our support staff. I know it's not an excuse as far as you're concerned, but they're really short staffed right now since a bunch of us are at Sun 'n Fun, so it may be busy and a bit stressful there. In any case...

It's possible that the 496, even when powered off, was somehow interfering with the serial communications if it was still hot on the serial line. All of the EFIS/FlightDEK specifically say "You will need a way to disconnect [your GPS] when you plug your EFIS into a PC for firmware updates and checklists." in the sections that talk about serial port wiring. We may need to reiterate this other places.

If all you were doing was taking a backup at the stage things went south, there is literally nothing being changed on the unit - we're only dumping the memory off of it - and so a power cycle should bring things back to life even though you have that yellow warning screen that claims otherwise(I actually can't think of a case when this hasn't worked, historically). If it isn't doing that, and you're sure the unit is actually receiving power, then we may need to take a look a the unit nonetheless, as maybe it coincidentally broke.

If you're still stuck with a unit that own't turn on, you'll need an RMA to send it in. You can email support@dynonavionics.com or call 425-402-0433 and ask for tech support.

 

[lancef53]

Thanks for the reply, I think it is just a black screen.

I hadn't got to the firmware update, because I was following the prompt that asked me if I wanted to create a backup.

Lance