Harman Kardon AVR 247 Quick start guide

Harman Kardon is pleased to offer this
software upgrade to improve the audio
and video performance of your AVR 247
or AVR 347 by updating its internal
operating system and video-processing
software. Unlike many consumer audio
products, which are designed with
“fixed” memory, these Harman Kardon®
products feature flash memory that is
upgradeable through a standard RS-232
serial port. To install the software, please
follow these instructions. If you have
any questions, consult our Web site at
www.harmankardon.com.
Important Note:
This software is specially designed for use
with Harman Kardon AVR 247 and AVR 347
receivers. Use with any other models or
brands may cause damage to the product.
DO NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE WITH ANY
OTHER PRODUCTS.
System Requirements
To install the software upgrade, you will need to
purchase a standard RS-232 connection cable.
Do not use a “null modem” cable, as it uses connec-
tion links that are not compatible with your AVR.
If the computer you plan to use for the upgrade
is not equipped with a serial port, we have found
that many name-brand USB-to-serial-port adapters
will provide the needed connection. We cannot
guarantee that all such adapters will work.
You will also need to have access to a computer
that is close enough to be connected to the
AVR being upgraded. The minimum system
requirements for the computer are:
• Processor: Intel®Pentium®II processor or
equivalent, or higher
• Operating system: Windows®2000 SP4 or
higher, Windows XP or Windows Vista®(for
Windows 2000 or Windows XP, your system
may require you to have “administrator” user
rights)
• Hard-drive space: 10MB available
• System RAM: 128MB
• CD-ROM drive (when using the CD-ROM
version of the program)
• RS-232 serial port
Installation Instructions
Upgrading your receiver is easy but, for the
upgrade to work properly, it is important to
precisely follow the instructions below. PLEASE
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
BEFORE PROCEEDING.
• Upgrading your unit will erase all system mem-
ories. This means that any configuration settings
or tuner presets that you have entered will be
lost. To make it easier to reestablish the settings
after completing the upgrade, you may wish to
write down your current system configurations
using the worksheets that are part of this soft-
ware package. To print those worksheets, use
Windows Explorer or another file management
program to locate the Worksheets.pdf file in
the directory where the upgrade files have been
saved. Click on the file to open it with Adobe®
Reader,®and then print copies as needed.
• Press in the Main Power switch on your AVR,
but leave the receiver in Standby mode.
• If you are using files downloaded from the
Harman Kardon Web site to upgrade the
AVR, use Windows Explorer, or any other
file-management program, to locate the
folder where you have downloaded the
upgrade file. Click on the file named
HKAVRupgrade.exe. The file will then
automatically unpack all of the files needed
to upgrade your AVR.
• If you are loading the upgrade from a CD-ROM,
insert the disc in your computer’s drive.
• Locate the directory for the CD-ROM or the
downloaded files and click on the file named
“HK_Upgrader.exe.” It is easy to recognize;
depending on the display mode for your file
manager, the icon will be a stylized version
of the volume control knob on your AVR.
• A new window will open on your computer
screen when the Loader program starts.
Click “Continue” to proceed.
• You will be reminded to record your receiver’s
settings if you have not already done so.
Click “Continue” to proceed.
• The next screen contains the End User License
Agreement that covers the software upgrade.
Please read this important legal document,
using the scroll bar on the right side of the
window to move down through the copy. If
you agree to the terms of the Agreement,
click “I accept this license agreement”
and then click “Continue” to proceed.
Otherwise, click on “I do not accept this
license agreement” to cancel the upgrade
and exit the Loader program.
• When the screen changes, you will be
prompted to enter the directory location
where the files for this upgrade are located.
Click “Browse” to open a file-finder window,
and then navigate to the correct directory.
When the location is correct, the file names
will automatically appear in the “Current
Selections” window. Click “Continue”
to proceed.
• Following the instructions on the next
screen, connect the serial cable to both the
AVR and your computer (or the USB-to-
serial-port adapter, if used). Next, use the
pulldown tab to select the serial port used
for the connection between your computer
and the AVR. If there is only one serial port,
the most common setting is “COM 1,” but
if there are multiple ports, if you are using
a laptop in a docking station or if you are
using a USB-to-serial-port adapter, you
may have to select a different COM port.
Depending on your computer system, you
may have to return to this screen and
choose a different port if the one originally
selected does not connect properly. When
a COM port has been selected, click
“Continue” to proceed.
HARMAN KARDON®AVR 247/AVR 347
SOFTWARE UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS

• If your AVR is not already in Standby mode
with amber-colored lighting around the
Standby/On and Main Power switches,
follow the instructions to place the unit in
Standby mode. Click “Continue” when
you are ready to proceed.
• The final step before the system upgrade
begins is to place your AVR in the Download
mode and reset it. Using the tip of a pen or
an unbent paper clip, press in on the switch
behind the small hole to the right of the
RS-232 connector on the back panel of the
AVR. The switch should not protrude from
the back panel; if you are in doubt as to
whether the switch is in the correct position, try
pressing it two or three times until you get
the feel for whether the switch is “in” or
“out.” After placing the AVR in Download
mode, press the Reset switch on the left
side of the RS-232 connector. When both
of these steps have been completed, click
“Continue” to proceed.
• The next screen starts the software down-
load to your AVR’s DSP and Main Controller
(MCU). Click “Upgrade” to start the process,
which should take approximately five minutes.
Important Note:
Once the upgrade starts, do not interrupt
it by turning your AVR off or exiting the
upgrade program on your computer.
Doing so may cause the upgrade to fail
and possibly damage your receiver.
• The upgrade will begin immediately; as it
proceeds, you will see messages in the
window describing the upgrade steps. A
progress bar will also give you an indication
of the upgrade’s status. When a message
appears to indicate that the upgrade is
complete, click “Continue” to proceed.
••If the upgrade does not begin within 30
seconds, or if you see an error message
either inside the Loader program or as a
pop-up from your computer, the most
likely problem is an incorrect COM-port
selection. If an error message appears,
click “Back” until you are at the “Connect
Serial Cable and Select Port” screen.
Select a different COM port and then
click “Continue,” making certain that
you reset the AVR when prompted.
• As instructed on the next screen, you should
now return your AVR to Normal mode by
using a pen tip or unbent paper clip to press
the Operate/Download switch so that it is
in the out or normal Operate mode. Next,
reset the unit again by pressing in on the
Reset button. Click “Continue” when
both of these steps are completed.
• You will now need to turn your AVR on. Press
the Standby/On switch on the front panel
and then wait at least 30 seconds before
clicking “Continue” to go to the next step.
• On the next screen, click “Upgrade” to load
the new software for the unit’s video-processing
system. As with the DSP/MCU software
upload, it is important that you do not interrupt
this process by turning off your computer
or the AVR. When the software is loaded, an
on-screen message will instruct you to click
“Continue” to proceed.
• Put the AVR in Standby mode by pressing
the front-panel Standby/On switch. Click
“Continue” to proceed.
• The last step in the upgrade process is to do
a system reset by pressing the Tone Mode
button on the front panel. Press and hold
the button for five to 10 seconds; release it
when the AVR turns on and the word “RESET”
appears in the front-panel display. Click
“Continue” to go to the final screen.
• The final screen will remind you that, because
the upgrade and reset process erases any of
the system configuration data and tuner presets
stored in your receiver, it is important that you
reenter that data. Follow the instructions shown
in your owner’s manual to reenter the data
copied to the worksheet files supplied with
this upgrade package, or enter new settings.
You should also recalibrate the system’s
speaker and room-equalization settings
using the EzSet/EQ™process.
To check if the upgrade was successful, turn
on your AVR and press 1-2-3-4-SET on the
remote control to display the version number in
the front-panel display. If it reads as shown below,
your unit is now loaded with the proper software.
If a different number appears, please repeat the
upgrade process.
02-02-2008 02
HFW V2.4.22.1
Write this upgrade information in your owner’s
manual so that you’ll have it available for
reference. When new software is made
available through www.harmankardon.com,
it will show the number of the latest version,
and you will need this information to see if
an additional upgrade is required.
CONGRATULATIONS! With the completion of
the upgrade process, your Harman Kardon AVR
is now not only as good as new – it will perform
even better than it did when you first bought it.
We wish you many years of happy listening!
250 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797
www.harmankardon.com
©2008 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Part No. 247/347V0202200802
Harman Kardon is a trademark of Harman International Industries,
Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries.
EzSet/EQ is a trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated.
Adobe and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
Windows and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
HARMAN KARDON®AVR 247/AVR 347
SOFTWARE UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS