Thermo Scientific Orion Star A200 Series Technical manual

Thermo Fisher Scientific
22 Alpha Road
Chelmsford, MA
978-232-6000
www.thermoscientific.com
Water Analysis Instruments
01824
978-232-6015 fax
www.thermoscientific.com/water
The world leader
in serving science
Thermo Scientific™ Orion™ Star™ A200 and Star A300 Series Meter
Software Update Instructions
Computer Requirements
The software update program has been tested with Microsoft®Windows®XP, Windows
Vista®and Windows 7 operating systems only; it is not compatible with Windows 8 or
any other operating systems.
The computer must be up-to-date with the latest Windows updates installed and have
.NET framework version 4.0 with the latest updates.
It is strongly recommended that all computer screen savers and power management
settings be disabled when the meter is interfaced with the computer. The computer
must not go into sleep/standby mode while the software update is performed.
Many laptop computers go into sleep/standby mode when the lid is closed, so the lid
should remain throughout the software update. Laptop computers must also be
plugged into a power supply when running the software update–performing the
software update while the computer is on battery power is not recommended.
Software Update Instructions
To update the Orion Star A200 and Star A300 series meters to the latest software
revision, use the RS232 cable included with the meter. An RS232 to USB adapter can
be purchased separately using catalog number 1010005. If the RS232 to USB adapter
is used, refer to the Using the RS232 to USB Adapter section of these instructions.
Note: Back up any data stored in the meter before upgrading the meter software.
1. Go to the Microsoft Update website and install all recommended computer updates
to ensure the computer is operating with the latest Windows and .NET updates.
2. Remove any previous versions of the Star A200 A300 Series Software Upgrade
program from the computer using Add or Remove Programs on the Control Panel.

Thermo Fisher Scientific
22 Alpha Road
Chelmsford, MA
978-232-6000
www.thermoscientific.com
Water Analysis Instruments
01824
978-232-6015 fax
www.thermoscientific.com/water
The world leader
in serving science
3. Go to www.thermoscientific.com/WAI-Library or www.thermoscientific.com/water
and use the search term “Star A200” to access and download the latest software
update for Star A200 and Star A300 series meters.
a. The software update is offered in two versions, one for Windows 32-bit
operating systems and the other for Windows 64-bit operating systems.
b. To determine if the computer is running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of
Windows 7:
i. Click the Start button, right-click Computer and click Properties. Under
System, the system type is displayed.
c. To determine if the computer is running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of
Windows XP:
i. Click the Start button, right-click My Computer and click Properties.
Under System, if "x64 Edition" is listed, the computer running the
64-bit version. If "x64 Edition" isn’t listed, the computer is running
the 32-bit version.
4. Save the software update to the computer. Unzip/extract the files from the
downloaded software update. To unzip/extract the files, the computer will need a
program installed such as WinZip.
5. Connect the RS232 cable to the meter and computer. If using the RS232 to USB
adapter, refer to the Using the RS232 to USB Adapter instructions.
6. Power on the meter. To ensure uninterrupted power throughout the update
process, use the power adapter for benchtop meters and new batteries or power
adapter for portable meters.
7. Open the unzipped/extracted software update folder and double click the setup file
(.exe) to install the software update setup program onto the computer.

Thermo Fisher Scientific
22 Alpha Road
Chelmsford, MA
978-232-6000
www.thermoscientific.com
Water Analysis Instruments
01824
978-232-6015 fax
www.thermoscientific.com/water
The world leader
in serving science
8. Follow all prompts to install the software update setup program. If a security
warning message appears, select the run software option.
9. After successful installation of the setup program, a new software update file icon
will appear on the computer desktop. The icon will look similar to the one below.
10. Restart the computer to ensure complete installation of the program.
11. Double click the software update file icon to launch the program.
12. Follow all prompts, including reviewing and accepting the licensing agreement, to
use the software update.

Thermo Fisher Scientific
22 Alpha Road
Chelmsford, MA
978-232-6000
www.thermoscientific.com
Water Analysis Instruments
01824
978-232-6015 fax
www.thermoscientific.com/water
The world leader
in serving science
13. Select Serial as the connection method. Enter the communications port that the
RS232 cable is connected to on the computer (i.e. COM5). Ensure the baud rate of
the meter is set to 9600 or enter the baud rate to match the meter baud rate setting.
a. To determine the COM port location of the cable on the computer, open the
computer Device Manager and record the COM port the meter is using.
i. For Windows XP: Click the Start button, right-click My Computer and
click Properties. In System Properties, click the Hardware tab and
click Device Manager. In Device Manager, expand the Ports option.
ii. For Windows 7: Click the Start button, click Control Panel and click
System and Security. Under System, click Device Manager. In Device
Manager, expand the Ports option.
b. To view or change the baud rate setting of the meter:
i. In the measurement mode, press the setup key.
ii. Press the key to highlight Settings and press the f3 (select) key.

Thermo Fisher Scientific
22 Alpha Road
Chelmsford, MA
978-232-6000
www.thermoscientific.com
Water Analysis Instruments
01824
978-232-6015 fax
www.thermoscientific.com/water
The world leader
in serving science
iii. Press the / keys to highlight Export Data and press the
f3 (select) key. The baud rate setting will be shown next to
Comm Config as 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 or 38400.
iv. To change the baud rate, press the / keys to highlight
Comm Config and press the f3 (select) key. Press the / keys to
highlight the desired baud rate and press the f3 (select) key.
v. Press the measure (esc) key to return to the measurement mode.
14. Click the Upgrade Firmware button.
Warning: The software update must not be interrupted once the Update Firmware
button is clicked. Interrupting the software update may corrupt the meter and cause
it to not power on correctly.
15. The update will take approximately 15 minutes. Once the software update is
complete, the dialog box will show “Done!”
16. Detach the RS232 cable from the meter and computer. Close the software update.

Thermo Fisher Scientific
22 Alpha Road
Chelmsford, MA
978-232-6000
www.thermoscientific.com
Water Analysis Instruments
01824
978-232-6015 fax
www.thermoscientific.com/water
The world leader
in serving science
Using the RS232 to USB Adapter
When using an RS232 to USB adapter, drivers for the adapter may need to be
downloaded from the manufacturer website and installed on the computer before the
adapter can be used for software updates.
1. For example, when using a Tripp Lite adapter, go to
http://www.tripplite.com/en/support/downloads/software-literature-downloads.cfm
and enter the model number shown on the adapter cable (i.e. U209-000-R).
2. Select the appropriate drivers for the computer operating system. For example, if
using Windows XP select the U209-000-R Windows Drivers.
3. Open and extract the files to a suitable computer location, for example C:\Drivers.
4. Plug the cable and adapter into the computer and follow the prompts to install the
adapter software and drivers.
5. To determine the COM port location of the cable and adapter, open the computer
Device Manager and record the COM port (i.e. COM5) the meter is using.
a. For Windows XP: Click the Start button, right-click My Computer and click
Properties. In System Properties, click the Hardware tab and click Device
Manager. In Device Manager, expand the Ports option.
b. For Windows 7: Click the Start button, click Control Panel and click System
and Security. Under System, click Device Manager. In Device Manager,
expand the Ports option.

Thermo Fisher Scientific
22 Alpha Road
Chelmsford, MA
978-232-6000
www.thermoscientific.com
Water Analysis Instruments
01824
978-232-6015 fax
www.thermoscientific.com/water
The world leader
in serving science
Software Update Troubleshooting
The software update process may fail due to a glitch in data transmission between the
computer and meter. Most failures can be recovered using a remote command. If the
software update fails, try the following steps.
1. Disconnect the power source (power adapter and/or batteries) from the meter.
2. Connect the RS232 cable to the meter and computer and open HyperTerminal on
the computer. Connect to HyperTerminal using the COM port location the cable is
connected with on the computer.
3. Select the following port settings in HyperTerminal:
a. Bits per second: 9600
b. Data bits: 8
c. Parity: None
d. Stop bits: 1
e. Flow control: None
4. Reconnect the power source (power adapter and/or batteries) to the meter and
watch the HyperTerminal screen.
a. If a banner is displayed on HyperTerminal, close HyperTerminal and launch
the software update program again.
b. If nothing is displayed on HyperTerminal, proceed to Step 5 to try the next
recovery method.
5. Open a new connection in HyperTerminal and set the baud rate to 1200.

Thermo Fisher Scientific
22 Alpha Road
Chelmsford, MA
978-232-6000
www.thermoscientific.com
Water Analysis Instruments
01824
978-232-6015 fax
www.thermoscientific.com/water
The world leader
in serving science
6. Disconnect and then reconnect the power source (power adapter and/or batteries)
from the meter.
7. Look for the banner display on HyperTerminal.
a. If the banner is displayed on HyperTerminal, then the software update
process can be repeated. Proceed to Step 8.
b. If nothing is displayed on HyperTerminal, contact Technical Support.
8. In the HyperTerminal terminal command prompt type “Advaccess 5147” and then
press the Enter key on the computer.
9. In the HyperTerminal terminal command prompt type "Default" and then press the
Enter key on the computer.
10. The meter should reboot. Wait for measure screen to be displayed on the meter.
11. Close HyperTerminal.
12. Launch the software update program and set the baud rate to 9600.
Technical Support
For assistance with your equipment, call Technical Support at 1-800-225-1480 (US
only) or 1-978-232-6000, email [email protected] or contact your
local authorized dealer or sales representative.
For the most current contact information, visit www.thermoscientific.com/water.
For the latest Thermo Scientific Orion product literature, manuals, software updates,
and additional support files, visit www.thermoscientific.com/WAI-Library.
© 2013 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. & its subsidiaries.
R-STARASW-E Revision A1013