Technical thicko, needs to understand 'Firmware'

[Laundryman]

Having just installed an nmea 2000 backbone and now have my Chartplotter, autopilot and radio talking the same language. For the radio(radio ocean4800), I had to resort to an Actisense gizmo for connection. I really wish I could understand all the electronic language that's discussed on this forum but it may as well be written in Chinese. Will someone tell me what's the difference between Software and Firmware, and a simple explanation of the method, in practice, how you update Actisense, radio or plotter. They don't have leads or plugs to usb. Thanks. Alan

 

[alteredoutlook]

Firmware is the programming inside the device/main chip that makes the device/chip run i.e. its the software instructions for the chip. Its hard coded within the chip, meaning that when you switch it off, the device knows how to run when you switch it back on. If you like, Firmware is the bedrock of the programming for the machine.

Software is the programming layer above - it is not retained in the chips memory but is loaded/booted at start.




I don't have Actisense but I would think you need to connect your nmea2000 back bone to a computer to allow you to update the firmware of your devices.
Looking at the actisense's website I think you need a device such as http://www.actisense.com/products/nmea-2000/ngt1.html to allow you to link the backbone to a pc. There are likely to be linking products from other manufacturers available.

Once all connected you then download the firmware update from the internet to your PC where you save it. (Saving it on your PC allows you to update your firmware without having to be connected to the internet on your boat.) The firmware update is a program which you then execute.

May be a phone call to actisense may help?

 

[nigelmercier]

Firmware is ... hard coded within the chip ...

Not always within the processor, and although was historically "hard coded" in a ROM, it is normally on a device that can be updated. The dividing line between software and firmware is very blurred, just think of it as the operating system.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

The first 2 paragraphs here are straighforward...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware

 

[prv]

At a colloquial rather than technical level, the firmware is to a device (radio, plotter, Sky TV box, etc) what Windows is to your PC.

Some devices make provision for it to be updated after having left the factory, some do not. Of those that do, the procedure varies widely. Some are simple with a USB connection, plotters sometimes accept a "chart" card with the update on. A serial connection is quite common because it's technically easy to include, but you might need to make the connection via individual arbitrary wires in the connection harness. Sometimes a special programming tool (presumably an eeprom programmer) is needed which tends to be expressed as "take it to a dealer".

For devices that don't connect to the Internet, updating the firmware isn't essential. If it works fine for you, there's no need to do anything. But if there's a problem, it may be fixed by a firmware update available from the manufacturer's website.

Pete