Stagehand Firmware

Jump to

• Updating Firmware Through Spikemark

• Manual Updating v6 Firmware via microSD Card

• Manual Updating v6 Firmware via USB Cable

• *Download the Stagehand FX firmware here*

Every Stagehand Controller has a Stagehand Card inside. This card listens to Spikemark, telling the amplifier how to move the motor and monitoring the plethora of sensors attached to the machine.

These cards require firmware to function the way we expect. Sometimes firmware updates are adding new features, other times the updates are squashing bugs.

Firmware updates are distributed and installed through Spikemark. You can see what hardware and firmware version your Stagehand is running from the Hardware pane in Spikemark. This is also where you can see if there's an update available and where to install the update.

Current Firmware

To find out which Firmware you have, either connect to Spikemark and look at the version in the Hardware Pane of the Stagehand Properties Panel. Or upon powering up your Stagehand, watch the display: It will display something like: STAGEHAND 50. This means that Stagehand Card is running Version 50 Firmware.

With the release of Spikemark 5, we changed the Stagehand firmware versioning:

• Classic = STAGEHAND1- REV101-199

  • Stagehand AC (Classic) (Retired)

  • Stagehand Mini (Classic) (Retired)

  • Stagehand OEM 1.7 (Retired)

  • Stagehand OEM 1.5 (Retired)

• Pro Bipolar = STAGEHAND2- REV201-299

  • Stagehand Pro 2 (Retired)

  • Stagehand Mini ^2 (Retired)

  • Stagehand Hydraulic

• Unipolar (v3 and v4) = STAGEHAND3- REV301-499

  • Stagehand Pro 3 (Retired)

  • Stagehand Apprentice

  • Stagehand Apprentice DC

  • Pushstick Mini

  • Spotline Mini

  • Spotline Practical

• Unipolar v5 = STAGEHAND5- REV501-599

  • Stagehand Pro 4

  • Stagehand Apprentice

  • Stagehand Apprentice 2 (1HP)

  • Pushsitck Mini

• Unipolar v6 = STAGEHAND6- REV601-699

  • Stagehand Pro 5

  • Stagehand Apprentice 2

• Unipolar v8 = STAGEHAND8-REV801-899

  • Stagehand Acro

Do you want to see all of the firmware in a fancy table?

Updating Firmware

Firmware can be updated two ways: automatically through Spikemark or manually. The recommended path to update Stagehand firmware is through Spikemark.

There are two ways to update firmware: Through Spikemark or manually through the Update Firmware Utility Tool. If the update button is not available, or if you are rocking REV10 (or earlier) firmware or you are updating a Stagehand FX, you will need to complete the update manually with the Stagehand Updater in the second tab below.

Update Firmware Through Spikemark

Stagehand firmware updates are distributed through Spikemark. When a firmware update is available, you will see the Update Available icon.When you first connect to a Stagehand, a pop-up window will also open notifying you of the update and asking if you would like to update now.

1. Select the motor your wish to update

1. Navigate to the Hardware tab of the Stagehand Properties Panel

2. Click Update Motor Firmware.

• This will begin the automatic update process. You may see a couple windows open as data is transferred, and then the Stagehand will automatically restart.

• The whole process usually only takes between 30 and 60 seconds.

1. Once the Stagehand has restarted, power cycle the device then connect it to Spikemark following the steps above and check that the Firmware Installed matches Most Recent Firmware.

Update Challenges

Occasionally when updating firmware through Spikemark you'll run into a fault code.

• -1 = Spikemark IP Address not set

• -2 = Spikemark IP Address incorrect

With either fault code, double check the IP Address for your network adapter is selected in Spikemark.

Additional troubleshooting steps:

• Disable Windows Defender Firewall, or any other Firewall

  • Port 8067 must be open and unused

• Disable all other network adapters

Manually Updating Firmware

To manually update the firmware on any Stagehand Classic, Mini, DC, Hydraulic, Stagehand Apprentice, Stagehand Pro 2/3/4 you'll need the Stagehand Updater utility. Check out these instructions to manually update a Unipolar 6 Stagehand (Stagehand Pro 5, Stagehand Apprentice 2)

1. Use an ethernet cable to connect your computer to the Stagehand.

2. Release the E-Stop - The Stagehand cannot be in an E-Stop state to update the Firmware

3. Unzip the Stagehand_Update folder to your Desktop

1. Browse to C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Spikemark Firmware\Stagehands\Motors

2. Locate the Stagehand Motor firmware files you need from the Spikemark directory. See table above for Stagehands and frimware versions

1. Run Stagehand Update.exe from the folder on your desktop.

1. Enter the IP Address of the Stagehand you need to update

2. Select the proper firmware file that you found in the previous step.

1. Press the UPDATE button

• A few new windows will flash on the screen

• After the process is complete, the newly updated Stagehand will reboot in about 30 seconds. During reboot, it should display the new firmware revision number.

1. Once the Stagehand has automatically rebooted, remove power from the Stagehand for 10s to completely power cycle the card.

And that's it, you're now running the latest and greatest firmware version!